New, from award-winning historical novelist Pamela Rushby, exploring the roles, and struggles, of women in wartime
1942. The world is at war. Sixteen-year-old Hilly is desperate to do something useful to the war effort, to help the boys on the front lines. So when she sees the poster recruiting for the Australian Women’s Land Army, she jumps at the chance to make a difference. Travelling to farms across Queensland, Hilly encounters backbreaking work, adversity and romance, and may find she’s capable of more than she thought possible. She is one of those girls with grit.
Recommended for ages 14+.
Buy a copy of Those Girls here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
What a fabulous novel for YAs and adults alike. Those Girls gives insight into the Women’s Land Army during WWII, set in Queensland. I had no real knowledge of what these wonderful women did to help during this tumultuous period in our history. Rushby’s main character, Hilly, undertakes a physical and emotional journey as she leaves her home in Brisbane, where she is not the favoured child. Her friendship with Aileen and Glad (both with their own emotional battles) is depicted in a beautiful way… the girls are so supportive and compassionate even though they have their own backstories. The American influence is also included, highlighted by Hilly’s relationship with Gene. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys history and a little bit of romance. Denise, NSW, 5 Stars
I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a great page-turner. I stayed up late reading it in one night. I could not put it down. I loved how it was not predictable. I was unsure how it was going to end so I had to see how it ended. I fell in love with the characters. I particularly loved Hilly, she was my favourite. I laughed with her and was sad for her at times. The author, Pamela Rushby, captured the characters so well. I was able to have so much empathy for them. It captivated me from beginning to end. I loved learning about our Land Girls and what they went through. It taught me a lot about the history of Australian women’s part in the war. I would highly recommend this book. I think it would be ideal for English students as part of the curriculum as it is very educational as well. #BRPreview @betterreadingau. Sharon, NSW, 5 Stars
In 1942, the government of Australia advertised for young girls to step up and join the land army, to replace all the men taken overseas to fight in WWII. Sixteen-year-old Hilly decides to join and do her part, while her brother is missing and presumed captured. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this lovely story, strong women who were there for each other through the worst of times and the happiest of times. Highly recommended for readers of Australian historical fiction. Joanna, VIC, 5 Stars
Thank you for my advanced reading copy. I really, really enjoyed Those Girls, finishing it in two sittings. Those Girls was a page-turning thought-provoking book. The characters are solid, well-rounded and very relatable. I enjoyed a glimpse of Australia’s home front during WWll and how girls and women kept the land running. Hilly was my favourite character and I enjoyed getting to know her, seeing how she grew up and into herself as a woman, although Glad wasn’t far behind as a favourite. Highly recommend this book not just to YA readers but anyone who enjoys a well-written and well-rounded historical storyline. Simone, WA, 5 Stars
All is certainly NOT fair when it comes to love and war. This was a captivating WWII drama set on the Australian home front and takes the reader on a real journey through the eyes of Hilly – one of those girls with grit. It’s truly amazing what the AWLA volunteers went through at such a young age and yet experienced so much. Rachael, NSW, 5 Stars
Hilly is 16 years old and feeling invisible. Her brother has enlisted and is now a prisoner of war. Her parents have always wanted sons to take over the business and now their only son is so far away and there is no news of him. Hilly decides to join the Land Army to do her bit for the war effort and her parents are happy for her to go. Her English teacher isn’t so happy as she sees Hilly’s writing talents and doesn’t want her to give up her education. Hilly makes some great friends in the Land Army and they all work hard doing what were male-dominated roles. Hilly does keep up her writing for the Land Army Gazette and even has articles published in the Women’s Weekly. There is an American soldier keen on Hilly and Hilly is a little star-struck but is he really right for her? This is a great story and really shines a light on the role young women played in WWII. Karyn, ACT, 5 Stars
Loved Those Girls! A great read for young people with an interest in Australian women’s history. A well-written and engaging book. Elizabeth, NSW, 5 Stars
Hilly applies to volunteer in the women’s land army in 1942 thinking she’s going to have a wonderful time relaxing and enjoying fruit picking. Hilly is only 16 years old and full of vigorous vitality. But instead Hilly is in for a rude shock as the hard work that’s involved crutching sheep and a 4am start. In the face of adversity, Hilly finds how strong she is and how much she can achieve in her life. A brilliant read of wartime. Noeleen, WA, 5 Stars
Entertaining and educational, with an engaging balance of fact and fiction, this book sheds light on an important aspect of history often overlooked – the crucial role played by the Australian Women’s Land Army (AWLA) during WWII when, mostly young, women stepped into traditionally male-held roles to support the war effort. From canneries to shearing sheds, from munition factories to planting, pruning, and picking fruit, the work was backbreaking and relentless but provided work and social experiences the women may never have had the opportunity for had it not been for the war. The story follows the experiences, resilience, and ‘grit’ of 16yo Hilly, with a supporting cast of vibrant characters, eager to embrace life outside the home and do her bit for the war effort. She experiences love, loss, and a growing awareness of what she wants from life. A well-researched, descriptive, coming-of-age, young adult read. Kylie, VIC, 4 Stars
Personally, I really enjoyed this book. The novel was well-thought-out, and told the stories of Australian women who enlisted in the land army and travelled around Queensland, working on farms, sharing their experiences of love and adversity. The characters were very likeable, and each one grew on you as the story developed and evolved. The pace although slow at first, quickened over time, and no sooner I was captivated and deeply immersed in the book, eager to see how the story unfolds. Lucy, QLD, 4 Stars
Once again, Pamela Rushby immerses readers in Australia’s World War II era, spotlighting the vital contributions of women in the Women’s Land Army (WLA). The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Hilly, Glad, and Aileen, disparate individuals united by their enlistment in the WLA in 1942. As they navigate challenges and forge deep friendships, Rushby deftly explores themes of societal norms, patriarchy, and feminism amidst the backdrop of wartime exigencies. The story, brimming with well-drawn characters, unfolds at a brisk pace, reminiscent of a thrilling adventure tale. Yet, beneath the surface, Rushby deftly interweaves weighty themes (sex, pregnancy and harassment), infusing the narrative with depth and complexity. Romance and familial ties add further layers to the narrative tapestry, but it’s the enduring bonds of friendship and the unbeatable spirit of these resilient women that resonate most profoundly. With its compelling storytelling and poignant exploration of resilience and camaraderie, this novel captivates readers, leaving them both entertained and enlightened. Rushby’s portrayal of Hilly and her comrades as embodiments of determination and grit serves as an inspiring tribute to the unsung heroines of history. Kerrie, NSW, 4 Stars
A wonderful Australian book, which demonstrates the spirit, courage and strength of women during WWII. It also highlights the discrimination of women and First Nations women at that time. I really enjoyed reading it and I am grateful Those Girls are recognised today. Carrie-Anne, NSW, 4 Stars
Those Girls is a brilliantly clever novel about the WWII Land Army girls, namely one called Hilly. Hilly is a sixteen-year-old female looking for work while all the men are at war. She feels conflicted with wanting to leave her family, and staying to wait for her brother, Graham, who is a soldier, whilst also wanting to get out on her own. Finally, she decides to leap at the chance, and joins the Land Army. She becomes one of “those girls with grit”. This book was fantastic, with my particular favourite character being our main character, Hilly. She is both relatable and frank. Hilly has a common interest with most girls of her age (reading, writing and wanting to be useful and independent), an interest in romance, and is quite clever overall. I also liked the character Aileen, for her big sisterly manner, and her ability to prove to everyone she can do things when she’s told she can’t. The story was gripping, keeping me going page after page, with its characters that felt real, and its ability to make you feel tense, yet relaxed, happy yet at the same time slightly outraged that these were real events women had to stand up against. I would recommend this book to historical fiction lovers, and anyone who loves a good YA book. Pamela Rushby has done a fantastic job writing a relatable, frank and powerful story for anyone who dares to turn those pages, and for anyone who’d love to be a girl with grit. Lotte, NSW, 4 Stars
✨Thank you to Better Reading Aus for generously sending me an ARC copy to read and review.✨ This was out of my normal genre comfort zone, but gosh, I really enjoyed this story! Those Girls is a Young Adult novel set during WW2, following the main character, Hilly (Hillary) who joins the Women’s Land Army in 1942. Each of the main characters pasts were explored, and fleshed out really well. Each were really well developed through the story. I found myself really connecting to them. They were all unique in their own ways, and all really likable. The pacing was perfect, just enough going on at all times that I didn’t feel bored, and the writing was so easy to digest that I absolutely flew through it. Rushby weaves some serious themes into the story, keeping attention on them, while also keeping things light. There were bonds of friendship, times of hardship, and harsh choices for Hilly, who made it through to a happy end. True girls with grit! This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to lovers of light, heart filled fiction based in WW2 Australia. Melissa, VIC, 4 Stars
Yet again, Pamela Rushby successfully takes us into Australia’s past showing YA readers another aspect of World War II – the roles that women played in the Women’s Land Army, providing essential support to the troops. The opening chapters introduce us to Hilly, Glad and Aileen, a threesome with completely different backgrounds and reasons for joining the LWA in 1942. They are thrown together and become firm, loyal friends and work companions. Hilly is sixteen, strong-willed, hard-working and wants to help in the war effort, learn new things and earn her way. Through her eyes we follow the girls’ ‘war journey’: the work they undertake and the challenges they face. The action is fast-paced, with a full cast of well-developed characters and reads almost like a ‘Girls’ Own’ adventure, the difference being the overarching serious themes that Rushby cleverly weaves into the narrative. Issues such as social norms and expectations; the patriarchy and male violence; and independent thinking and feminism. Romance too, plays a part, as do ties to family, but the bonds of friendship and the encouraging ‘can-do’ attitudes of ‘those girls with grit’ outweigh everything. ‘Those girls’ is a compelling page-turning novel, thought-provoking, hopeful and highly engaging. Go Hilly! Alida, VIC, 4 Stars
I love reading about the role of women during the Second World War. The author introduces us to a diverse group of women who enlist in the Women’s Land Army. By enlisting, some are seeking to escape and are heading away from something, and others are hopeful and going toward something. I found myself carried along gently as their stories unfolded and I became more immersed in the characters. Though 80 years have now passed since the height of the war, women readers will still find themselves able to identify with one or more of the characters. I know a lot about women in this era, and particularly about the enormous loss of personal agency that women experienced once men returned from the war. Despite this, I learned even more through reading this book. A great read. Joanne, QLD, 4 Stars
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