The Radium Girls [Excerpt]

by Kate Moore

Read the EXCLUSIVE extended excerpt of The Radium Girls...

For fans of Hidden Figures, Rise of the Rocket Girls, and The Girls of Atomic City comes the incredible true story of the women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium and their brave struggle for justice.

During World War I, the young women who were hired to work in America's radium watch dial factories were considered the lucky ones. They were paid well, they got to work with the luminous element dubbed "liquid sunshine" that was all the rage, and they were helping the war effort by providing instruments that shone in the dark.

And their bodies literally glowed because of the amount of radium they were ingesting.

In her new book, The Radium The Dark Story of America's Shining Women, author Kate Moore gives voice to two groups of workers who became horribly ill and fought back against the companies that poisoned them.

Using diaries and letters from the women, their statements in court documents, medical records and archived x-rays, as well as using ancestry documents to track down their relatives for interviews, Moore showcases the forgotten young women whose legal fight led to life-changing workplace safety regulations amid one of the biggest scandals of America's twentieth century.

Preorder and find out how their story ends on May 2.

"This timely book celebrates the strength of a group of women, whose determination to fight improved both labor laws and scientific knowledge of radium poisoning. Written in a highly readable, narrative style, Moore's chronicle of these inspirational women's lives is sure to provoke discussion—and outrage—in book groups." —Booklist, Starred Review

"Moore's well-researched narrative is written with clarity and a sympathetic voice that brings these figures and their struggles to life...a must-read for anyone interested in American and women's history, as well as topics of law, health, and industrial safety." —Library Journal, Starred Review

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Book Club, Science

63 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2017

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is free as a kindle download---
I still need to read it I may change my rating....
But I didn't know how to tell others about this free special if interested.

It's a true story. "The Girls of Atomic City"
is another true story I thought was absolutely phenomenal, and they're comparing the intensity of this book – – being a true story with The Girls of Atomic City and Hidden Figures, and "Rise of Rocket Girls"

There was another book on Netgalley earlier this year that people read - I remember Cheri reading it - giving the book high ratings ---check her review--- but this book is an excerpt -of The Radium Girls. - approx 100 pages ....
Just long enough to give an experience but not the full novel.

A FREE introduction. I was interested- just thought I'd pass on 'daily deal'. lol. :)

[Norma Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Kate Moore has done justice to these women, the Radium Girls. More people should read about this tragic story.

[Tiffanie Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually do reviews but for this book I really have to stop and do one. This book was so well done I think I cried multiple times. The author Kate Moore did not just tell you a tragic story about industries power over the little people. She made you a part of these women's lives. This is one of those books that although Im finished reading it the characters will never leave me. By the time I had finished the book I felt like all of these characters where old friends. The energy she put into this book was amazing. This book will have you up in arms and wanting to fight corporations in your free time. Excellent book and really can not praise it enough.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, horrifying, heartbreaking, inspiring meticulously researched and written.
I could not put this book down. I read this book in three sittings and was so drawn into the lives of these courageous, young women. Very engaging, harrowing account of corporate arrogance, greed and a cover up of the atrocities of working in an unsafe environment for employees of the radium dial industry. These young ladies, as young 14 years old were working unbeknownst to them with a poisonous, deadly element (RADIUM) that would slowly and painfully kill them. These courageous "Radium Girls" paved the way for employees to have safe environments to work at to earn a living and hold corporations accountable for their unsafe working practices!

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

So painful to read and see how the radium watch dial girls suffered and were lied to. The overall book was somewhat long with many characters which made it somewhat confusing. Nonetheless, a part of history I did not know about and a very sad story.

[Jenna Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The research was incredibly impressive and great writing, but for me I started to get bogged down in the middle on details making it harder to finish. I did greatly appreciate the epilogue! I can’t imagine how much work was put into this book!

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a powerful book about the diseases the ladies fell ill with from working with and ingesting radium.. It was deplorable that the dial companies KNEW radium was dangerous but still told the girls it wasn't.

[Brittany Kocisak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read. It's very journalistic and some what reads like reading a newspaper. I love information and statistics but if you are looking for a narrative story line this book would not be for you. It's deep and devistating.

[Lucinda Vinoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moore has researched and written a chilling story from the history of these young girls so full of life and ambition who trusted their employers and worked industriously using their talents as artists to paint dials. However, the method and poor safety standards became a silent killer and many died horrible deaths at a very young age. In time the truth leaked out and as more girls came forward with mysterious illnesses it was found that they all worked in these radium plants. The radium was substituted by their bodies for calcium and destroyed their bones and cause large tumors.

Read of their long struggles to stay alive and fight for compensation for themselves and their families to pay medical expenses.

[Jo Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book!

This was not a dry factual report on corporate greed: far from it! It was a story about real low income people who seized an opportunity for financial gain and a taste of glamor that went with the good wages paid radium dial painting girls who not only wore fashionable 1920’ clothing and furs, but who even glowed.

Instead of sheer numbers felled by the tactics of the glow in the dark watch, clock, and military dial objects, we met real named girls and women who became victims yet displayed courage.

Not a fan of most non fiction, I read and realized the truth of corporate managers, doctors, whole communities who didn’t want to rock the boat.

There are powerful parallels between this story and injustices occurring today.

[Ashley Eatmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to stop reading this book at times because I was so upset at the lack of sympathy and empathy for these poor, young women. I don’t like the movie Netflix made in 2018, it didn’t highlight all the victories the women had. I loved reading how some of the women lived to their 80s-90s. I personally fell in love with Grace Fryer and Catherine Donahue. Also the lawyers Dr.Berry and Mr.Grossman. When I go to work(I work in a hospital as a CNA), and I see all the warning signs on different chemical stuff, I will think of all the brave women who had to die in order for there to be rules and regulations regarding dangerous chemicals. Thank you Kate Moore for writing this, and thank you Radium Girls for your sacrifice.

[Yolonda Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I read this book last year 2019 and I was shocked to know about the pain and suffering these young ladies endured while employed. Just shocking to me. The story was so graphic, that I really could not read anymore of it. It is unbelievable to me that some companies hide the truth about products, knowing that employees can be hurt severely and a lot of times die because of it and greed. The story reminded me of a company who has been in the news lately relating to baby powder. The author did a wonderful job detailing/writing the events of the young ladies trauma. The story allowed me to use my imagination to envision it in my mind.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to finish this book but I just couldn't read any more due to the author describing ABSOLUTELY EVERY FACT she uncovered in her research. The subject is fascinating but the book is so bloated with extraneous info nobody cares about (the patient's street address 100 years ago) that I would need a gross of red pencils if I were the editor.

When I picked up the book again after 4 days with house guests, I read one page, shook my head and thought "no more". I'm now reading Radio Free Vermont which I really like so far.

[Brielle Correia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not much a of non-fiction reader, and especially not for historical books. I’m terrible with dates and keeping track of names. However, when I read summary for Radium Girls, I was intrigued enough to buy it. All I can say is it was wonderfully written book and I found myself entranced by the story.

I wasn’t able to finish it in one to two sittings like I prefer to do when reading, but the Kate Moore’s storytelling was worth the long read. It’s shocking what isn’t taught in history classes, and I’m happy to have learned so much. I couldn’t recommend Radium Girls more.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful

Totally revolting and so painful with these girls were exposed to. So much was ignored at their risk. Makes me understand So much more important the research is needed before adopting products or anything being exposed to internally or externally. It also made me have a better understanding of the development of unions during that period of time. I did not realize I was reading the extended excerpt edition and now I have to read the book😊

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! The author truly brought these women back into the light! What an astonishing, heartbreaking journey. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount,but I feel so grateful for the lives and sacrifices these women and their families made. An emotional true story! Thank you Kate Moore for writing this book.

[Brianna Denton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would give this book a 3.5 if I could, but good reads doesn’t allow it. The story line was incredibly interesting, fascinating, hearting breaking, and devastating, though it was not a “page turner”. Some chapters were boring and dragged on, but overall a good book. It was also very interesting reading about my home town, Ottawa.

[Evalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fascinating, true account of the "dial painters"- the young women who painted glow-in-the-dark dials on watches in the early 1900s, an effect achieved with radium, and the horrific results of handling this new, magical discovery of the Curies. Gripping and well-written, the author makes readers feel as if they know these women and, as a result, we care about them.

[Nurse Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave it 5 stars because it's an extended excerpt that supplied me with enough information that I didn't need to read the book. No offense to any author intended, but if an excerpt doesn't leave me hungry for more info, the rest of your book is probably a lot of superfluous details. This excerpt was perfect.

[Mary Stumpf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I was expecting something different more of a novel, focusing on one character. However, it seemed more like a documentary in a way.

It seemed to be really well researched and brought to life so many different areas including patient privacy, patient’s right to know, Workman’s Comp. issues and then of course, introduction to radium. I would recommend this book.

[Abigail Morgan]

Not going to rate this because it’s not your typical read but I decided to read the quick extended excerpt of “The Radium Girls” and this story always blows my mind when I hear about it 🫣 Definitely an interesting story from the early 1900s history.. those poor girls 😳 probably won’t read the full book but I’m sure it’s definitely even more informative!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

This was the extended excerpt and it was a real eye opener. I was not aware of the facts of how radium was used in the workplace by unprotected girls. I'm now surely going to read the entire book.

[bj combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible Book about the tragedy of young women who were painting radium on watch dials.
It's a must read - though it is painful in so many places because of how these women were lied to and how they suffered.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was kind of weird. I thought it was slow paced, but it had an interesting plot. There should have been more action. Even though it was slow, I still was intrigued. There were a lot of case trials that made the book go really slow.

[Noemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

I like that is book gives a lot of details and facts that don’t just sound very really but, smart in a way I just can’t stop but, keep on reading and seeing what will happen next in this book!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the “excerpt”…now I need to learn the rest of the story. So far it is a horrifying story or corporate greed and willful disregard for human life. The women in the story are stalwart and hardworking.

[Colleen Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great trove of the personal stories of these young women in a tragic situation. They made their situation count for something. One will feel strongly about corporate profits over safety at the end of this book. Highly recommend.

[Shawnee Slaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Very sad part of history but an amazing book- It shows that even yrs ago corporations were all about the money-

[kamiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging read

A little choppy as it bounces around a little and a lot of characters to keep up with but fascinating historical fiction.

[LaTonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this as a reference to the real world with my science students. Very interesting but unfortunate.