The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness, death, and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What are your impressions of how Kate Moore portrays the personal struggles and resilience of the radium girls? Did their stories evoke a deeper understanding of the human cost of industrial negligence?

2. The Radium Girls focuses heavily on the courage and determination of the women who fought for justice. How effective was the book in capturing their strength and the broader significance of their legacy?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences. 

1. Reflect on the courage and determination shown by the radium girls as they fought against powerful corporations. Have you ever faced a situation where you had to stand up for your rights or values in the face of adversity? How did you respond?

2. The book emphasizes the impact of systemic negligence on individuals and families. Have you or someone you know experienced a situation where an institution failed to protect or support you? How does that relate to the struggles depicted in the book?

3. The radium girls initially trusted the companies they worked for, only to be betrayed by their employers’ denial of responsibility.