THE BELGIAN GIRLS
By: Kathryn J. Atwood
Published: May 8, 2025
Publisher: Catherine Rose Press
Historical Fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have read and enjoyed Atwood’s young adult non-fiction, WOMEN HEROES OF WORLD WAR I, which shared real-life stories of women who fought to leave a mark on history. This dual-narrative/dual-timeline shares the story of a woman working for the Resistance during WWI and another during WWII in Brussels. I haven’t read a war novel set in Brussels and found this new perspective to be eye-opening. So many places and people were devastingly affected by the wars, not just the main areas we always hear about.
Atwood chose to focus her novel on Gabrielle Petit, a young woman who works for the British Intelligence during WWI. She is a real-life, well-known war hero in Belgium. In alternating chapters, we follow Gabrielle as she meets the love of her life, joins the British intelligence, and ultimately, sacrifices her life for her country. Then, in WWII, we meet Julianne, who has just moved to Brussels with her widowed father. As she works in her aunt’s bakery, she notices how her aunt treats the Jewish customers and realizes she can’t stand by and watch the Germans destroy the lives of innocent people.
“‘Rage will only get you so far,’ said Marie. ‘You can kill with rage, yes, but part of you dies every time you invite its control over you…..Rage will not cease until it has devoured you.'”
At some point, a connection between these two women is revealed, and you wonder how Julianne will handle learning the news. The side characters in both Gabrielle and Julianne’s lives also become very important to the story, and, as with any war story, there is great sadness.
“‘What makes us brave is not the personalities we are born with,’ said Marie, ‘but the choices we make.'”
Atwood has written mostly young adult novels, yet teens and older readers can enjoy this one. Both Gabrielle and Julianne are young women who choose to fight for the rights and protection of others. Their stories are inspirational, and Gabrielle’s can be researched in history. Young adults may find inspiration to fight against wrongs in their schools, communities, and to fight for their country, as these two women did. Gabrielle and Julianne were courageous in facing death and provided hope to many during a devastating time in history.
“Focus on who you love rather than on who you hate.”
Short chapters, combined with the dual-narrative, make this a quick read. Even though the topic is heartbreaking and it can be hard to read about the atrocities of war, readers of historical fiction will appreciate learning about Gabrielle Petit and other important women in our history.
Kathryn J. Atwood has written multiple young adult collective biographies on women and war for the Chicago Review Press. Her first book, Women Heroes of World War II, gets all the attention, but Booklist gave Kathryn’s book on the Pacific Theater of WWII a starred review and likened each chapter to “a cliff-hanger screenplay.” Kathryn has been seen on Chicago’s WGN TV, “America: Fact vs. Fiction,” and the Acorn TV series, “Deception: WWII”; heard on the BBC World Service’s “History Hour” program and BBC America; published in The Historian and War, Literature & the Arts; and featured as a guest speaker at dozens of historical societies and libraries, including the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, and the Atlanta History Center. Check out her website, HERE.
Click HERE to purchase a copy of THE BELGIAN GIRLS
Other posts you might like:
Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Belgium, Book Review, Kathryn J. Atwood, WWI, WWII, Women's history, historical fiction