Horrifying and utterly maddening.  This book highlights the ugly underbelly of capitalism.  Not long after radium was discovered, it was found to have lucrative potential, and American companies quickly cashed in at their young, female workers’ expense. 

 

This book is meticulously researched and brings the Radium Girls voices to life.  To give a full portrait of these women and their struggles, Moore uses their own words from diary entries, letters, and courtroom testimony as often as possible.  While much detail is given to the job, the irresponsibility of the plant, and the eventual courtroom cases, I felt that Moore’s primary focus was on honoring the women as a whole rather than picturing them as sad medical cases.  She gave a fullness to the Radium Girls, their hopes and dreams, and the joy they found in life.  Radium poisoning had grave effects, but it did not diminish their spirits.   Moore has well honored these women and their fight to stand up for their rights with strength and dignity.

 

While these events happened many years ago, this book reminds that any time we profit (of any kind) has greater value than human value, dire circumstances are possible.