The Radium Girls: Young Readers' Edition: The Scary But True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark

by Kate Moore

Explore the unbelievable true story of America's glowing girls and their fight for justice in the young readers edition of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The Radium Girls .

Amid the excitement of the early twentieth century, hundreds of young women spend their days hard at work painting watch dials with glow-in-the-dark radium paint. The painters consider themselves lucky—until they start suffering from a mysterious illness. As the corporations try to cover up a shocking secret, these shining girls suddenly find themselves at the center of a deadly scandal.

The Radium Young Readers Edition tells the unbelievable true story of these incredible women, whose determination to fight back saved countless lives.

Genres: Nonfiction

Audible Audio

First published September 8, 2020

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The light of justice flooded in. The truth, after all these years, was finally out.

We wear lead aprons during X-rays to protect vulnerable organs from radiation. The research done in the 50's on the effects the Radium Girls suffered brought this about. In many ways, the sacrifices of these young women paved the way for safety in scientific discoveries for decades. I read the original version of this book years ago for a book group and was struck by the tragedies the families had to deal with and the callousness of the companies they worked for. I am so glad this story has been released in a Young Reader's Edition so more people can learn their story. The timeline in the back of the book puts it in perspective. The first girl (Mollie Maggie) died in 1922. It wasn't until 1938 when Catherine Donohue died that authorities finally admitted on the death certificate that her job lead to her death. Even though this book is filled with tragedy and suffering, there is also the light of justice and the hope that the young women displayed in fighting for that justice. The love of their families also shines through. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Explore and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is heartbreaking yet so intriguing to read. History is dark and scary and this only proves it. Women doing their jobs to the best of their ability lost their jaws, their health and their life. It's brutal and scary!

This story is important to tell. I can't express it enough how insanely important it is to learn about these stories and learn from their mistakes. These women died but they don't need to die in vain. We need to learn to take care of each other and be as ethical as we can. Because, man... this book hurt. These excited young women just doing their best...

The scientific discoveries, the law suits, the fight to make sure radium poisoning was understood.... This book is one for the ages.

I haven't read the original YA Radium Girls, but this take was high on my radar because of the original. I can't tell if it holds up or if it's any better, but this book as a singular work is great! It's a long book for young readers though, just be aware.

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Steph's_Creepy _Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This way beyond heartbreaking. I watched the movie after I finished the book and it broke me all over again.
The way these girls were ignored. Called liars. Whores. All the while they were rotting from the inside out.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to see what if anything they would change about the adult title to adapt it for the younger audience. It's still sizeable and the copious research and depth of information is still resonant just like it was in the adult title except the readability allows it to flow for a younger audience. I thought (based on the adapted cover) that it might include graphics interspersed and while it doesn't, it still includes plenty of photographs though in the digital ARC they're small so might be a little larger in print.

I thought the story which focused on a few of the important women in the case made it easier to follow but the jumping to different times and locations, unless they're paying attention, which they should based on the headers, might be a bit confusing (especially the non-linear timeline). Yet, when all is said and done, the flagrant horrible men running the corporation and their willingness to disregard these women's lives as "for the cause" stands out pretty clear. The court cases demonstrate that. So many comparisons can be made to contemporary violations but also social justice.

It's a call to arms to always be vigilant and that businesses don't always have their employees or their patrons' best interests at heart.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC of this book from Edelweiss+ in return for a review. I have been wanting to read about The Radium Girls since it was a Lincoln Award nominee last year, so when I saw that the Young Reader's Edition was available as an ARC, I jumped at the chance to read it.

This story drew me in from the beginning. I wanted to know more about their story. I don't read many non-fiction title, but this kept me coming back.

Highly recommend. I can't wait to book talk this in the fall.

[Madi Shiba · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 maybe? Amazing research! This is all very important to know but I think it could have been way more impactful (and entertaining) to maybe follow one woman’s story with others as side characters.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Raincoast for this ARC!

I have been enjoying Young Reader's editions of books as of late, if only because I am curious as to how an author transplants their content for a different age group. Radium Girls by Kate Moore was a very important and difficult book when it released in 2017, and I won't lie when I was confused to have received a copy of a Young Readers edition for it in my mailbox. I never had the chance to read the original book, so I gave this version a go.

This is an amazing work on non-fiction that looks at the dial painters, all who were infected with radium, and were slowly transforming or dying because of it. It looks at the work conditions the women faced, as well as the court cases. Many of the women in this book died at very young ages due to radium poisoning, and it took many years later for legal action to have occurred. This YRE does an amazing job of telling the story of these women without dumbing it down or talking down at the reader. The language is very clear and direct, while also evoking a lot of empathy for women who lost their lives.

This book is gripping from the first page, and what happened to these women is horrific and unacceptable. The fact that there is still radium clean-up in this day and age in Ottawa, IL is problematic in itself. This book is uncomfortable, dark, and a little scary at times, but the information and the story being told is important and valuable. Definitely check out this book, YRE or otherwise, because the story is out of this world.

[Abigail Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating book about these brave and courageous women! The Radium Girls led to the creation of OSHA and greatly advanced science today. I think Moore did a wonderful job sharing their personal stories, as well as factual evidence about what happened. Although nonfiction and historical, I struggled to put it down; it was a great subway read!

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching story. This horrific story is well-researched and well-written.

[Emma (of South Woobeewoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for Kate Moore, the queen of biased microhistory.

This book is simultaneously important and problematic. It does a good job of putting together a narrative of this part of history, but it also has plenty of issues. The most glaring mistake is the author incorrectly claiming Dr. Flinn’s PhD was in philosophy when it was in physiology (although this certainly doesn’t make him any less of a monster) which is a pretty ridiculous mistake to miss in editing for such an important part of the narrative. Moore claims she cut over 60,000 words from her initial draft, but somehow didn’t catch that she doesn’t know what a PhD is and seems to think they all mean “Dr. of Philosophy”? Seriously? (I'm being facetious but like...it's a big enough mistake that I'm questioning if maybe I hit the nail on the head with the snark?)

There’s also a lot of repeating information that was stated 2 paragraphs back as if it were new (I shudder to think what the original manuscript with an extra 60K was like if it's this repetitive in its final form. Was it just the book repeating over from the beginning??? 60K HOW???), for example, the multiple times Moore clarifies where Grace Fryer was buried. Plus, there's a lot of overwrought prose that went beyond painting a picture to assuming/projecting the thoughts and feelings of these women in moments that could not possibly have been on record.

This is not only a problematic thing to do with any account of women’s history; it’s a touch misogynistic, too! Yay! Especially because Moore takes care to describe how attractive all these women were as she introduces them. Presumably, this is to contrast with the injuries and maladies they subsequently suffered, but it doesn't come off that way; it comes off as weird and fawning, almost with a touch of ‘what happened to her wouldn’t be as sad if she wasn’t so pretty’. Speaking over these women and assuming uncited things about their personal characters is a bridge too far, and especially disappointing to see from a female author. It comes off as parasocial vs caring.

Overall, I think this needed a couple more rounds of editing, but it’s still a worthwhile and fascinating read bearing its issues in mind, and is borderline required reading for anyone interested in women’s history. Easily the most digestible written work about The Radium Girls. Recommended, but with several asterisks lmao.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly moving true story of young female workers being asked to do a poisonous job (even though scientists had some inkling it was dangerous), and the attempts to discredit the sick and dying women. This is a young reader edition aimed at ages 8-12, and it's still pretty gruesome. Some students could handle this with no problem; others might find it too upsetting. It is an interesting bridge between science and reading, though.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

[Valerie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I find non-fiction books to grab and keep my attention but this book held me in its horrifying grip until the bitter end. The author does a fantastic job of telling the story of these amazing women and being true to them all while presenting very complex information in digestible pieces that maintained my attention. This book will stick with me.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still think it's odd how hard the young readers version tries to frame this as an uplifting, empowering story. It's unquestionably an important one, so trust the readers to take from it what they can handle.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: The scientist had forgotten all about the radium. It was tucked within his waistcoat pocket, enclosed in a slim glass tube in such a small quantity that he could not feel its weight. He had a lecture to give in London, England, and the vial of radium stayed within that shadowy pocket throughout his journey across the sea.

Premise/plot: The Radium Girls is nonfiction; it is a narrative account of the 'radium girls'--the women employed as dial painters whose exposure to radium (radium-based paint to be exact) proved costly and deadly. It is an account of the long, long, long, long BATTLE (yes, battle) for justice to be done.

There were several plants--or factories if you prefer--that employed women as dial painters. This is narrative focuses on three of them; readers are introduced to dozens of women; I wouldn't be surprised if it tells the story of three to four dozen women at least.

The story begins in 1917 in New Jersey and concludes (well, mainly concludes) in Illinois circa 1938.

My thoughts: I read the adult version of The Radium Girls (2017) last spring. I absolutely loved it. I had initially picked it up because of the new movie of the same title. After rewatching the movie a few months ago, I wanted to read the young readers' edition. (I had review copies of both the adult and young readers version.) I will only add that reading the book is a thousand times better than watching the movie. And I loved the movie--I did. But it's like three percent of the story. It is such a fracture of the story that could be told. So I highly recommend either edition. (There's about a hundred page difference.)

The Radium Girls was a POWERFUL read that resonated with me from start to finish. I am so thankful that I finally got around to reading it. If you've been meaning to read it too but have been putting it off, then I encourage you to give it a chance.

I loved that it was a PERSONAL read. The women aren't mere numbers or statistics. Their lives AND their deaths had meaning; and as I believe it is mentioned either in the movie or the book their bones still are speaking to us. Even those whose voices were never "heard" in life--due to injustice and indifference--can be heard now and for the next thousand plus years. The narrative's greatest strength is that it focuses on the personal, the intimate, the real.

The read was both FASCINATING and DEVASTATING. It is hard to imagine today that no one wouldn't know that radium was DANGEROUS and to be radioactive is a BAD, BAD thing. But so much of the book focuses on this struggle between those that put MONEY, MONEY, MONEY first and foremost and those that valued HUMAN LIVES and HUMAN DIGNITY over profit, wealth, fame.

I was shocked--should I have been shocked???--at the out and out LYING and CORRUPTION. The doctors that were being paid/employed by the factories could run all their tests, do their examinations, and then say YES, YOU ARE 100% HEALTHY. NO PROBLEMS. All the while, your teeth are falling out, your face is swollen, you can hardly stand up straight, you're losing weight. Sounds like the perfect state of health, right?! In other words a lot of GASLIGHTING going on. But that isn't being fair. Not all doctors said the women were in 100% health--the best state of health they could ever be in. Some were for team misdiagnosis. Like let's diagnose you with SYPHILIS. Because that will make you quiet for sure--if you believe it. Who wants to be known to be dying from that!

But I was also encouraged by those that stood up to the big guys--the giants--and faced near impossible odds. It wasn't easy for the lawyers to take on, take up, this GIGANTIC mess of a case.

I was surprised by the resilience and attitude of some of the women. Some relied on GOD and turned to prayer and other spiritual disciplines for support, comfort, peace. Others relied more on FAMILY and FRIENDS for comfort, support, guidance. While the book mentions a few women's nerves or state of mind seemed to be negatively effected by the diagnosis, I was surprised it wasn't more. It couldn't be *easy* on one's mental health to be diagnosed with a FATAL DISEASE with NO CURE and little proven treatment. The strength and courage it would take to face each and every day is not to be discounted. We're talking tremendous physical pain with no hope of relief. Not really. Every day would be a choice--to despair or to cling to hope.

It's impossible to read this novel and not turn introspective. WHY DO I COMPLAIN SO MUCH?

[Lauren Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Society of the Living Dead, women that glow in the dark, and jaw bones breaking off mid conversation. Sounds like a fiction novel, right?? Unfortunately, no. Kate Moore told the horrifying, heartbreaking, and inspiring stories of The Radium Girls.

Before picking this one up I’d heard a little about the use of radium and how it impacted a group of young women, but this book talked about so much I’d never heard of. What happened to these women and how they were treated by the company they worked for and the medical professionals they went to for help is infuriating.

All through their careers as dial painters the girls were encouraged the lip point - placing the paintbrush between their lips after applying the radium paint to the bristles - in order to paint precise lines on the dial faces. They were told time and time again that the radium was no danger to them.

This book does a really good job of telling the personal stories of many of the girls while also explaining the medical and legal struggles they faced. The way their stories were told made me feel like I was getting to know each of them as the book progressed which, no doubt, helped me root for them the whole way through.

We owe so much of what we’ve learned about radium and its effect on the human body to these girls and the horrors they had to endure. We also owe our right to health and safety in the workplace to their long and difficult fight against the company that had employed them. Despite their health getting progressively worse and seeing many previously unsuccessful lawsuits, the girls kept fighting in order to hold the company accountable.

This was heavy, but it’s so important. Reading about this makes me equally sad and angry knowing it actually happened, but we can’t forget these girls and their history, OUR history, because we can’t let it repeat itself. So if you can stomach it, read this book.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Radium Girls: young reader’s edition by Kate Moore, 432 pages. Sourcebooks Explore, SEPT 2020. $11. 9781728209470

Content: PG (descriptions of the women’s injuries)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In the early years of the 1900’s radium was considered a wonder drug – capable of healing all ills. Plus it was delightfully luminescent, its glow-in-the-dark qualities perfect for the watches and dials of the pilots and fighters during WWI. The women in the dial-painting studio pointed their brushed by licking the bristles before each stroke. Plus the glowing powder was so much fun – they would paint their faces and bodies to make pantomimes. What they didn’t know, what America didn’t know is that radium was also a secret killer – the effects being held at bay for years before unleashing their fury. It would take many years, many deaths and the perseverance of many women to finally win this fight – not just once but several times, before the public, the world, would acknowledge the dangers and take steps to protect the future.

As seminal and detailed Moore’s book is about this important, and little known chapter in world history, that detail and length will work against it being popular in school libraries. Unless you have a teacher who will champion it as an optional read for an American History or science class, you will have a hard time finding many readers. This is a good candidate for a purchase as an ebook in a shared account.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[Sally Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compelling audio book. It seems incredible that radium was initially considered a ‘cure all’ , rather like a vitamin supplement. However it’s hazardous properties were soon realised although the American company using it as a paint to illuminate its clock/navigational dials refused to accept/acknowledge these potentially terrible health problems. It’s predominately female work force continued the practice of ‘lip painting’ whereby they put a fine point on their paint brush by using their mouths, hence continually injecting radium paint. Their deaths were horrendous. It took years to get the medical profession to diagnose their illnesses as related to radium poisoning and even longer for the company to accept any responsibility. Their cases resulted in the modern health safety practices/protocols.
Sadly I found the authors repeated descriptions of the poor workers illnesses, whilst ghastly, lost some of its impact and I wanted it to move on. It did take far too many years for some semblance of justice to be granted. We all have these women to thank for making employers accountable to provide a safe working environment.

[Sebastian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was eager to read about the story of the radium girls which I had only ever heard about tangentially. And while the information in this book is incredibly detailed, the writing style is abysmal. This is supposed to be a non-fiction book yet the author frequently knows what the women are thinking, includes details she can't possibly know like how the shadow fell across the room (really?) which is all fine in a novelization but this is not what this book is. In a similar vein, the descriptions of the physical attributes of the women are weird, to say the least. Now, did their peers describe them that way? Has the author taken these words from interviews? If so, it could be excused but it is never made clear if this is the case. Consequently, the book reads more like a sensationalist tabloid (find out what the victim thought in the moment of her death on page four!) than a serious account of a tragic historic event. A lot of editing could have made this at least somewhat readable but, alas. It was palatable on 2x speed while I was cleaning out my spare room - if I'd had to sit down and eye-read this, I would not have made it past page 50.

[Heather McKillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am once again reminded, as most times when I read non-fiction about corporations in the US, that the men (it’s usually men) who run these corporations will not prioritize the health of their employees over their profit. It is sadly true in this book as well. Women who worked diligently were lied to, dismissed, and ultimately treated so unfairly even when it was obvious the radium was poisoning them one by one. This is a sad but important story that needs to be told so that we can understand why government oversight is so necessary. Corporations, when left to their own devices, will largely not police themselves. I wish it weren’t so, but I’ve read enough stories like these (though the results on these women’s health and lives is so incredibly devastating) to know that they simply didn’t and likely still are not.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

This was a highly engrossing read that I didn't want to put down. In fact, I was so absorbed by the book that I missed my bus stop. My heart broke for everything the Radium Girls went through and multiple times I found myself tearing up at the lifelong suffering and injustice they faced. Their extraordinary strength, courage and spirit moved me deeply.

I often feel conflicted when it comes to non-fiction books like this because on one hand, the dramatised writing and language makes for a very compelling and emotional read. At the same time, I prefer non-fiction books to give a more balanced and factual account instead of bringing in personal biases. Hmmm...

Nevertheless, this is an incredible, powerful and haunting read that I would highly recommend!

[biba ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

actually insane what people can get away with with a little bit of money and influence, but a great reminder that truth and justice always prevail. the women in this story are so inspiring. definitely a book ill carry with me.

*previously read the young readers edition, and it's just as good! i found this one more citation-based than the other, which almost felt "fictional", but both are awesome. heavy on the content warnings for both - theyll make your stomach turn

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling account of the history of the women and girls that worked painting clock dials and how they were poisoned. A tale of corporate greed and the courage of women who held them accountable. Fosters ample opportunities to talk about workplace safety, corporations, and being slow to believe everything you are told.

[Mikaila✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ive been reading some YA books while waiting for my own holds. Though this is a YA novel, it's very graphic, but in a way that isn't overbearing. I learned a ton about these insanely strong women and so much about corporate greed, which is quite fitting for today. I hope these girls found comfort somewhere, wherever that may be.

[Makenna]

this book sucks booty. Never read it. Especially if you have to read it in 10 days exactly. I have to confess I probably skipped about half of this book. And it still made sense. Now that means it’s a poopy book. 💀💀

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

FS: “The scientist had forgotten all about the radium.”

LS: “Luminous Processes," declared the local paper, "seems to put profits before people." How quickly we forget.”

Chapters: 50

Library/Hardcover

[Dallas Shattuck]

This one’s been on my list for awhile, and while I didn’t mean to download the Young Readers Version, I think it was a good summary of the Radium Girls history. And it felt comprehensive, so I have no idea what’s included in the other 10 hours of audio in the normal version of this book 😅

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Es muy triste leer la historia de las chicas que aún siendo tan jóvenes buscaron un trabajo que parecía "brillante" y terminaron arruinando su vida, sin embargo, es impresionante saber que su legado dio voz para los derechos de trabajadores futuros, específicamente mujeres trabajadoras.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is incredible on many levels. This is my first young readers version of a book and I am a fan.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4