The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore Book Review 

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore Book Review

The lowdown from Goodreads

Publication Date May 2, 2017

The incredible true story of the young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium and their brave struggle for justice…

As World War I raged across the globe, hundreds of young women toiled away at the radium-dial factories, where they painted clock faces with a mysterious new substance called radium. Assured by their bosses that the luminous material was safe, the women themselves shone brightly in the dark, covered from head to toe with the glowing dust. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” were considered the luckiest alive—until they began to fall mysteriously ill. As the fatal poison of the radium took hold, they found themselves embroiled in one of America’s biggest scandals and a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights.

A rich, historical narrative written in a sparkling voice, The Radium Girls is the first book that fully explores the strength of extraordinary women in the face of almost impossible circumstances and the astonishing legacy they left behind.

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore Book Review

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore Book Review

Everybody is already talking about this book.  It’s fantastic. The true story of factory girls, painting watch faces with radium is one of my favorites so far of 2017. It’s suspenseful, heartbreaking, harrowing, infuriating & I could not put it down. I wanted to read more about these girls & the instant love affair with all things Radium. Can you fathom a doctor encouraging children to play & handle Radium? Can you picture a woman’s housecoat that glowed as bright as the aurora borealis after a shift painting watches? Are you able to imagine the horror a young girl must have felt to look into the mirror on a dark night & see her jawbone illuminate which confirmed her death sentence?

THE VERDICT

This is a perfect book club selection & sure to spur some lively discussions regarding government, safety in the workplace & women’s entry in the workplace. This book is amazing & Kate’s writing style is unparalleled. We are Really Into This book. If you’re Really Into Radium Girls, you’ll likely enjoy The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as well.

Special thanks to Kate Moore, Sourcebooks & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

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About the Author: Kate Moore

My name is Kate Moore and I’m an editorial consultant offering the full range of editorial services, from writing to ghosting to editing. I am a former editorial director of Penguin Random House with more than fifteen years’ experience in trade book publishing, and I have worked on many Sunday Times bestsellers over the years.