2020
WISE Score
Amazon
A real-life horror story where the 'dream job' of painting glow-in-the-dark watches becomes a fight for justice against a toxic corporation.
4.6
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This isn't your average boring history textbook. It’s a gut-punch of a story that manages to be both devastating and inspiring.
Kate Moore does a great job of keeping the pacing fast, but parents should know that the 'scary' in the title is literal. The descriptions of what radium does to the human body are vivid. If your kid is into science or social justice, this is a must-read, but maybe skip it if they're currently going through a phase of health anxiety or a fear of the dentist.
Perfect for 11 to 14-year-olds who love a 'scary but true' vibe. It’s sophisticated enough for teens but accessible for a motivated 5th grader who doesn't mind a bit of gore.
It highlights incredible sisterhood, grit, and the fight for justice, though the heavy focus on terminal illness and corporate greed keeps it from being 'light' reading.
It turns a dry history lesson into a gripping narrative that makes 1920s science and industrial ethics feel like a high-stakes thriller.
While 'safe' in terms of age-appropriateness, the book contains graphic, unsettling descriptions of radium poisoning—think crumbling jawbones and teeth falling out. It's body horror, but it's real history.
This is a powerhouse for learning about chemistry, the legal system, and labor rights. It’s the kind of book that changes how a kid looks at the world.
The grown-up original: This is the official young readers adaptation of The Radium Girls by Kate Moore — Kate Moore's own retelling, at a length and reading level a middle-schooler can finish. When they close this one and want more, the original is the natural next step.
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