The Radium Girls

Books | History / Women

4.3

(1.8K)

Kate Moore

A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts Bestseller! "The glowing ghosts of the radium girls haunt us still." —NPR Books Discover the gripping and inspiring true story of The Radium Girls, a groundbreaking work by acclaimed author Kate Moore. Immerse yourself in this compelling narrative that unravels the extraordinary lives of these fearless women who fought against all odds.The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War. Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive—until they begin to fall mysteriously ill. But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come. With meticulous research and a keen eye for detail, Kate Moore delves into the lives of these remarkable individuals, capturing their resilience, strength, and unwavering determination. Through their stories, she exposes the shocking negligence and corporate cover-ups that plagued the radium industry, ultimately sparking a revolution in workplace safety.The Radium Girls is a masterful blend of historical account and heartfelt tribute. Moore's vivid prose brings these forgotten heroines back to life, ensuring that their sacrifices and triumphs are forever etched in our collective memory. As you turn each page, you'll be captivated by their indelible legacy and inspired by their enduring spirit.The Radium Girls is a must-read for history enthusiasts, feminists, and anyone seeking a remarkable story of resilience and empowerment.

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More Details:

Author

Kate Moore

Pages

504

Publisher

Sourcebooks, Inc.

Published Date

2017-04-18

ISBN

1492649368 9781492649366

Ratings

Google: 3.5

Community ReviewsSee all

"A difficult but an incredible read. Watching these girls and women find the strength to keep fighting against overwhelming odds while enduring horrific health issues is powerful. They are truly American heroes and deserve more recognition. For those sensitive or squeamish please be advised that this may not be the book for you. I agree with other commentators that this should be taught in schools."

D r

DaRo reads

"This is a book that really stuck with me and made me feel so many things. These women were incredible "

T K

Tashan Kehoe

"Compelling storytelling, heartbreaking but so interesting "

A P

Adelina Prentice

"It's one of the most difficult, but necessary books I've ever read. The unflinching hope and determination of these women is awe-inspiring. Moore's dedication to telling the story through their eyes instead of through the lens of the larger forces of science and industry around them makes this book a rare gem. It highlights the most important thing they had: their voice. "

M L

Marissa Lausen

"I absolutely loved this book. Page turner for sure. Of course SO much better than the movie. My favorite book of all time is Stiff by Mary Roach. I find it very interesting with the right amount of humor to lighten it up. Worth looking into I think!"

L L

Lindsey LaRue

"If you want to simultaneously understand women’s history, medical history, and industrial history - read this book. This is an incredibly comprehensive look at the brutal history of “The Radium Girls” If I could go back in history and personally thank these women for the sacrifices they made for the future generations I would. We owe so much to them. "

E G

Eliza Gretok

"Truly, a heart wrenching story that had me anxious for the next page, hoping that some good news or comfort would come for the radium girls. Reading this story in 2021, I cannot but make parallels between the carelessness of employers then to that of today, particularly in regard to viral threats in the workplace, and airborne disease. I worked at Starbucks at the beginning of the pandemic… and we were deemed essential workers… but since when is luxury coffee essential? So many poor retail and hospitality workers were put in harms way in the pandemic. And we don’t know the lasting effects of the virus, or even of the vaccine. No one in charge particularly knows what they’re doing, and those that do, so so insidiously. I had never really heard the radium girls’ story before. Kate Moore dealt with the subject matter and each woman’s story respectfully and vibrantly. Each woman effected by radium poisoning had a personality, a life, friends and family — and Moore made sure to tell as much as she could about the actual lives of these women. It wasn’t all radium, but as it affected their bodies, radium likewise affected their lives — boring small holes into their dreams and daily function, until, unfortunately for most, it all fell apart. Nowadays we take the rights the radium girls procured for us for granted. Most of us don’t even think about whether our jobs affect our health on the whole, and we don’t generally have to worry because of the changes brought about by these women sharing their story. But we cannot become complacent. Actually, we deal daily with as many toxic things as ever before. And although they are not as visibly destructive as radium - they are nonetheless destructive. My thoughts lie mostly in the direction of plastic, but also EMF, and overall environmental degradation. And aren’t companies covering up the true harm of their industry - harm they are aware of - to our detriment? The radium women continue to inspire, and I hope that their story can give us the motivation and inspiration to fight these modern battles so that we can safeguard our future."

A S

Abigail Spradlin

"A very tragic story well told."

J A

Jessica A

"This book was just way too long for me. I got the gist and didn't want to continue reading. Such a sad but enlightening read."

Melissa

"This is an important, but devastating piece of history. The author did a lot of research and comes from a good place in telling the dial workers' story, but I think the execution is lacking. She packs in too many individuals and jumps between locations, making it difficult to keep track of everyone and when/where we are; she could've cut like 100 pages where it drags and gets repetitive. I get the impression from her author's note she's very attached to the subject and women, so I understand it would've been hard to cut anything, but then her editor needed to step in. The writing comes across a bit juvenile in places as well. The days in trial are the strongest parts and you feel the relief that justice is finally achieved, often too late for many of the women, but to save the futures of others."

L P

Liesl Prentice

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