Glow

by Megan E. Bryant

Overview

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017 - Best Teen Historical Fiction
2019-2020 South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee

"A riveting story of ambitious and self-sufficient women, both in the present and past."—Kirkus Reviews starred review

"Bryant's novel will surely spur readers to learn more about this dark part of history."—School Library Journal starred review

Lydia is thrilled to join the working girls in the factory, where they paint luminous watch dials for the soldiers fighting in World War I. In the future, these girls will be known as the tragic Radium Girls: factory workers not only poisoned by the glowing paint, but who also had to fight against men who knew of the paint's deadly effect. One hundred years later, Julie, whose life is on hold after high school, becomes intrigued by a series of mysterious antique paintings she finds in a thrift store. When she discovers their hidden-and increasingly nightmarish-glowing images, Julie is determined to learn more about them. As Julie's obsession mounts, truths about the Radium Girls-and her own complicated relationships-are revealed. Can she uncover the secrets behind the paintings before she puts herself and everyone she loves at risk?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807529652
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	03/06/2018
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	810L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Megan E. Bryant has written dozens of books for kids and young adults. She lives in North Carolina and teaches writing at Salem College.

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017 - Best Teen Historical Fiction
2019-2020 South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee

STARRED REVIEW! "Alternating chapters follow Julie's quest and present decades-old love letters written by Lydia, a white radium factory worker, both slowly revealing the horrific story of young women who were exposed to radioactive paints. With this interleaved technique, Bryant brilliantly lures readers into an engaging mystery, a page-turner that begins beneath layers revealed in both paintings and chapters. A riveting story of ambitious and self-sufficient women, both in the present and past."—Kirkus Reviews starred review

"This fictionalized take on the Radium Girls is by turns suspenseful, macabre, and, at points, quite gory. Bryant doesn't shy away from the true horrors that befell these women...An eye-opening window into a troubling moment in history."—Booklist

STARREDREVIEW! "As each girl tells their story, the true events and stories of the real radium girls are brought to light. Bryant's novel will surely spur readers to learn more about this dark part of history."—School Library Journal starred review

"Readers who love the historic side of this genre will crave more of Lydia's story...gruesomely detailed and suspenseful."—VOYA

"The historical background is intriguing, embracing chemistry, medicine, and labor and women's histories...Builds nicely in suspense and tragedy."—The Horn Book

"Students who love a good mystery and/or historical fiction will have no issue getting into this well-told story of historical significance."—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

★ 2017-06-14
A disturbing painting plunges a modern girl into a decades-old mystery.After sacrificing her college savings to help save her family's home, Julie is stuck working at Bed Bath & Beyond while her best friend Lauren has the fortunate circumstance to attend Parsons in the fall, a dream both once shared. The white teens' final summer together begins with a painting Julie purchases at a thrift store. After hanging the painting and then turning off the light to sleep, Julie discovers that the darkness reveals an entire new painting underneath the surface that's visible in the light. The only clue to the artist's identity is the signature, the initials L.G. An artist herself, Julie goes on the hunt, dragging Lauren along, to discover more. They find other paintings that share this uncanny technique of masking two paintings in one. With each painting they find, the darkness reveals chilling images connected to a true story of young women who worked at a watch-painting facility during World War I. Alternating chapters follow Julie's quest and present decades-old love letters written by Lydia, a white radium factory worker, both slowly revealing the horrific story of young women who were exposed to radioactive paints. With this interleaved technique, Bryant brilliantly lures readers into an engaging mystery, a page-turner that begins beneath layers revealed in both paintings and chapters. A riveting story of ambitious and self-sufficient women, both in the present and past. (Mystery/historical fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

★ 09/01/2017
Gr 8 Up—Two young women, a century apart, find themselves drawn to the same dangerous glow. Julie, a young woman in the present day, is unable to pay for college after sacrificing her savings to help save her family's home. In her desperate attempt to forget about her circumstances, Julie looks for a project to occupy her thoughts. During a visit to a thrift store, she discovers paintings that not only glow in the dark but also reveal an entirely different scene that cannot be visible in the light. Julie becomes obsessed with learning the identity of the painter. In her quest, she finds the paintings are connected to a young woman named Lydia. Lydia and her sister work for a factory, painting watches that can glow in the dark for soldiers overseas during World War I. Unbeknownst to the women in the factory, the paints they work with contain radium, a dangerous chemical. Bryant weaves this story by alternating chapters of Julie's perspective and sharing Lydia's letters to her loved one overseas. As each girl tells their story, the true events and stories of the real radium girls are brought to light. Bryant's novel will surely spur readers to learn more about this dark part of history. Pair with Kate Moore's Radium Girls. VERDICT Libraries looking for historical fiction novels to add to their collection should consider this a strong purchase.—Aileen Barton, Sherman Public Library, TX

School Library Journal