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The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women (Harrowing Historical Nonfiction Bestseller About a Courageous Fight for Justice) Paperback – March 6, 2018

by Kate Moore (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 21,692 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award winner
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A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts Bestseller!

"The glowing ghosts of the radium girls haunt us still." ―NPR Books 

Discover the gripping and inspiring true story of The Radium Girls, a groundbreaking work by acclaimed author Kate Moore. Immerse yourself in this compelling narrative that unravels the extraordinary lives of these fearless women who fought against all odds.

The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War. 

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive―until they begin to fall mysteriously ill. 

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come. 

With meticulous research and a keen eye for detail, Kate Moore delves into the lives of these remarkable individuals, capturing their resilience, strength, and unwavering determination. Through their stories, she exposes the shocking negligence and corporate cover-ups that plagued the radium industry, ultimately sparking a revolution in workplace safety.

The Radium Girls is a masterful blend of historical account and heartfelt tribute. Moore's vivid prose brings these forgotten heroines back to life, ensuring that their sacrifices and triumphs are forever etched in our collective memory. As you turn each page, you'll be captivated by their indelible legacy and inspired by their enduring spirit.

The Radium Girls is a must-read for history enthusiasts, feminists, and anyone seeking a remarkable story of resilience and empowerment.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    504 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Sourcebooks
  4. Publication date
    March 6, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 1.26 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1492650951
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1492650959
  8. Lexile measure
    980L
  9. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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Previous page
  1. The residue from radium extraction looked like seaside sand, and the company had offloaded this industrial waste by selling it to schools and playgrounds to use in their children’s sandboxes;
    Highlighted by 2,534 Kindle readers
  2. On June 7, 1925, the first male employee of the United States Radium Corporation died.
    Highlighted by 2,112 Kindle readers
  3. It seemed wealthy consumers were much more worthy of protection than working-class girls; after all, dial-painting was still going on, even in 1933.
    Highlighted by 1,910 Kindle readers
  4. The dial-painters’ case ultimately led to the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which now works nationally in the United States to ensure safe working conditions.
    Highlighted by 1,859 Kindle readers
  5. That was the tragedy. Radium had been known to be harmful since 1901. Every death since was unnecessary.
    Highlighted by 1,465 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

nathalia holt review of the radium girls

booklist review of The Radium Girls

bustle review of the radium girls

chemistry world review of the radium girls

npr review of the radium girls

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Radium Girls spares us nothing of their suffering; though at times the foreshadowing reads more like a true-crime story, Moore is intent on making the reader viscerally understand the pain in which these young women were living, and through which they had to fight in order to get their problems recognized…The story of real women at the mercy of businesses who see them only as a potential risk to the bottom line is haunting precisely because of how little has changed; the glowing ghosts of the radium girls haunt us still." ― NPR Books

"A perfect blend of the historical, the scientific, and the personal, this richly detailed book sheds a whole new light on this unique element and the role it played in changing workers' rights. The Radium Girls makes it impossible for you to ignore these women's incredible stories, and proves why, now more than ever, we can't afford to ignore science, either." ― Bustle

"Kate Moore has dug deep to expose a wrong that still resonates–as it should–in this country. Exceptional!" ― San Francisco Book Review

"Compelling chronicle of women whose work maimed and killed them while their employers, their doctors and their government turned a blind eye to their suffering" ― The Seattle Times

"Written with the taut pacing of a novel, Kate Moore’s The Radium Girls tells the horrifying true story of the young women who worked in radium dial factories in the 1920s and ’30s...Their incredible story, beautifully told by Kate Moore, is sure to incite equal parts compassion and horror in the reader." ― BookPage

"We sometimes need reminding of where health and safety came from, and why it is so very important for progress. The Radium Girls compels us to remember." ― Chemistry World

"Carefully researched, the work will stun readers with its descriptions of the glittering artisans who, oblivious to health dangers, twirled camel-hair brushes to fine points using their mouths, a technique called lip-pointing…Moore details what was a ‘ground-breaking, law-changing, and life-saving accomplishment’ for worker’s rights." ― Publishers Weekly

"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." ― STARRED Library Journal

"Kate Moore vividly depicts the female factory workers whose courage led to a revolution in industrial safety standards. In describing their heart wrenching struggles and bittersweet triumphs, Moore delivers an intimate portrait of these pioneers. Uplifting and beautifully written, The Radium Girls is a tribute to the strength of women everywhere." ― Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us From Missiles to the Moon to Mars

"Kate Moore’s gripping narrative about the betrayal of the radium girls―gracefully told and exhaustively researched―makes this a nonfiction classic. I particularly admire Moore’s compassion for her subjects and her story-telling prowess, which brings alive a shameful era in America’s industrial history." ― Rinker Buck, author of The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey and Flight of Passage

About the Author

Kate Moore is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Radium Girls, which won the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award for Best History, was voted U.S. librarians’ favorite nonfiction book of 2017,and was named a Notable Nonfiction Book of 2018 by the American Library Association. A British writer based in London, Kate writes across a variety of genres and has had multiple titles on the Sunday Times bestseller list. She is passionate about politics, storytelling, and resurrecting forgotten heroes.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks; Reprint edition (March 6, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 504 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1492650951
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1492650959
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 980L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1.26 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 21,692 ratings

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Kate Moore

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
21,692 global ratings
Fantastic Book! Great Read! Read on Kindle Oasis.
5 Stars
Fantastic Book! Great Read! Read on Kindle Oasis.
This book is a work of narrative non-fiction that was both fascinating as well as horrifying. These women, trying to do right by their country by painting glowing dials for our armed forces, were placed in harms way by a ruthlessly cruel, indifferent company.The United States Radium Corporation (USRC), for years knew that radium was dangerous and even gave their male employees protective gear. Yet the women painting the dials and turning out the profits for the company were not told of the dangers and encouraged to lip point, putting the radioactive paint-covered brushes in their mouths, in order to pinch pennies. In the desire to put profits first, they knowingly lied to their female workers that placing the brushes in their mouth and consuming radium was safe.They used every dirty legal trick in the book in order to keep their profits to themselves; even when these women, these loyal employees, were becoming crippled and disease ridden from their paint, they turned a blind eye and put fraudulent studies forth to discredit the women. Many women died in abhorrent conditions, suffering, destitute, and maligned by the company. Even pleas, on merciful grounds, were ignored.These selfless women fought the first battle towards today’s Occupation Health Standards as well as for compensation, safety gear, and information on avoiding possibly lethal or harmful hazards in production. They, and their selfless lawyers, fought for the right not to be exploited and sacrificed in the name of corporate greed.This book brought out the human side of the entire equation; not only the greed and apathy of corporate powers, but also brought to light the not just the suffering of these women, but also their accomplishments, hopes, dreams, and families. It wasn’t just a morbid telling of horror and pain, but also the tenacity of the human spirit to survive and provide for loved ones.I very much encourage people to read this; it is not only a perfect time to read it, when the holiday for Radium Girls and the statue erected in their honor is coming up on September 2nd.
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Top reviews from the United States

Fluffyluggage
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking, but also engaging and informative!
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2024
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This book is incredible! These amazing women from our past--there's really no other way to describe such brave women who had the courage to stand up and fight a government, a business, an industry, and a complete system that was firmly against them... when they were in pain, suffering devastating illness and disease. This book is just incredible. It will bring you to tears, but it's not all sad. It's also very heartwarming and absolutely brilliant. Very well-written, it captures the hearts of these ladies who clearly had a zest for life, wanted to help their country, and then later help their fellow women. This is a testimony to the strength of women, and all of these women were strongly Christian, praying regularly for themselves and each other, at a time when the country was very Christian. This is an absolute must-read!!
4 people found this helpful
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D. Goulian
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, truly tragic history
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
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This book tells the story of the girls whose job it was to paint clock and watch dials with radium so the numbers could be read in the dark. In the early 20th century, the dangers of radium were not well understood, indeed radium products were actually advertised as health-giving when in fact it was a slow killer if ingested. Many radium girls suffered horrible disfiguring bone rot from their work, eventually succumbing to the fatal effects. But for years the radium industry lied to the workers telling them radium was completely safe. This is very well written book which thoroughly documents the fate of these poor girls as well as the many years of legal fights they had to endure to try to get justice. Highly recommend.
One person found this helpful
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Mimi
4.0 out of 5 stars Heavy reading
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
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I had no idea these Radium Girls existed. This book is an amazing body of research. The book is very interesting but, to be honest, it was kind of a slog. It read a lot like a master’s thesis and the sources are well-documented. There are two sets of Radium Girls – the ones in Orange, New Jersey, and another group over in Ottawa, Illinois. The book goes back and forth between these two groups of young women, how their illnesses from radium exposure presented, the doctors and dentists who treated them and then the LONG, drawn-out court battles. There is a huge cast of characters and the author, wisely, lists all of them up front. It is an exhausting book with a sad ending for most of the women suffering from exposure to radium. Corporate greed, inconsistent labor laws, statute of limitations, corporate denial, and pure negligence. These companies were full of liars, thieves, and frauds resulting in tremendous harm to these young women. They suffered greatly trying to find proper medical and dental care to diagnose their maladies. This is a very sad story with some positive worker-protection outcomes. Not a “light” book to read but I’m glad I learned about this sad chapter in our history.
15 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Sad but wonderful true story!
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
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Very moving story about amazingly strong women and the terrible battl3s they had to face for justice. A very important part of American history.
One person found this helpful
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Abby R
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, far-reaching
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
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A book for anyone interested in history, science, or overcoming adversity; personal stories are beautifully highlighted in this excellent telling of relevant history.
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Jonathan Jesse
5.0 out of 5 stars A good but hard to read story
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024
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We all know how the story ends which makes the sense of excitement the ladies have at the beginning so hard. The Radium Girls come alive.

A well written and well researched story. Glad i read it
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Lauren Wirth
3.0 out of 5 stars A very hard read
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2024
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I would have given this book 2.5 stars if possible. While it is very well researched and certainly heart-wrenching to read, it felt more like reading a gossip rag than a proper non-fiction book about a very tragic subject. The writer gives endless, insipid descriptions of the girls, every time she introduces a new one (even of the men sometimes). We are constantly told how "pretty" these girls are, as if it being pretty was their only quality, or that being pretty somehow makes their stories more tragic. There was just too much unnecessary information. The writing style is very melodramatic and shallow, and rather than just giving us facts, it is peppered with the writer assuming to know thoughts in the girls minds, attempts at cliff-hangers at the ends of chapters, etc.

It's a worthy topic that just wasn't given enough respect for the sake of drama. The writer also goes into some rather gory details, describing how radium poisoning affected the girls, even if using some odd ways of describing them. This book left me feeling very angry, partly because of the writing style, and mostly because of how these women were treated (by the writer as well as by USRC).
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Thor
5.0 out of 5 stars a clear, interesting story of women's lives sacrificed for profit
Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2023
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This is well-worth reading to grasp how women were employed to work making things containing radium. The dangers of radium and effects on the women are described. Their lives, friendships, struggles and strengths in trying to get help for radium-related sicknesses and suffering are poignantly described. This is a tale of valiant women who would not be silenced by corporate powers.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Sad but relevant in these times
Reviewed in India on December 7, 2023
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Tells the story of how industrial greed and ignorance play with our lives
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Lynda Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars Properly Harrowing But Do Read It
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2023
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God, this is harrowing, which of course, due to the subject matter I'd expected but it is really HARROWING. So many times I was gasping for breath as I sat here sobbing. You get to know some of these girls so well and like them so much and they died horrible, horrific, horrendous deaths and it was so bloody needless and so upsetting. As for the companies they worked for I have no words....they just behaved despicably, whichever side of the country they were based out of........
It was gratifying that 2 lawyers in particular took on their cases and did so much for them.....True heroes, those chaps, cos' they were properly up against it. Raymond Berry and Leonard Grossman (who even paid from his own pocket to assist them).
I used to do piece-work in a factory as these girls did and always put the end of a reel of soldering wire in my mouth to make it quicker, just as they did with their paint....however, I just burnt my tongue a few times......they didn't. It painted such a romantic picture, these glowing, beautiful young girls (and many were only early teens) when nobody had a clue of the godawful damage this stuff was doing. And to read this poison has a half-life of 1600 years means, as the author points out, that these girls' bodies are still full of this awful stuff attacking their bones. Even 5 years later, one of the girl's coffins still glowed after an exhumation !! Just so appalling.....
Interestingly, someone remarked in the late 1920s that "the luminous watch is purely a fad" yet I bought one just last year to see in the dark, almost one hundred years on.
Hazel and Theo's story I found immensely touching......she was already so ill but wouldn't take a penny in assistance from him so he married her !! Another hero......
One passage really touched me, too, "And Grace Fryer was never forgotten. She is still remembered now......you are still remembering her now." To read of Catherine Wolfe Donohue testifying from bed while her husband "watched as she demonstrated how she had been killed" was just devastating for me, too.......just so awful.
I only spotted one spelling mistake the whole way through as well, which is commendable.....lent written and not leant. So superbly presented as well as written. The author thanked someone in her acknowledgements for giving the dial-painting girls a voice but I thank HER for writing it in the first place. It touched my heart, this book, and I'd highly recommend it. Everyone should learn about this. Plus their cases have helped so many others working with dodgy or noxious substances !! I won't ever forget what I have just read.
6 people found this helpful
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Jackson Julia
5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant.
Reviewed in France on November 14, 2021
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Excellent livre, très bien écrit. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule seconde ! Je recommande !
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Living
4.0 out of 5 stars muy interesante
Reviewed in Mexico on April 27, 2019
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Es un libro grande, pero ameno, aunque es una investigación periodística me pareció muy bien escrito. Una historia real triste
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