What is Rebel Girls of Rome about?
*Winner of the 2026 Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor in the Young Adult category!
Part historical mystery, part sweeping romance, The Rebel Girls of Rome brings the stories of two young women to brilliant life: Lilah, a college student looking to understand her grandfather’s mysterious past, and Bruna, a queer Jewish woman who joins the resistance during World War II.
From Jordyn Taylor, author of The Paper Girl of Paris, this dual-contemporary and historical tale—where heartbreak, hope, and finding light in times of darkness are inevitably intertwined—is perfect for readers of Ruta Sepetys and Monica Hesse.
Now:
Grieving the loss of her mother, college student Lilah is hoping to reconnect with a grandfather who refuses to talk about his past. Then she receives a mysterious letter from a fellow student, Tommaso, claiming he’s found a lost family heirloom, and her world is upended.
Soon Lilah finds herself in Rome, trying to unlock her grandfather’s history as a Holocaust survivor once and for all. But as she and Tommaso get closer to the truth—and their relationship begins to deepen into something sweeter—Lilah realizes that some secrets may be too painful to unbury…
Then:
It’s 1943, and nineteen-year-old Bruna and her family are doing their best to survive in Rome’s Jewish quarter under Nazi occupation. Until the dreaded knock comes early one morning, and Bruna is irrevocably separated from the rest of her family.
Overcome with guilt at escaping her family’s fate in the camps, she joins the underground rebellion. When her missions bring her back to her childhood crush, Elsa, Bruna must decide how much she’s willing to risk—when fully embracing herself is her greatest act of resistance.
- Historical Mystery: Lilah travels to Rome to uncover the truth behind a mysterious locket and her grandfather’s hidden past as a Holocaust survivor.
- WWII Historical Fiction: In 1943, Bruna risks everything to join the partisans fighting the Nazi occupation, proving that courage can be found in the darkest of times.
- LGBTQ+ Romance: Bruna’s dangerous missions reunite her with her childhood crush, Elsa, sparking a powerful love story that is its own act of rebellion.
- Dual POV: Jump between past and present as the stories of two courageous young women—separated by generations but bound by secrets—intertwine.
- Family History: A sweeping, multigenerational tale perfect for readers of Ruta Sepetys, exploring the bonds of family and the secrets they keep.