NF Book Discussion – Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Date: 03/23/2026
Time: 06:30 pm-07:30 pm
Location: Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, 201 N. Mulberry Street, Mount Vernon
Organizer: Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County
Cost: Free
Contact and more info:
mvknoxpubliclibrary@gmail.com
https://www.knox.net
About the event:
Radium, the Curies’ newly discovered element, made gleaming headlines as the fresh face of beauty and a wonder drug for the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shone brightly during the otherwise dark years of the First World War.
Meanwhile, hundreds of young women toiled amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covered their bodies from head to toe; they lit up the night like industrious fireflies. With such coveted jobs, these “shining girls” seemed lucky—until they began to fall mysteriously ill. But the factories that once offered golden opportunities ignored all claims of the gruesome side effects.
As the fatal poison took hold, the brave shining girls became embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century and in a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights that echoed for decades.
Their story is worth knowing. Read the book and come talk about it.