Girl Takes Drastic Step!: How Molly Lamb Bobak Became Canada's First Official Woman War Artist, written by Jillian Dobson and illustrated by Genevieve Simms

When Molly Lamb Bobak enlisted in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC), in November of 1942, she had become part of the nascent women’s divisions in the Canadian military. In WWI and at the beginning of WWII, women serving in the military were limited to positions as nurses, but in the summer of 1941 that all changed; the three branches of the Canadian military each created a women’s division in which women were trained for non-combatant roles, including clerical and administrative services, food services, and trades work. Molly joined more than 50,000 Canadian women, serving at home and abroad in order to help turn the tide of war. After completing basic training, she served in a number of roles: in the cafeteria, the kitchen, and the garage, all the while documenting what she saw in her art journals and working towards what would become her greatest contribution to the war effort.

After completing basic training, she served in a number of roles: in the cafeteria, the kitchen, and the garage, all the while documenting what she saw in her art journals and working towards what would become her greatest contribution to the war effort.

Girl Takes Drastic Step! is an inspiring picture book illustrating the adventures of the intrepid and determined Molly Lamb Bobak. Writer Jillian Dobson tells Molly’s story from budding young artist to achieving her dream of becoming an official war artist. Committed as she was to her goal, Molly didn’t let any number of challenges and setbacks prevent her from doing everything she could. While peeling potatoes and working at odd jobs, she persevered, sending in her art and finally competing in a competition in Ottawa, where she won second place. Her tenacity and diligence were a winning combination and in May 1945, Molly was reassigned and sent to Europe to document the war as Canada’s first official woman war artist.

Genevieve Simms’s illustrations allude to Molly Lamb Bobak’s headline journals: done in pencil, ink, and watercolour, where she documented her experiences in the forces. Molly’s art portrayed the world of women serving in the armed forces; however less gallant than the role of the men storming beaches and liberating European towns, their work was of no less importance in supporting the servicemen’s role. The non-combatant roles assigned to women, like switchboard operators, hospital laundry services, cooking, and clerical work were all necessary to keep the war machine running and to ensure success for the Allies. Dobson and Simms’s Girl Takes Drastic Step! celebrates not only the work of Molly Lamb Bobak but that of all of the other servicewomen too. We are marking the 80th anniversary of many key events of the last year of the war this year and Girl Takes Drastic Step! is a wonderful book that will help a whole new generation learn about Canada’s role in World War II.

The non-combatant roles assigned to women, like switchboard operators, hospital laundry services, cooking, and clerical work were all necessary to keep the war machine running and to ensure success for the Allies. Dobson and Simms’s Girl Takes Drastic Step! celebrates not only the work of Molly Lamb Bobak but that of all of the other servicewomen too.

Jillian Dobson delights in discovering stories in the everyday. She’s gathered tales through various unofficial and official roles, including museum guide, classroom assistant in Thailand and Brazil, vermicompost coordinator, event planner, real estate broker, and now children’s author! Jillian has lived in Alberta and Quebec and now lives in Richmond Hill, Ontario, with her incredible husband, their two inspiring children and a cuddly cat. She’s thankful for her supportive family and writing partners Heather Camlot and Loretta Garbutt.

Genevieve Simms studied illustration at the Alberta College of Art and Design and recently completed her Masters in Architecture at the University of Toronto. She has produced illustrations for a variety of clients throughout North America since 2006. Genevieve is from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and currently lives in Toronto with her husband, Josh Holinaty, who is also an illustrator. They share a home with a mostly-beagle named Jack.

Publisher: Nimbus Publishing (May 28, 2024)
Hardcover 8.25″ x 10.5″ | 32 pages
ISBN: 9781774712788

Christina Barber

Christina Barber is a writer and educator who lives in Vancouver. An avid reader, she shares her passion for Canadian history and literature through her reviews on Instagram @cb_reads_reviews. She has most recently been committed to writing and staging formally innovative single and multi-act plays.