The Radium Girls

When I finished "The Radium Girls: They paid with their lives. Their final fight was for justice' by Kate Moore, I decided to wait before writing a review because I wanted my emotions to settle down. I wanted to be able to write a calm and clear review without my own emotions becoming involved. I even read three unconnected books so I would have clarity. I have discovered that there is no way that I can write a review about this without all the emotions coming back. In retrospect, I think the radium girls deserve all of that passion and emotion. They went through so much and are responsible for not only the labor laws we have today protecting workers but also a much more clear understanding of the effects of radiation on the human body. During World War One, everyone wanted to help with the war effort in any way they could. One way was to paint watches, military dials, and clocks with a luminous substance that was made from radium. The military dials were vital for the soldiers serving overseas because they could see the time on the watch without showing their position because of the luminous glow that had been painted on them by the radium girls. These girls not only helped with the war effort but the pay was extremely good too. The girls had no idea that they were working with a very dangerous form of radiation and were even taught to shape the tip of the brush in their mouths in order for it to become a fine point. Rags and other ways were not used because it would waste the radium paste. They were employed by United States Radium Factory who knew how dangerous radium was. Upper management and scientists generally used protection but no one told the girls at all. Then one by one, the girls became very sick, usually starting with jaw pain but other ailments came up as well. The end result was a very painful death. The company knew this was happening and took an active role in actually hiding the evidence to the point of isolating one young lady from her family until she died and burying her before her family could become involved. The answer came years later when she was exhumed: her jaw had been removed to hide evidence. If you take a Geiger counter today to their graves, the needle will jump even 80 years after their deaths. They were also known as ghost girls. They actually glowed in the dark and played games like painting their teeth and nails because they had been told it was harmless and it looked so "pretty". They had no idea they were seeing the signs of their own death sentences. There have been a few books written about the radium girls but never any that took the time to research who these girls actually were. They were mothers, daughters, sisters and they each had dreams and a story to tell. Kate Moore actually visited with family members and their graves and did so much research so we could know who these brave women were. The girls had to fight long and hard for justice and they probably had no idea how far reaching their fight would become. The reason why inspectors come to a company or you have to fill out a form if the accident happened at work is all because of these women's efforts and suffering. One of the girls even said if she could prevent one person suffering as she did then it was worth the fight. It is very hard and emotional reading to learn about a girl who was so happy to start working at 14 only to die a painful death at 21, a woman who was never able to bear children, a mother taken from her young children way too soon, and the actual facts about what exactly these women went through. We all owe these women a great debt and they should be remembered. Kate Moore has paid them the highest respect by making sure their stories are told and they are remembered. If there is one meaningful book to pick up this year, I highly recommend you read this one. I guarantee that the radium girls will stay with you and you will be grateful for having read it. I received a copy from the publishers (thank you so much!) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.