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reviewed from uncorrected egalley

historical fiction graphic novel (1920s New Jersey/New York) - based on the true stories of the women factory workers who became terminally ill from ingesting radioactive paint and whose lawsuit against the manufacturer improved conditions for future workers.

soft colored pencil illustrations bring to life the personal stories of these women who fought for workers' rights; lovely and solid and vital and true.

The muted color palette does so much storytelling! I also love the 1920s setting and how the art remains loyal to it in the comic's design. I read it in a few minutes, really, but the story stuck with me a while after. I remember reading a short article about the real-life women that inspired this graphic novel, but how the author portrays the protagonist's humanity and joy makes their story even more heartbreaking. It's sad that they had to suffer and advocate for themselves, despite being show more obviously wronged by their employers and the justice system, to make sure organizations like OSHA and workers' unions became stronger, but it's a fascinating story nonetheless. show less

Well-researched and based on the true story of the women who suffered from radiation sickness due to the lack of workplace safety precautions or labor protections while painting watches for the U.S. Radium Corporation. I was not expecting to be so moved by this deceptively simple colored-pencil comic, the beauty of its illustrations, and the expressive, lovely characterization of the young, vibrant women who became the Radium Girls.

Radium Girls retells a story that thankfully has gotten more coverage in the last few years: that of the radium watch dial painters of the 1910s and 1920s. The author's choice to use colored pencil makes for a stunning read, and one that matches well with the concept of ghosts and glowing.

My biggest issue was that I had trouble distinguishing some of the characters at first, as there are quite a few who look similar and the novel isn't long enough for each to form a strong impression in the show more reader's mind individually. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing - their combined efforts are what make the end of the story - but it definitely was a distraction for me from the rest of the story itself.

Overall, though, this is a great adaptation of a story that has seen more coverage in recent years. I think the art style makes it stand out from other graphic novels and other interpretations of the same story, and ultimately I think the combination provides another avenue for folks to learn about these important women.

Thank you to Letter Better and NetGalley for providing a copy for review. show less