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Glow
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017 - Best Teen Historical Fiction2019-2020 South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee
"A riveting story of ambitious and self-sufficient women, both in the present and past."—Kirkus Reviews starred review
"Bryant's novel will surely spur readers to learn more about this dark part of history."—School Library Journal starred review
Lydia is thrilled to join the working girls in the factory, where they paint luminous watch dials for the soldiers fighting in World War I. In the future, these girls will be known as the tragic Radium factory workers not only poisoned by the glowing paint, but who also had to fight against men who knew of the paint's deadly effect. One hundred years later, Julie, whose life is on hold after high school, becomes intrigued by a series of mysterious antique paintings she finds in a thrift store. When she discovers their hidden-and increasingly nightmarish-glowing images, Julie is determined to learn more about them. As Julie's obsession mounts, truths about the Radium Girls-and her own complicated relationships-are revealed. Can she uncover the secrets behind the paintings before she puts herself and everyone she loves at risk?
"A riveting story of ambitious and self-sufficient women, both in the present and past."—Kirkus Reviews starred review
"Bryant's novel will surely spur readers to learn more about this dark part of history."—School Library Journal starred review
Lydia is thrilled to join the working girls in the factory, where they paint luminous watch dials for the soldiers fighting in World War I. In the future, these girls will be known as the tragic Radium factory workers not only poisoned by the glowing paint, but who also had to fight against men who knew of the paint's deadly effect. One hundred years later, Julie, whose life is on hold after high school, becomes intrigued by a series of mysterious antique paintings she finds in a thrift store. When she discovers their hidden-and increasingly nightmarish-glowing images, Julie is determined to learn more about them. As Julie's obsession mounts, truths about the Radium Girls-and her own complicated relationships-are revealed. Can she uncover the secrets behind the paintings before she puts herself and everyone she loves at risk?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2017
81 people are currently reading
1039 people want to read
About the author
Megan E. Bryant
130 books34 followersI've counted books among my friends for as long as I can remember. I was born in Santa Monica, California, though that beautiful city is just one of many places I've called home; my family moved ten times before I graduated from high school. Moving so frequently gave me many opportunities to experience new places, meet new people, and make new friends . . . but it could be lonely, too, especially while I adjusted to a new town or school. When I felt homesick for people and places far away, I knew that I could always turn to my books, familiar friends who traveled everywhere I did. Reading so much inspired me to write my own stories and poems, on topics ranging from birds and snowflakes to castles and talking pasta (really!).
Looking back, all that reading and writing was the perfect preparation for my dream job: writing for children and young adults. I moved to New York City for college and after graduating from New York University with a degree in Dramatic Literature, I worked as a children's book editor for five years. Another move—this time with my husband—led me to close my eyes, hold my breath, and take the leap to become a full-time writer. It was the best decision I ever could've made.
I've lived in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for five years (that's almost a record for me) with my family, and I thank my lucky stars every day for the good fortune to write for kids and teens.
When I'm not writing, I'm . . .
Knitting obsessively, just like my grandmother did (if there's a knitting gene, I got it from her)
Drinking another pot of tea
Doodling on a 3 x 5 index card
Attempting to decipher the cryptic Post-It notes stuck to my desk
Reading voraciously, especially nonfiction or current events
Cooking vegetarian food (or, more likely, making dessert)
Trying to save my garden from a fearless band of marauding squirrels
Cuddling with my cat and wrestling with my dog
Covering my kids with kisses
(copied from the author's website)
Looking back, all that reading and writing was the perfect preparation for my dream job: writing for children and young adults. I moved to New York City for college and after graduating from New York University with a degree in Dramatic Literature, I worked as a children's book editor for five years. Another move—this time with my husband—led me to close my eyes, hold my breath, and take the leap to become a full-time writer. It was the best decision I ever could've made.
I've lived in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for five years (that's almost a record for me) with my family, and I thank my lucky stars every day for the good fortune to write for kids and teens.
When I'm not writing, I'm . . .
Knitting obsessively, just like my grandmother did (if there's a knitting gene, I got it from her)
Drinking another pot of tea
Doodling on a 3 x 5 index card
Attempting to decipher the cryptic Post-It notes stuck to my desk
Reading voraciously, especially nonfiction or current events
Cooking vegetarian food (or, more likely, making dessert)
Trying to save my garden from a fearless band of marauding squirrels
Cuddling with my cat and wrestling with my dog
Covering my kids with kisses
(copied from the author's website)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
September 20, 2018
Books based on true stories are always a bit intense. When you're no longer creating every detail and the events or type of events that happen are based on real people then the suffering, pains and emotions felt by the characters in the story are more difficult to take.
I found Glow to be a very well written story about the 'Radium Girls', as they have been dubbed. These are girls that worked during WWI in a factory setting painting numbers onto watches with radium paint. They were encouraged to 'tip' their tiny brushes with their lips or teeth in order to waste as little paint as possible. This resulted in them being exposed to, and ingesting, high concentrations of radium. Radium is of course radioactive and deadly to humans.
The History
Even before reading the bibliography and historical notes provided by Megan E. Bryant at the end of the book, it was clear to me that a lot of research had been done into the events, details and lives of the Radium Girls. A quick perusal on Wikipedia will confirm many of the events that happen in Glow are based on true stories. While our characters are fictional and the exact progression of who and when certain key events happen; the actual events themselves (ie: teeth falling out, broken bones, doctors visits, protective equipment to workers in the factory except the women, etc.) our lead girls experience are all based on true fact.
Two Timelines
A common layout for historical books these days is to have two timelines. The one in which we experience the past (often in letters like used in Glow, or journal entries) and the 'current day' situation; in which we follow a character that is discovering the past for one reason or another. This format for storing telling works very well and Bryant uses it to her advantage to connect us, as the reader, to her current day character and subsequently back to our Radium Girls. While the focus is on the ultimate sacrifice and injustice done to the Radium Girls there is also a progression of discovering the truth, or allowing yourself to 'see' the truth in our current day story. The entire book as a whole is about ensuring you see the real truth and are not blinded by what you hope or wish to be reality. It's especially poignant to note that turning a blind eye to obvious truths, in the case of the Radium Girls, can kill you.
It's Not Pretty...
This is not a YA book to be handed to a young child lightly. It is quite horrifying what these women were subject to. The way they were treated, dismissed and intentionally (by all accounts) poisoned. I would say if you wouldn't be comfortable giving a potential reader Night by Elie Wiesel, then I would also withhold Glow. While Night is far more horrific based how humans are treated (and certainly that there are so many humans affected), I could see Glow being just as upsetting to a young teen.
I think everything is different when you know it's based on true fact. There are descriptions of oozing, festering wounds, teeth and jaw lose or removal, and overall ailing sickness from radiation poisoning that could be disturbing to some. For me, even more horrifying than the illness, is that the men involved in the factory, the doctors that advise the women, and anyone 'in the know' (including the scientists that worked with the radium on the second level of the factory) all allowed these women to be subject to radium's radioactive properties knowing it would make them sick and eventually prematurely kill them. The management and scientists would wear protective gear, and when the women asked about it they were told it wasn't of concern for what they were doing. This revelation of the despicable actions of those involved in killing these women is easily the most disturbing part for me. At points I felt ill to my stomach thinking of these girls being subject to such toxic conditions; especially when they are berated for not 'tipping' their brushes which resulted in them ingesting the deadly paint.
This Book Deserves More Attention!
Given the historical story told here and it's eventual impact on today's labour laws, working condition requirements and perhaps even women's right or respect in the workplace; I am disappointed that Glow has such a small readership base to date.
I think everyone over 18 (at minimum) should read this book. It's a quick, concise read and is a good reminder that we need to continue to be vigilant with regulations, safety procedures and working condition restrictions every day. It's too easy to be told 'don't worry about it' or 'you'll be fine' or be shamed into silence. Glow is a sad but important reminder to us that, not that long ago in civilized society, people were willing to sacrifice others for the almighty dollar. War times or not there is never a good reason to put someone at risk in order to save a few dollars.
I encourage everyone to read Glow and reflect on the sacrifice the Radium Girls ultimately made in order for us to have a safer society today. There is much to be learned from the story of these girls. Certainly the most important is that we must always ensure we are looking out for ourselves when it comes to workplace conditions and safety. Your life or well being is not worth the money offered. The Radium Girls learned that much too late and it would be (and is) a tragedy for history to repeat itself anywhere in today's world in such a way as it did for these women. Let us advocate, learn and remain vigilant about safety as a way to commemorate and honour the Radium Girls for their sacrifice.
Your first step towards appreciating and honouring these women can be to read Bryant's Glow.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
I found Glow to be a very well written story about the 'Radium Girls', as they have been dubbed. These are girls that worked during WWI in a factory setting painting numbers onto watches with radium paint. They were encouraged to 'tip' their tiny brushes with their lips or teeth in order to waste as little paint as possible. This resulted in them being exposed to, and ingesting, high concentrations of radium. Radium is of course radioactive and deadly to humans.
The History
Even before reading the bibliography and historical notes provided by Megan E. Bryant at the end of the book, it was clear to me that a lot of research had been done into the events, details and lives of the Radium Girls. A quick perusal on Wikipedia will confirm many of the events that happen in Glow are based on true stories. While our characters are fictional and the exact progression of who and when certain key events happen; the actual events themselves (ie: teeth falling out, broken bones, doctors visits, protective equipment to workers in the factory except the women, etc.) our lead girls experience are all based on true fact.
Two Timelines
A common layout for historical books these days is to have two timelines. The one in which we experience the past (often in letters like used in Glow, or journal entries) and the 'current day' situation; in which we follow a character that is discovering the past for one reason or another. This format for storing telling works very well and Bryant uses it to her advantage to connect us, as the reader, to her current day character and subsequently back to our Radium Girls. While the focus is on the ultimate sacrifice and injustice done to the Radium Girls there is also a progression of discovering the truth, or allowing yourself to 'see' the truth in our current day story. The entire book as a whole is about ensuring you see the real truth and are not blinded by what you hope or wish to be reality. It's especially poignant to note that turning a blind eye to obvious truths, in the case of the Radium Girls, can kill you.
It's Not Pretty...
This is not a YA book to be handed to a young child lightly. It is quite horrifying what these women were subject to. The way they were treated, dismissed and intentionally (by all accounts) poisoned. I would say if you wouldn't be comfortable giving a potential reader Night by Elie Wiesel, then I would also withhold Glow. While Night is far more horrific based how humans are treated (and certainly that there are so many humans affected), I could see Glow being just as upsetting to a young teen.
I think everything is different when you know it's based on true fact. There are descriptions of oozing, festering wounds, teeth and jaw lose or removal, and overall ailing sickness from radiation poisoning that could be disturbing to some. For me, even more horrifying than the illness, is that the men involved in the factory, the doctors that advise the women, and anyone 'in the know' (including the scientists that worked with the radium on the second level of the factory) all allowed these women to be subject to radium's radioactive properties knowing it would make them sick and eventually prematurely kill them. The management and scientists would wear protective gear, and when the women asked about it they were told it wasn't of concern for what they were doing. This revelation of the despicable actions of those involved in killing these women is easily the most disturbing part for me. At points I felt ill to my stomach thinking of these girls being subject to such toxic conditions; especially when they are berated for not 'tipping' their brushes which resulted in them ingesting the deadly paint.
This Book Deserves More Attention!
Given the historical story told here and it's eventual impact on today's labour laws, working condition requirements and perhaps even women's right or respect in the workplace; I am disappointed that Glow has such a small readership base to date.
I think everyone over 18 (at minimum) should read this book. It's a quick, concise read and is a good reminder that we need to continue to be vigilant with regulations, safety procedures and working condition restrictions every day. It's too easy to be told 'don't worry about it' or 'you'll be fine' or be shamed into silence. Glow is a sad but important reminder to us that, not that long ago in civilized society, people were willing to sacrifice others for the almighty dollar. War times or not there is never a good reason to put someone at risk in order to save a few dollars.
I encourage everyone to read Glow and reflect on the sacrifice the Radium Girls ultimately made in order for us to have a safer society today. There is much to be learned from the story of these girls. Certainly the most important is that we must always ensure we are looking out for ourselves when it comes to workplace conditions and safety. Your life or well being is not worth the money offered. The Radium Girls learned that much too late and it would be (and is) a tragedy for history to repeat itself anywhere in today's world in such a way as it did for these women. Let us advocate, learn and remain vigilant about safety as a way to commemorate and honour the Radium Girls for their sacrifice.
Your first step towards appreciating and honouring these women can be to read Bryant's Glow.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
November 13, 2019
I simply can't find the words to express how much I love this book. I cried at the end; feeling both great joy and greater sadness. The is an absolutely wonderful book about a monumental tragedy that, I feel, should never have happened. I hope that the radium girls will never be forgotten and that history will never repeat itself.
May 10, 2024
I don't know if any of the actual Radium Girls unwittingly used the stuff to create radioactive paintings, but it's a brilliant device to bridge the long-ago horror show with modern teen angst.
April 6, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Set both in modern day Orange, New Jersey and back in the days of WWI. The lives of four young women are linked over the years. Julie a young student starts a search in thrift shops for paintings signed by the artist L.G. The paintings are remarkable and Julie becomes obsessed by finding out more about the artist who lived a century before.
The three sisters Liza, Lydia, and Charlotte Grayson who were employed to paint the dials of wrist watches for men of the front line in the First World War. No one has any knowledge of the horror, misery and suffering that will be brought about by exposure to the wondrous new element radium. The local girls all want to work at the radium factory, it pays well and they enjoy the work but gradually L.G realises that all is not well and starts to express her fears secretly in her remarkable paintings. There are such poignant letters sent to a lover who is fighting somewhere abroad, he is someone to confide in, someone to whom the writer can express her dreadful fears.
Although this is a young adult book I feel that it should be aimed at the older teenager, as the story unfolds we come face to face with the horrific effects of exposure to radium.
I as an adult found it very moving and dreadfully sad. I learnt so much and can only praise the author for all the research that went into the story. I have The Radium Girls on my list to read and I think having read Glow I have grounding in the awful story yet to come.
The three sisters Liza, Lydia, and Charlotte Grayson who were employed to paint the dials of wrist watches for men of the front line in the First World War. No one has any knowledge of the horror, misery and suffering that will be brought about by exposure to the wondrous new element radium. The local girls all want to work at the radium factory, it pays well and they enjoy the work but gradually L.G realises that all is not well and starts to express her fears secretly in her remarkable paintings. There are such poignant letters sent to a lover who is fighting somewhere abroad, he is someone to confide in, someone to whom the writer can express her dreadful fears.
Although this is a young adult book I feel that it should be aimed at the older teenager, as the story unfolds we come face to face with the horrific effects of exposure to radium.
I as an adult found it very moving and dreadfully sad. I learnt so much and can only praise the author for all the research that went into the story. I have The Radium Girls on my list to read and I think having read Glow I have grounding in the awful story yet to come.
November 14, 2017
*I received this book for free from Publisher (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Read this review and more on my blog.The Book Return Blog
'There's a certain kind of light that I should have been afraid of all along.'
Radium was discovered by Marie Sklodowska-Curie and her husband Pierre Curie on December 21, 1898. When radium decays it causes luminescence. With America's entry into WWI came a need for self-luminous aircraft switches and instrument dials.
Marie and Pierre Curie by André Castaigne
Soldiers involved in trench warfare were especially in need of watches that could be seen in complete darkness. The harmful effects of radium were not yet known. Factories that produced the luminescent dials were set up Orange, New Jersey, Ottawa, Illinois, and Waterbury, Connecticut. These factories employed young girls and women to paint the numbers and hands with radium. Enter the radium girls.
Watch hands painted with radium
The painters were instructed to point their paintbrushes between their lips to create finer details on the numbers and hands of the watches. Not surprisingly, soon many of the workers began experiencing sores, anemia, and bone cancer. Radium is treated as calcium by the body and is deposited in the bones. The dial painting companies tried to cover up the adverse effects of radium and insisted that their workers were suffering syphilis (let that sink in for a minute). The tragedy of the radium girls, impart, lead to the forming of the Occupational Disease Labor Law.
'Glow' is told in alternating past and present points of view. Glow's past point of view tells the story of Lydia Grayson and her two sisters, Charlotte, and Liza. Liza works in the Orange, New Jersey dial painting factory. Liza gets Lydia a job there when one of the other girls becomes ill (a bit of foreshadowing here). This POV is told through letters Lydia writes to her beau, Walter, who is an American soldier fighting in Europe during WWI.
Glow's present POV is told from the first person perspective of Julie. Julie is a high school senior who is hoping to go to art school. Her future becomes marred due to family issues. Julie becomes fascinated with paintings she finds in a thrift store. She is then pulled into the search for the artist and the paintings past.
I love historical fiction but I have found that just plain historical fiction can be a bit dry. I really enjoy historical-fiction novels that switch between past and present points of view. When this done well, the past and present POV weave together two seemingly unrelated storylines that come together seamlessly.
YA historical fiction is not a genre that is as popular as it should be. Young Adult historical fiction is often pushed to the side by the flashier fantasy and feel-good contemporary novels. There are so many pieces of history that can tell an engaging story.
I loved so much about 'Glow'. I loved the characters of Liza and Lydia. Both their stories and personalities really brought life to the novel. Their younger sister Charlotte's passion to become one of the dial painters, like her sisters, really illustrated why women would want to work in the dial factories at this time. My one and only complaint with 'Glow' is that I would have liked to know more about Liza, Lydia, and Charlotte's mother. She was mentioned a few times but not really part of the story. I found my self-wondering how she was feeling about everything.
At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Lydia's POV being told through her letters to her beau Walter. As I read, I realized these snippets of her life lead to the build-up of finding out what happened to her and her family. Their story was definitely a tear-jerker.
Julie's story was equally compelling. Her difficulties with her family and her friend, Lauren, really shows how she was struggling to deal with her own issues. Her love of art and science gave her an escape and gave an explanation why she was so fascinated by the paintings she discovered. Luke as a character was wonderful. Luke had his own issues so he was able to understand Julie's family problems. He was funny and kind and his added knowledge of chemistry added realism to Julie's story. I liked the relationship that he formed with Julie. Julie and Luke's relationship progressed slowly as this type of relationship usually does.
I found 'Glow' completely fascinating. I had never heard about the radium girls before. The radium girl's story is so enthralling and tragic. I can't believe their plight isn't more well known. This is such an important part of history. I have since found out that a non-fiction account of the radium girls story has been published and I am anxious to find out how it compares to 'Glow.'
This review was originally posted on The Book return...
'There's a certain kind of light that I should have been afraid of all along.'
Radium was discovered by Marie Sklodowska-Curie and her husband Pierre Curie on December 21, 1898. When radium decays it causes luminescence. With America's entry into WWI came a need for self-luminous aircraft switches and instrument dials.
Marie and Pierre Curie by André Castaigne
Soldiers involved in trench warfare were especially in need of watches that could be seen in complete darkness. The harmful effects of radium were not yet known. Factories that produced the luminescent dials were set up Orange, New Jersey, Ottawa, Illinois, and Waterbury, Connecticut. These factories employed young girls and women to paint the numbers and hands with radium. Enter the radium girls.
Watch hands painted with radium
The painters were instructed to point their paintbrushes between their lips to create finer details on the numbers and hands of the watches. Not surprisingly, soon many of the workers began experiencing sores, anemia, and bone cancer. Radium is treated as calcium by the body and is deposited in the bones. The dial painting companies tried to cover up the adverse effects of radium and insisted that their workers were suffering syphilis (let that sink in for a minute). The tragedy of the radium girls, impart, lead to the forming of the Occupational Disease Labor Law.
'Glow' is told in alternating past and present points of view. Glow's past point of view tells the story of Lydia Grayson and her two sisters, Charlotte, and Liza. Liza works in the Orange, New Jersey dial painting factory. Liza gets Lydia a job there when one of the other girls becomes ill (a bit of foreshadowing here). This POV is told through letters Lydia writes to her beau, Walter, who is an American soldier fighting in Europe during WWI.
Glow's present POV is told from the first person perspective of Julie. Julie is a high school senior who is hoping to go to art school. Her future becomes marred due to family issues. Julie becomes fascinated with paintings she finds in a thrift store. She is then pulled into the search for the artist and the paintings past.
I love historical fiction but I have found that just plain historical fiction can be a bit dry. I really enjoy historical-fiction novels that switch between past and present points of view. When this done well, the past and present POV weave together two seemingly unrelated storylines that come together seamlessly.
YA historical fiction is not a genre that is as popular as it should be. Young Adult historical fiction is often pushed to the side by the flashier fantasy and feel-good contemporary novels. There are so many pieces of history that can tell an engaging story.
I loved so much about 'Glow'. I loved the characters of Liza and Lydia. Both their stories and personalities really brought life to the novel. Their younger sister Charlotte's passion to become one of the dial painters, like her sisters, really illustrated why women would want to work in the dial factories at this time. My one and only complaint with 'Glow' is that I would have liked to know more about Liza, Lydia, and Charlotte's mother. She was mentioned a few times but not really part of the story. I found my self-wondering how she was feeling about everything.
At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Lydia's POV being told through her letters to her beau Walter. As I read, I realized these snippets of her life lead to the build-up of finding out what happened to her and her family. Their story was definitely a tear-jerker.
Julie's story was equally compelling. Her difficulties with her family and her friend, Lauren, really shows how she was struggling to deal with her own issues. Her love of art and science gave her an escape and gave an explanation why she was so fascinated by the paintings she discovered. Luke as a character was wonderful. Luke had his own issues so he was able to understand Julie's family problems. He was funny and kind and his added knowledge of chemistry added realism to Julie's story. I liked the relationship that he formed with Julie. Julie and Luke's relationship progressed slowly as this type of relationship usually does.
I found 'Glow' completely fascinating. I had never heard about the radium girls before. The radium girl's story is so enthralling and tragic. I can't believe their plight isn't more well known. This is such an important part of history. I have since found out that a non-fiction account of the radium girls story has been published and I am anxious to find out how it compares to 'Glow.'
This review was originally posted on The Book return...
August 26, 2017
When I was first asked to read and review Megan E. Bryant's Glow, I was instantly intrigued by the Radium Girls aspect. As a chemistry graduate student, I'm always interested in (1) anything that has do with science and (2) seeing how factory workers' conditions once were, especially regarding the case of radium.
As it turns out, Glow was a stellar read! Beautifully blending together historical accuracy and two girls's coming-of-ages, Glow was a book I easily devoured in one extra-long sitting.
One of my favorite aspects was the dual narrative. As I've said before, sometimes it works in books and sometimes it doesn't. Thankfully, in the case of Glow it truly managed to work quite well. Megan E. Bryant did a beautiful job of blending together Julie's narrative point of view with that of Lydia's letters to Walter. It was incredibly easy to not only connect with both characters but also get to truly know them over the course of the story. Additionally, Megan did a great job of switching between the two at just the right moments - building up suspense for both Lydia and Julie's respective stories.
Lydia's letters particularly struck a cord in me, as they managed to grab ahold of my heart and squeeze it. When Glow first introduces Lydia, she's the typical lovesick wartime girlfriend, sad to see her man off to war, even thought she knows it's for the good of the country. Soon enough Lydia throws herself into a new gig, painting dial watches. Over time, she begins to feel some more importance - she's doing this great deed for the solders, helping them to tell time even when it's dark outside. I loved seeing her cultivate her skill and gain a family within the workers at the factory. Those relationships are what made her so life-like and real to me. I also loved her bond with her sisters and mother, especially when it came to protecting her little sister. While all these relationships ended up breaking my heart even more as the times got tough and the conditions got worst, I was so happy and even honored to get to read the story of Lydia and her fellow factory girls. It was one that shined an important light on the narrative of a radium girl, truly making the reader understand and feel the thoughts and feelings they experienced.
I also throughly enjoyed Julie's POV. Julie's a character who is incredibly down on her luck. She's had to forfeit college to save her family, and by doing so, she's managed to alienate herself from everyone who loves her. From the start, I was impressed by Julie's determination to earn the money to put herself through college; however, I was hoping she'd be able to finally open up to someone about how lost she has been. Over the course of the book, Julie goes from being a "watcher" to a "go-getter," someone who's not afraid to ask the college boy for help, or break into a factory to get answers, or even stand up to a friend who has been treating her bad. I loved seeing that development occur, especially when it involved Julie cultivating her scientific and detective abilities. There was one aspect, though, that did bug me about her character: the amount of time it took her to truly understand what was going on. However, I can only be so taken aback by it, as it did help to make the storyline more interesting - constantly waiting for the moment Julie realized what was going on.
As hinted to above, the plot of Glow is also incredibly addictive. I loved how Megan brought to light a time so often ignored in history: the time of the Radium Girls and the horrible, deadly poisoning they were unknowingly subjected to at the time. I hate to admit this, but prior to reading Glow, I didn't know too much about the Radium Girls. Over the course of the story, however, I learned a lot and every time a new detail of ignorance from the higher-ups or a new odd sickness of one the girls came to light, my stomach turned. I was internally screaming "leave the factory, don't continue with the painting!"
In all, Glow is an amazing and thought provoking story. Throughout the story, it's easy to feel the pain, the hope, and most importantly, the love these characters posses. If you love science and brave female characters, you simply must add this to your TBR!
Grade: A
As it turns out, Glow was a stellar read! Beautifully blending together historical accuracy and two girls's coming-of-ages, Glow was a book I easily devoured in one extra-long sitting.
One of my favorite aspects was the dual narrative. As I've said before, sometimes it works in books and sometimes it doesn't. Thankfully, in the case of Glow it truly managed to work quite well. Megan E. Bryant did a beautiful job of blending together Julie's narrative point of view with that of Lydia's letters to Walter. It was incredibly easy to not only connect with both characters but also get to truly know them over the course of the story. Additionally, Megan did a great job of switching between the two at just the right moments - building up suspense for both Lydia and Julie's respective stories.
Lydia's letters particularly struck a cord in me, as they managed to grab ahold of my heart and squeeze it. When Glow first introduces Lydia, she's the typical lovesick wartime girlfriend, sad to see her man off to war, even thought she knows it's for the good of the country. Soon enough Lydia throws herself into a new gig, painting dial watches. Over time, she begins to feel some more importance - she's doing this great deed for the solders, helping them to tell time even when it's dark outside. I loved seeing her cultivate her skill and gain a family within the workers at the factory. Those relationships are what made her so life-like and real to me. I also loved her bond with her sisters and mother, especially when it came to protecting her little sister. While all these relationships ended up breaking my heart even more as the times got tough and the conditions got worst, I was so happy and even honored to get to read the story of Lydia and her fellow factory girls. It was one that shined an important light on the narrative of a radium girl, truly making the reader understand and feel the thoughts and feelings they experienced.
I also throughly enjoyed Julie's POV. Julie's a character who is incredibly down on her luck. She's had to forfeit college to save her family, and by doing so, she's managed to alienate herself from everyone who loves her. From the start, I was impressed by Julie's determination to earn the money to put herself through college; however, I was hoping she'd be able to finally open up to someone about how lost she has been. Over the course of the book, Julie goes from being a "watcher" to a "go-getter," someone who's not afraid to ask the college boy for help, or break into a factory to get answers, or even stand up to a friend who has been treating her bad. I loved seeing that development occur, especially when it involved Julie cultivating her scientific and detective abilities. There was one aspect, though, that did bug me about her character: the amount of time it took her to truly understand what was going on. However, I can only be so taken aback by it, as it did help to make the storyline more interesting - constantly waiting for the moment Julie realized what was going on.
As hinted to above, the plot of Glow is also incredibly addictive. I loved how Megan brought to light a time so often ignored in history: the time of the Radium Girls and the horrible, deadly poisoning they were unknowingly subjected to at the time. I hate to admit this, but prior to reading Glow, I didn't know too much about the Radium Girls. Over the course of the story, however, I learned a lot and every time a new detail of ignorance from the higher-ups or a new odd sickness of one the girls came to light, my stomach turned. I was internally screaming "leave the factory, don't continue with the painting!"
In all, Glow is an amazing and thought provoking story. Throughout the story, it's easy to feel the pain, the hope, and most importantly, the love these characters posses. If you love science and brave female characters, you simply must add this to your TBR!
Grade: A
October 17, 2017
I has been looking for an historical teen fiction to read and this one caught my attention because it was about a topic I hadn't heard of before. This book goes back and forth between the present day and the late 1910s to try to solve a mystery of glowing paintings. It uncovers the story of the "radium girls," factory workers who used radium powder and paint to paint dials on glow-in-the-dark watches for the war effort. These factory workers were told that ingesting the powder was safe, and even had health benefits and were encouraged to paint their skin with it as well as "tipping" the brush with their mouths and teeth to get more precise numbers on the faces of the watch. After a short while some of the girls started to get really sick and even died from the materials they were using. Doctors for the factory tried to blame it on the promiscuity of the girls and claimed they had syphilis, thus absolving themselves from paying for any medical bills.
To me, the historical story was much more interesting than the storyline set in the current day, but both were interesting enough to make me want to read more. I even went so far as to continue to research the topic after finishing the book. A very captivating historical fiction about a more obscure topic.
To me, the historical story was much more interesting than the storyline set in the current day, but both were interesting enough to make me want to read more. I even went so far as to continue to research the topic after finishing the book. A very captivating historical fiction about a more obscure topic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 26, 2020Julie, who's world has just crashed around her, finds some old paintings in thrift stores and discovers a hidden secret in them when the lights go out. She becomes obsessed with her "summer project" of recreating the art and finding out who the artist is. However, she soon realizes there is something more sinister in the glowing artwork... something that may put Julie and those she loves at risk. Julie's "find" is tied to another story revolving around the "Radium Girls" and their lives and loves during World War I. Eventually, it all comes full circle and the two stories merge together.
This book evoked so many emotions that it's difficult to describe, but it was so beautifully enlightening, showing a piece of our history that is finally coming into full light. -Jennifer K.
This book evoked so many emotions that it's difficult to describe, but it was so beautifully enlightening, showing a piece of our history that is finally coming into full light. -Jennifer K.
December 19, 2019
3.5 stars; what's the deal with paintings that Julie finds at a consignment shop? They glow! Julie is hooked. Are there more paintings to collect? As a prospective art student, can she duplicate the method?
The story alternates between Julie's story in the present and the story behind the paintings that is set in the past. To me, this was more of a mystery than historical fiction.. Those who are looking for a young adult book (Julie's a recent high school graduate; the story is set during the summer after high school) that's a 'clean' read will want to check this one out.
The story alternates between Julie's story in the present and the story behind the paintings that is set in the past. To me, this was more of a mystery than historical fiction.. Those who are looking for a young adult book (Julie's a recent high school graduate; the story is set during the summer after high school) that's a 'clean' read will want to check this one out.
February 18, 2018
Julie, who's world has just crashed around her, finds some old paintings in thrift stores and discovers a hidden secret in them when the lights go out. She becomes obsessed with her "summer project" of recreating the art and finding out who the artist is. However, she soon realizes there is something more sinister in the glowing artwork... something that may put Julie and those she loves at risk.
Julie's "find" is tied to another story revolving around the "Radium Girls" and their lives and loves during World War I. Eventually, it all comes full circle and the two stories merge together.
This book evoked so many emotions that it's difficult to describe, but it was so beautifully enlightening, showing a piece of our history that is finally coming into full light.
Julie's "find" is tied to another story revolving around the "Radium Girls" and their lives and loves during World War I. Eventually, it all comes full circle and the two stories merge together.
This book evoked so many emotions that it's difficult to describe, but it was so beautifully enlightening, showing a piece of our history that is finally coming into full light.
September 22, 2018
I was quite impressed by this book. Absolutely recommend.
August 26, 2017
I have a love hate relationship with Glow, an upcoming young adult novel from Megan E. Bryant. Earlier this year, I read The Radium Girls by Kate Moore - an absolutely horrifying account of injustices committed against young women under the guise of patriotism. Before Moore, I cannot recall ever hearing about the dial painters. This book provides a fictional account based heavily on true stories about the girls that met their untimely demise.
The main character of Glow is a young woman of eighteen by the name of Jubilee - but don't you dare call her that! She prefers Julie. After making the ultimate sacrifice for her mother, she spends the summer unraveling the mysteries behind paintings she finds at thrift stores while her best friend prepares for college.
Between each chapter, readers find an epistolary account from the mind of Lydia Grayson. Like her sisters, Lydia is one of the many girls that worked for the American Radium Company (I think I got that right). The Grayson sisters, for those that haven't read The Radium Girls in order to make the comparison, appears to be based loosely on the Maggia sisters, while the company is, obviously, a fictionalized version of the United States Radium Corporation. (Amelia "Mollie" Maggia was the first of the Radium Girls to die.)
Unlike most books that attempt this method, I do not find the switch between perspectives and styles to be detrimental or clunky - if anything, it is inconvenient. Rather than wrap up preceding chapters, Bryant uses these switches to leave Julie's story on a cliffhanger more than once throughout the book. This style can easily be avoided, considering the letters written from Lydia to her boyfriend are interesting enough on their own to propel the reader forward.
While Julie's story offers an plot that appeals to younger readers, I feel Glow would have worked just fine without it. For that purpose, I'm caught between a three and a four on this book. Ultimately, I lean toward the latter and must applaud Bryant on the amount of research she obviously put into writing this book. Julie's story is unbelievable and full of things that I simply have no interest in, but the haunting tale that the Grayson sisters weave is horrifying.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.
The main character of Glow is a young woman of eighteen by the name of Jubilee - but don't you dare call her that! She prefers Julie. After making the ultimate sacrifice for her mother, she spends the summer unraveling the mysteries behind paintings she finds at thrift stores while her best friend prepares for college.
Between each chapter, readers find an epistolary account from the mind of Lydia Grayson. Like her sisters, Lydia is one of the many girls that worked for the American Radium Company (I think I got that right). The Grayson sisters, for those that haven't read The Radium Girls in order to make the comparison, appears to be based loosely on the Maggia sisters, while the company is, obviously, a fictionalized version of the United States Radium Corporation. (Amelia "Mollie" Maggia was the first of the Radium Girls to die.)
Unlike most books that attempt this method, I do not find the switch between perspectives and styles to be detrimental or clunky - if anything, it is inconvenient. Rather than wrap up preceding chapters, Bryant uses these switches to leave Julie's story on a cliffhanger more than once throughout the book. This style can easily be avoided, considering the letters written from Lydia to her boyfriend are interesting enough on their own to propel the reader forward.
While Julie's story offers an plot that appeals to younger readers, I feel Glow would have worked just fine without it. For that purpose, I'm caught between a three and a four on this book. Ultimately, I lean toward the latter and must applaud Bryant on the amount of research she obviously put into writing this book. Julie's story is unbelievable and full of things that I simply have no interest in, but the haunting tale that the Grayson sisters weave is horrifying.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.
January 5, 2018
I loved the premise of the book. I have recently read the book, Radium Girls, that tells the true story of the dial painters and their fight with the radium industry. This was a nice story to go along with that.
This book was divided into two primary sections that were interwoven. I loved the letters that told the story of the dial painters. I tolerated the modern story of the young girl who found the paintings. To me, Julie (the modern girl) was not a very sympathetic character nor could I identify with her at all. She seemed superficially drawn and rushed. I adored Liza and Lydia though (the two primary dial painters). Their story was told through letters written to Lydia’s sweetheart who was fighting in WWI.
In my opinion, this book could have been amazing. The story was there. But it almost seemed like the writer got rushed or limited in her page numbers. As a result of that, it was just good. (Which isn’t bad!) I’d still recommend it as an entertaining and quick read.
This book was divided into two primary sections that were interwoven. I loved the letters that told the story of the dial painters. I tolerated the modern story of the young girl who found the paintings. To me, Julie (the modern girl) was not a very sympathetic character nor could I identify with her at all. She seemed superficially drawn and rushed. I adored Liza and Lydia though (the two primary dial painters). Their story was told through letters written to Lydia’s sweetheart who was fighting in WWI.
In my opinion, this book could have been amazing. The story was there. But it almost seemed like the writer got rushed or limited in her page numbers. As a result of that, it was just good. (Which isn’t bad!) I’d still recommend it as an entertaining and quick read.
January 10, 2019
Enjoyable, Gripping, Uncomfortable, Intriguing, Depressing, Horrifying.
The book Glow by Megan E. Bryant evoked many emotions. The format that this novel is written in is very unique in that there are two different perspectives switching back and forth between the character Lydia’s letters to her boyfriend Walter in 1917-1918 and the character Julie’s in the present day.
During World War I, many girls and women worked in factories using radioactive paint to apply small numbers on watches for soldiers. Little did they know, the paint was radioactive and made countless workers sick. The author wrote very gruesome and detailed descriptions of the effects of radium, which made me feel physically sick to my stomach. In an unusual scene, one of the ill characters desperately ate a spoonful of paint because she thought it would make her feel better. This made me feel uncomfortable and sad. As the reader I knew the paint would make her condition worse and that she would die sooner.
About one hundred years later a teenage girl named Julie bought some paintings that, when she turned the lights off, they started to glow showing frightening images. After this realization, Julie was determined to find out how the paints glowed in the dark and who created these paintings. Julie’s determination turned out to be dangerous. Knowing that Julie was potentially exposing herself to radium and could become very ill, just like the girls in the factory in 1918. It was exciting but also nerve-racking to follow her dangerous quest to solve the mystery of the paintings.
It was fascinating to learn about this true and tragic event that happened in my home state of New Jersey. I thought that alternating between the past and present was an innovative idea that kept me in suspense and made me want to read more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Glow and recommend reading this book especially if you enjoy historical fiction and don’t mind a little bit of present day action mixed in. There are some parts that can be disturbing and mature so young or squeamish readers should not read this novel.
As for the rest of you, read this spellbinding book and be horrified and astonished.
The book Glow by Megan E. Bryant evoked many emotions. The format that this novel is written in is very unique in that there are two different perspectives switching back and forth between the character Lydia’s letters to her boyfriend Walter in 1917-1918 and the character Julie’s in the present day.
During World War I, many girls and women worked in factories using radioactive paint to apply small numbers on watches for soldiers. Little did they know, the paint was radioactive and made countless workers sick. The author wrote very gruesome and detailed descriptions of the effects of radium, which made me feel physically sick to my stomach. In an unusual scene, one of the ill characters desperately ate a spoonful of paint because she thought it would make her feel better. This made me feel uncomfortable and sad. As the reader I knew the paint would make her condition worse and that she would die sooner.
About one hundred years later a teenage girl named Julie bought some paintings that, when she turned the lights off, they started to glow showing frightening images. After this realization, Julie was determined to find out how the paints glowed in the dark and who created these paintings. Julie’s determination turned out to be dangerous. Knowing that Julie was potentially exposing herself to radium and could become very ill, just like the girls in the factory in 1918. It was exciting but also nerve-racking to follow her dangerous quest to solve the mystery of the paintings.
It was fascinating to learn about this true and tragic event that happened in my home state of New Jersey. I thought that alternating between the past and present was an innovative idea that kept me in suspense and made me want to read more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Glow and recommend reading this book especially if you enjoy historical fiction and don’t mind a little bit of present day action mixed in. There are some parts that can be disturbing and mature so young or squeamish readers should not read this novel.
As for the rest of you, read this spellbinding book and be horrified and astonished.
January 31, 2019
I'm not sure why this took me so long to read because I really liked it. My favorite historical fiction era is around WWI or WWII. This story is told by two people, one girl during WWI through letters to her beloved who is in the war overseas. She is struggling with the usual things such as family, money, job, Etc. She is also struggling with something very unique, her sister and her friends are deteriorating around her, literally falling apart. The second person to narrate this book is a modern girl who's kind of lost and discovers some unique and sometimes horrifying artwork. As an art lover myself I was drawn to this aspect of the story. This book beautifully weaves the story of two young girls that lived 100 years apart.
December 26, 2021
I started this book during our school DEAR time and brought it home to finishing over our holiday break. This story has two plot lines, one contemporary and one from the past, and as the story unfolds you learn the horrifying history of the Radium Girls. I loved how Bryant let the reader learn about the Radium Girls slowly as the main character from the contemporary plot lines investigates a series of glow in the dark paintings she found at a local thrift store. I really enjoyed this novel and think it's a great jumping off point to get readers interested in learning more about the history of Radium Girls.
June 18, 2018
Glow made me so interested to learn more about the Radium Girls who were exposed to toxic amounts of radium while painting watch dials in a factory. The horrific ways these women died and the disgusting, shameful way the radium companies tried to hide the dangers by blaming the women’s health problems on syphillis is incredibly sad. This historical fiction book did exactly what it set it to do by sucking me in and making me want to learn more. I appreciated the author’s note at the end as well.
January 3, 2023
I don't know what is so fascinating about this story, but I think I will read whatever story is written about these sad, shining women. This version is a little less gruesome than others I've read, but it does a good job of telling the entire story without becoming overbearingly informative and downright depressing (there were points in the Radium Girls by Kate Moore I physically had to set the book down and walk away because I was so angry I was in tears).
August 8, 2018
Excellent intro to the Radium Girls (and no less horrific for being geared towards a YA audience), and Julie's modern-day story of life spiraling out of control is just as fascinating.
October 16, 2020
I loved this book!! I devoured it in less than two days. The ending is phenomenal. If you read The Radium Girls, then you need to read this one. Highly recommended.
July 19, 2018
Fascinating and disturbing bit of history! The relationships in the present-day story were all a little clunky and heavy-handed, but an enjoyable read.
August 4, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Albert Whitman & Company for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Earlier this year I read RADIUM GIRLS by Kate Moore which is a non-fiction book about the woman who painted pocket watches with radium during WWI. So when I saw this YA book also dealt with a radioactive plant, I knew I had to read it.
In Glow, we switch back and forth between Julie and Lydia. Julie is a modern day young women who gave up her college dream in order to help her mother pay off debt, so they don't lose everything. Because of this Julie is sad, and her best friend Lauren who is still going away to college decides that she needs to go on a shopping trip to help lift her spirits. While thrifting Julie finds some paintings that she decides to get. She has no idea what they hold though and once she gets them home she realizes they have a mysterious glow.
Which is when we finally get to meet Lydia a 16-year-old in 1917 who is working at the Radium Dial plant painting watch faces for soldiers. Her big sister also works with her and got her the job in the first place. But when the ladies start getting sick, and her sister is one of them. Lydia does everything in her power to help her get better. All while slowly making things worse because of the lies being told to her. Once she realizes whats really going on, she stops at nothing to save her little sister Charlotte and to make the company pay for what they have done.
Personally, I would have liked more of Lydia's story, or maybe Julie actually working on her own to figure out what happened etc, instead of just trying to recreate the glow herself. Having said that though I did enjoy this book.
Julie's story is one that while realistic, also got rather annoying at times with how she placed the blame for her choices on others instead of choosing to go to a different school while she saved to go to her dream one. I also really disliked how she treated Lauren, I get it you don't have money anymore, but instead of just pouting all the time, find cheap things to do etc., don't just shut your best friend out and then wonder why they don't come around. As you can probably tell I got pretty frustrated with Julie for most of the book. The ending did redeem her a little bit.
Lydia's story is heartbreaking and one that needs to be told and while this novel only touches the surface of the horrors the radium dial painters went through, it's still nice to see it being the focus of a YA novel. The Young women at these plants changed things for everyone in the work force with work safety and compensations if you get hurt on the job, and while most of them never saw anything. They will never be forgotten.
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Earlier this year I read RADIUM GIRLS by Kate Moore which is a non-fiction book about the woman who painted pocket watches with radium during WWI. So when I saw this YA book also dealt with a radioactive plant, I knew I had to read it.
In Glow, we switch back and forth between Julie and Lydia. Julie is a modern day young women who gave up her college dream in order to help her mother pay off debt, so they don't lose everything. Because of this Julie is sad, and her best friend Lauren who is still going away to college decides that she needs to go on a shopping trip to help lift her spirits. While thrifting Julie finds some paintings that she decides to get. She has no idea what they hold though and once she gets them home she realizes they have a mysterious glow.
Which is when we finally get to meet Lydia a 16-year-old in 1917 who is working at the Radium Dial plant painting watch faces for soldiers. Her big sister also works with her and got her the job in the first place. But when the ladies start getting sick, and her sister is one of them. Lydia does everything in her power to help her get better. All while slowly making things worse because of the lies being told to her. Once she realizes whats really going on, she stops at nothing to save her little sister Charlotte and to make the company pay for what they have done.
Personally, I would have liked more of Lydia's story, or maybe Julie actually working on her own to figure out what happened etc, instead of just trying to recreate the glow herself. Having said that though I did enjoy this book.
Julie's story is one that while realistic, also got rather annoying at times with how she placed the blame for her choices on others instead of choosing to go to a different school while she saved to go to her dream one. I also really disliked how she treated Lauren, I get it you don't have money anymore, but instead of just pouting all the time, find cheap things to do etc., don't just shut your best friend out and then wonder why they don't come around. As you can probably tell I got pretty frustrated with Julie for most of the book. The ending did redeem her a little bit.
Lydia's story is heartbreaking and one that needs to be told and while this novel only touches the surface of the horrors the radium dial painters went through, it's still nice to see it being the focus of a YA novel. The Young women at these plants changed things for everyone in the work force with work safety and compensations if you get hurt on the job, and while most of them never saw anything. They will never be forgotten.
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October 19, 2017
"Glow" is a dual timeline story about Julie, a young artist with a penchant for finding interesting things in thrift stores, and three sisters living during World War I who all get jobs painting dials of clocks for the troops overseas. This practice uses radium, which at the time was seen as actually having health benefits although we recognize it as being quite harmful these days.
There has been a crop of books that have come out over the past few years that have been about the infamous radium girls. In this book, the historical story of the sisters working in the factory takes a backseat to the modern story of Julie discovering the historical mystery. While we get to hear directly from Julie in a more forward fashion, the story of the radium girls in this book is told through letters and diary entries, which while interesting made the history feel further away. I wanted to know so much more about the sisters and what they thought about what they were going through in the factory and about the choices they made even when those choices could prove to be dangerous.
Although the focus on the modern day story does takes precedence over the historical story, there is still some really interesting historical facts. I just wanted more there. I wanted to get to know the historical characters better and wanted more detail about their lives and the difficulties they faced from working in the factory.
This book is geared for young adult readers and while mystery lovers will enjoy how Julie uncovers the secrets of the past, this book only gives you a tiny taste of the story of the radium girls but that taste is still good.
There has been a crop of books that have come out over the past few years that have been about the infamous radium girls. In this book, the historical story of the sisters working in the factory takes a backseat to the modern story of Julie discovering the historical mystery. While we get to hear directly from Julie in a more forward fashion, the story of the radium girls in this book is told through letters and diary entries, which while interesting made the history feel further away. I wanted to know so much more about the sisters and what they thought about what they were going through in the factory and about the choices they made even when those choices could prove to be dangerous.
Although the focus on the modern day story does takes precedence over the historical story, there is still some really interesting historical facts. I just wanted more there. I wanted to get to know the historical characters better and wanted more detail about their lives and the difficulties they faced from working in the factory.
This book is geared for young adult readers and while mystery lovers will enjoy how Julie uncovers the secrets of the past, this book only gives you a tiny taste of the story of the radium girls but that taste is still good.
January 2, 2019
I loved The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women, a nonfiction book I stumbled upon last year. The horrible, gruesome story of the dial painters and the poisoning they unwittingly exposed themselves to on a daily basis was tragic and emotional and impossible to put down.
So I was delighted to find this fictional version--and though it wasn't quite what I expected, it was definitely an emotional page turner. Glow twines together two stories--one of Julie, a modern-day teenager who has had her college dreams shattered...and one of Lydia, who has just gotten work as a dial painter during World War I.
I will admit that Julie's story didn't interest me much at first--I really was just looking for the Radium Girls--but the paintings that she finds and the mystery that unfolds in her timeline were extremely engaging and well done. And while there is a lot of fiction here, there is also a lot of accurate information provided in Lydia's letters--and though her chapters take the form of letters, they don't read like them. (The author also adds some information in her acknowledgements for anyone that might not be familiar with the dial painters and their terrible fate.)
Overall a great read for fans of realistic fiction and/or historical fiction.
So I was delighted to find this fictional version--and though it wasn't quite what I expected, it was definitely an emotional page turner. Glow twines together two stories--one of Julie, a modern-day teenager who has had her college dreams shattered...and one of Lydia, who has just gotten work as a dial painter during World War I.
I will admit that Julie's story didn't interest me much at first--I really was just looking for the Radium Girls--but the paintings that she finds and the mystery that unfolds in her timeline were extremely engaging and well done. And while there is a lot of fiction here, there is also a lot of accurate information provided in Lydia's letters--and though her chapters take the form of letters, they don't read like them. (The author also adds some information in her acknowledgements for anyone that might not be familiar with the dial painters and their terrible fate.)
Overall a great read for fans of realistic fiction and/or historical fiction.
October 4, 2017
I'm struggling with how to rate this book. On one hand, I enjoyed it and flew through it, even though I'd already read one of the books in the bibliography and knew exactly what was causing the mysterious illnesses at the factory from the very start. The story was compelling.
But. But... I had a problem with one big inconsistency near the end. The radium-laced paint used in the paintings was so toxic that Julie's exposure from touching the paintings, carrying them and being in the same area as the paintings warranted decontamination and days of isolation at a hospital where everyone who treated her wore Hazmat suits and the entire entrance that she used was swathed in paper, as described in the book. Her doctor tells her that she'll have to be vigilant for medical signs of her exposure for the rest of her life. And yet shortly after that, a museum curator buys the paintings with plans to put them on a display for the public, thus solving Julie's college financial woes. Even supposing the paintings would be sealed behind glass or some other protective measure, this involves a pretty big suspension of disbelief, especially as there is also a scene where museum workers are removing the frames and handling the paintings for restoration work. The paintings are either dangerous due to their radioactivity or they aren't. It can't be both.
But. But... I had a problem with one big inconsistency near the end. The radium-laced paint used in the paintings was so toxic that Julie's exposure from touching the paintings, carrying them and being in the same area as the paintings warranted decontamination and days of isolation at a hospital where everyone who treated her wore Hazmat suits and the entire entrance that she used was swathed in paper, as described in the book. Her doctor tells her that she'll have to be vigilant for medical signs of her exposure for the rest of her life. And yet shortly after that, a museum curator buys the paintings with plans to put them on a display for the public, thus solving Julie's college financial woes. Even supposing the paintings would be sealed behind glass or some other protective measure, this involves a pretty big suspension of disbelief, especially as there is also a scene where museum workers are removing the frames and handling the paintings for restoration work. The paintings are either dangerous due to their radioactivity or they aren't. It can't be both.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2017
Glow is a young adult novel by Megan E. Bryant that sheds light on a dark time in American history. Julie (Jubilee) Chase, a high school graduate who was looking forward to attending College only to have it postponed due to her mother's debt issues. When the bank was about to foreclose on their mortgage, Julie cashed out her college fund to buy the house. She harbors resentment towards her mother for having to lose her college fund, putting her dreams on hold, while her mom seems to not be bothering to find a job. Julie's friend Lauren is from a well-to-do family and is off to college leaving Julie behind. This creates a rift between the two, bringing the worst out of the both of them. Attempting to salvage their friendship they head off for a fun day of shopping (Lauren's idea), and Julie buys a painting at Lost and Found consignment store. When darkness blankets Julie's room the painting reveals a glowing secret artwork that ignites her curiosity. She becomes obsessed with finding more paintings by the same artist, and attempts to re-create the technique. Julie has no idea that the technique involves the "radium girls" who unknowingly poisoned themselves while painting numbers on watch dials used to help soldiers see the time more accurately during WWI.
Bryant uses fictional characters inspired by real history to tell the story of the "radium girls." The perspective shifts back and forth from Lydia in 1917-1918 to Julie in modern time. We hear Lydia's story from letters she writes to her beloved Walter who has gone off to war. Lydia has an incredible weight upon her shoulders at 16 years old. Her older sister Liza helps Lydia get a job at ARC painting watch dials with a magical glowing substance. The same magical powder used to make the paint is also sold as a cure for practically all ailments.
While running an errand at the local college Julie meets Luke (Lucien), a chemistry student working at the college over the summer. Their friendship evolves as he helps her figure out how to create the glow-in-the-dark paint.
Through Julie's research and Lydia's letters we learn the heart-wrenching story of the Grayson sisters. There are parts of the story which are descriptive and vivid. I will admit that I cried twice while reading this page-turner.
I do have a couple of complaints. For one, why is Julie friends with Lauren? Lauren is selfish, stubborn, and rude. I feel like the tension between Lauren and Julie was unnecessary to the plot.
I also find it strange that Julie didn't suspect the glow-in-the-dark paint used on the vintage artwork. She researched how to create the paint, yet somehow didn't stumble across the possibility of radioactive ingredients.
There were a couple of times where the dialogue felt a bit clunky, and I also think Lydia's letters are a little unbelievable. I don't know anyone who writes complete back-and-forth dialogue while recounting an event in a letter.
Even though a couple small areas were bothersome, this is an extremely important story to write, to read, and to share. Glow is an incredible story that sheds light on the hideous greed of some companies who put profit above health, giving opportunity for brave people to sacrifice, and fight for what's right.
Expected Publication: September 1st, 2017
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you Brandi from Flutter Communications, the publisher, author, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.
More Review on my Blog :) http://amandadroverhartwick.wordpress...
Bryant uses fictional characters inspired by real history to tell the story of the "radium girls." The perspective shifts back and forth from Lydia in 1917-1918 to Julie in modern time. We hear Lydia's story from letters she writes to her beloved Walter who has gone off to war. Lydia has an incredible weight upon her shoulders at 16 years old. Her older sister Liza helps Lydia get a job at ARC painting watch dials with a magical glowing substance. The same magical powder used to make the paint is also sold as a cure for practically all ailments.
While running an errand at the local college Julie meets Luke (Lucien), a chemistry student working at the college over the summer. Their friendship evolves as he helps her figure out how to create the glow-in-the-dark paint.
Through Julie's research and Lydia's letters we learn the heart-wrenching story of the Grayson sisters. There are parts of the story which are descriptive and vivid. I will admit that I cried twice while reading this page-turner.
I do have a couple of complaints. For one, why is Julie friends with Lauren? Lauren is selfish, stubborn, and rude. I feel like the tension between Lauren and Julie was unnecessary to the plot.
I also find it strange that Julie didn't suspect the glow-in-the-dark paint used on the vintage artwork. She researched how to create the paint, yet somehow didn't stumble across the possibility of radioactive ingredients.
There were a couple of times where the dialogue felt a bit clunky, and I also think Lydia's letters are a little unbelievable. I don't know anyone who writes complete back-and-forth dialogue while recounting an event in a letter.
Even though a couple small areas were bothersome, this is an extremely important story to write, to read, and to share. Glow is an incredible story that sheds light on the hideous greed of some companies who put profit above health, giving opportunity for brave people to sacrifice, and fight for what's right.
Expected Publication: September 1st, 2017
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you Brandi from Flutter Communications, the publisher, author, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.
More Review on my Blog :) http://amandadroverhartwick.wordpress...
September 1, 2017
This book is told in two parts, present and the past. In the present, artist Julie discovers some old paintings in a thrift store that glow-in-the-dark. In the daylight, the pictures are normal, but when they glow they portray disturbing and gruesome images. Wanting to know more, Julie begins hunting through thrift stores for additional paintings. Her artistic love leads her on a journey to recreate the type of glow-in-the-dark paint the original artist used, but despite Julie's best efforts she is unable to duplicate the results.
In the past, we learn the story of three sisters, Liza, Lydia, and Charlotte Grayson. Liza is able to get her younger sister Lydia a job as a watch dial painter at the factory where she works. The job entails tipping a paintbrush between your teeth to paint the delicate numbers on watch faces for soldiers off at war. The girls working at the factory use the glow-in-the-dark paint to paint on body jewelry, decorate their teeth, even paint their walls.
When Liza falls ill, Lydia begins to notice other girls at the factory with similar symptoms. Lydia tries to figure out what is going on, but as girls begin dying, it might be too late. Lydia does her best to stop their youngest sister from working at the factory, but every penny in needed by the family. The two stories converge at the end and several mysteries are wrapped up.
My Thoughts-
Holy Smokes! This book took my breath away. I had never learned about the Radium girls before (I received this ARC before the other Radium Girls book came out). I could not stop myself from turning page after page. I suspected what was happening, but the author does an amazing job of not tying up all the ends until the very end. The horror of the girls' bodies falling apart, of fake doctors telling the girls' they had syphilis, and of using radium as a medicine were chilling. I can not even begin to convey the emotions this author's work invokes.
The characters are strong and relatable. Lydia is easily recognizable as a loving sibling. She is strong, determined and courageous. The emotional roller coaster that her character brings to the reader is noteworthy. Julie, in present time, is a fun character who moves the story along with investigations and a side romance. Her drive to figure out the glow-in-the-dark paint gets her in trouble and at the end of the book I had to take deep breaths.
Plot is solid. The tension is high and never lets down. The interweaving of past and present is a puzzle of unsolved mysteries that the reader is dying to get to the bottom of. A true work of art. I give this book 5 stars! You will never forget what you read, especially since it is based on real life trials. The author gives more information at the end of the story that will leave you flabbergasted.
In the past, we learn the story of three sisters, Liza, Lydia, and Charlotte Grayson. Liza is able to get her younger sister Lydia a job as a watch dial painter at the factory where she works. The job entails tipping a paintbrush between your teeth to paint the delicate numbers on watch faces for soldiers off at war. The girls working at the factory use the glow-in-the-dark paint to paint on body jewelry, decorate their teeth, even paint their walls.
When Liza falls ill, Lydia begins to notice other girls at the factory with similar symptoms. Lydia tries to figure out what is going on, but as girls begin dying, it might be too late. Lydia does her best to stop their youngest sister from working at the factory, but every penny in needed by the family. The two stories converge at the end and several mysteries are wrapped up.
My Thoughts-
Holy Smokes! This book took my breath away. I had never learned about the Radium girls before (I received this ARC before the other Radium Girls book came out). I could not stop myself from turning page after page. I suspected what was happening, but the author does an amazing job of not tying up all the ends until the very end. The horror of the girls' bodies falling apart, of fake doctors telling the girls' they had syphilis, and of using radium as a medicine were chilling. I can not even begin to convey the emotions this author's work invokes.
The characters are strong and relatable. Lydia is easily recognizable as a loving sibling. She is strong, determined and courageous. The emotional roller coaster that her character brings to the reader is noteworthy. Julie, in present time, is a fun character who moves the story along with investigations and a side romance. Her drive to figure out the glow-in-the-dark paint gets her in trouble and at the end of the book I had to take deep breaths.
Plot is solid. The tension is high and never lets down. The interweaving of past and present is a puzzle of unsolved mysteries that the reader is dying to get to the bottom of. A true work of art. I give this book 5 stars! You will never forget what you read, especially since it is based on real life trials. The author gives more information at the end of the story that will leave you flabbergasted.
December 31, 2018
Glow surrounds the history and dangers of radium exposure. With each chapter the book switches between present day and letters written during World War I. Julie, in present day, has stumbled upon several paintings that magically illuminate in the dark to reveal a horrify new image and message. She has recently graduated high school, but her college plans have been put on hold due to her mother’s financial struggles. As an artist, Julie finds herself obsessed over the mystery behind the painting technique and the lack of information on their creator. Little does Julie know that the glow effect is the result of Luminite, a product of common discussion throughout the letters in the book. Lydia, a young dial watch painter, wrote these letters to her boyfriend fighting in World War I. She and her sisters worked at a factory which produced glow in the dark watches painted with Luminite powder. The young women, today referred to as the Radium Girls, became accustomed to ingesting the paint in order to be efficient; they were assured that no harm would come to them by doing so. Julie must uncover the truths behind these paintings before she harms herself and everyone she loves.
This book appealed to me in a logical way because what occurred in the present was connected back to actual historical events. I enjoyed learning about the Radium Girls and radium radioactivity through an entertaining story based in modern times. With each new section the text switched time periods. This allowed the reader to learn details about the paintings before Julie could. Alternating stories also helped to show similarities between Julie and Lydia. One of the book’s main messages regards safe working conditions and worker rights. The reader eventually discovers that Lydia’s younger sister, Charlotte, was the creator of the glowing paintings and writer of the poems. She felt the responsibility to share her sisters’ story so that nothing similar would happen again in the workplace. Another major theme in Glow is the idea that communication is necessary for a healthy relationship. Julie did not agree with her mother’s financial choices, yet she never fully expressed her feelings. It was not until the end of the book that Julie realized she was wrong about her mother’s work ethic and where the money actually came from throughout her childhood. Another example supporting this theme is the relationship between Julie and her old friend Lauren. Throughout the book they thought each other had something against the other, but it turns out they both wanted to be friends again and quite fighting. All it took was a truthful conversation for them to become great friends once more.
This book appealed to me in a logical way because what occurred in the present was connected back to actual historical events. I enjoyed learning about the Radium Girls and radium radioactivity through an entertaining story based in modern times. With each new section the text switched time periods. This allowed the reader to learn details about the paintings before Julie could. Alternating stories also helped to show similarities between Julie and Lydia. One of the book’s main messages regards safe working conditions and worker rights. The reader eventually discovers that Lydia’s younger sister, Charlotte, was the creator of the glowing paintings and writer of the poems. She felt the responsibility to share her sisters’ story so that nothing similar would happen again in the workplace. Another major theme in Glow is the idea that communication is necessary for a healthy relationship. Julie did not agree with her mother’s financial choices, yet she never fully expressed her feelings. It was not until the end of the book that Julie realized she was wrong about her mother’s work ethic and where the money actually came from throughout her childhood. Another example supporting this theme is the relationship between Julie and her old friend Lauren. Throughout the book they thought each other had something against the other, but it turns out they both wanted to be friends again and quite fighting. All it took was a truthful conversation for them to become great friends once more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2018
4.5 stars. You know how every so often you stumble across a book that doesn't have a lot of hype, and as you're reading it/loving it, you can't believe how good it is, and can't wait to tell everyone how much hype it deserves to have?
Glow is a gem of a book. Probably one of my top five of this year. So. Good. I'll be pushing it into readers hands for sure. (And not just the teen ones.) I have to thank the teen patron who recommended it to me, making me promise to read it. I'm so glad I did.
Glow alternates chapters between Julie, a present-day college-age student (but had to defer her acceptance), and Lydia, a war-factory worker, in 1917. Julie, an artist, comes across some mysterious paintings in a thrift shop. Upon taking them home, she realizes that they take on hidden, glowing aspects in the dark, with gruesome, chilling messages. She vows to get to the bottom of both how the paintings glow, and who the painter was.
Meanwhile, Lydia's chapters are told in letter format to her sweetheart Walter, away at war. She's a painter as well, and works to support the war effort at a watch-face painting factory (did you know there was such a thing? I didn't.) The girls there are glad for the job, but mysteriously, begin to fall ill, and it's not pretty what happens to them. Lydia begins to suspect that somehow, the glowing material they use for the watch paint is connected.
It was all so damn interesting. The writing was excellent, and the way Bryant uses chapters to switch between history and present day means that each one ends on one of the girls' lives, cliffhanger style. I was so absorbed in what was happening to Lydia and the factory girls. Bryant doesn't shy away from the awful details that go along with this particular chapter in history, and Julie's story is topical in its own right: the US economy and the housing crisis, the growing pains of teenage friendship into adulthood, new love - they all have a part to play.
This was a page-turner, and I read it in one go. I started it when I got home from work and didn't stop reading until I finished the same night. Then I stayed up late Googling "Radium Girls," and learning about an unknown (to me) but important part of history.
So good! Read it! Read it!
Glow is a gem of a book. Probably one of my top five of this year. So. Good. I'll be pushing it into readers hands for sure. (And not just the teen ones.) I have to thank the teen patron who recommended it to me, making me promise to read it. I'm so glad I did.
Glow alternates chapters between Julie, a present-day college-age student (but had to defer her acceptance), and Lydia, a war-factory worker, in 1917. Julie, an artist, comes across some mysterious paintings in a thrift shop. Upon taking them home, she realizes that they take on hidden, glowing aspects in the dark, with gruesome, chilling messages. She vows to get to the bottom of both how the paintings glow, and who the painter was.
Meanwhile, Lydia's chapters are told in letter format to her sweetheart Walter, away at war. She's a painter as well, and works to support the war effort at a watch-face painting factory (did you know there was such a thing? I didn't.) The girls there are glad for the job, but mysteriously, begin to fall ill, and it's not pretty what happens to them. Lydia begins to suspect that somehow, the glowing material they use for the watch paint is connected.
It was all so damn interesting. The writing was excellent, and the way Bryant uses chapters to switch between history and present day means that each one ends on one of the girls' lives, cliffhanger style. I was so absorbed in what was happening to Lydia and the factory girls. Bryant doesn't shy away from the awful details that go along with this particular chapter in history, and Julie's story is topical in its own right: the US economy and the housing crisis, the growing pains of teenage friendship into adulthood, new love - they all have a part to play.
This was a page-turner, and I read it in one go. I started it when I got home from work and didn't stop reading until I finished the same night. Then I stayed up late Googling "Radium Girls," and learning about an unknown (to me) but important part of history.
So good! Read it! Read it!
February 22, 2018
Very interesting fictional account based on the 'Radium Girls'. It switches back and forth between present and past. The present is a girl (Julie) who buys some paintings that glow in the dark to show the artist's initials as L.G. She becomes obsessed with finding out more about the paintings and the artist. Julie lives with her mother and works two jobs, to save money for college because she has given up her college fund to pay her mother's debts. The past is represented by letters from a girl to her fiance who is fighting in World War 1. Her older sister gets her a job at the ARC, a company that hires women to paint luminous numerals on wristwatch dials for the army to use; since they glow in the dark, soldiers can use them easily to coordinate with each other. They use a radium-based paint, and 'point' their brushes to do the fine painting by moistening them in their mouths. At that time, radium was considered beneficial to health, even by doctors. If you have read any books about the Radium Girls, or seen the play, you know what happens to them. Julie meets a chemistry grad student named Luke at the local college and helps him in his research. She finds a paper with the address of the ARC and visits the abandoned building where the girls once worked; while looking around she is covered by radioactive dust. Later when she shows Luke one of the paintings, he uses a Geiger counter and determines that the paintings are also radioactive. Julie ends up in the hospital being treated for radium poisoning. She and her friend eventually get the letters from the past which were handed down through the fiance's family, and put two and two together. This is pretty obviously a YA book, but the background stories kept me interested anyway. The author's note at the end gives a more complete history of what the radium girls suffered and their fight for compensation and its effect on improving workplace safety. I would have given it 5 stars except that it was so obviously aimed at teenagers; normally I enjoy YA books, but this one was just TOO teen-y. The one I read was a Nook e-book but the only e-book edition listed was the Kindle version, so I left it as paperback, since that was the only publisher listed in my e-book.
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