In this groundbreaking work of historical nonfiction, Judy Batalion uncovers the extraordinary, yet largely forgotten, stories of Jewish women who fought back against the Nazis during World War II. Drawing from extensive research and firsthand accounts, Batalion brings to light the courage and resilience of these women, many of whom were still in their teens, as they organized resistance efforts within the ghettos of Nazi-occupied Poland. This compelling account not only honors the bravery of these women but also reshapes our understanding of resistance during the Holocaust, highlighting the pivotal role that Jewish women played in the fight against Nazi oppression.

These "ghetto girls" served as couriers, armed fighters, intelligence agents, and saboteurs. They smuggled weapons in loaves of bread, hid messages in their braids, and used their Aryan appearances to infiltrate enemy lines. Their acts of defiance included assassinating Nazi officials, bombing German supply lines, and orchestrating daring escapes from Gestapo prisons. Batalion's narrative centers on figures like Renia Kukielka, a weapons smuggler and messenger who risked her life traveling across occupied Poland, and Zivia Lubetkin, a leader in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.