Atomic Women - by Roseanne Montillo (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Meet the female scientists who served as both developers of the atomic bomb--and the first line of criticism against it--in this nonfiction narrative in the tradition of Bomb and Code Girls.

They were leaning over the edge of the unknown and afraid of what they would discover there...

Recruited from labs and universities from across the United States, and even from countries abroad, a little-known group of female scientists were invited into the secret sites of the Manhattan Project. During World War II these women worked on--and in some cases initiated--the development of the atomic bomb, taking starring roles in one of history's most infamous scientific feats. But despite their involvement, critical to the project's success, many of them weren't made fully aware of the consequences.

This book explores not just the steps toward the creation of a successful nuclear bomb, but also the moral implications of such an invention--and how female scientists of the time grappled with the fallout. In an eye-opening revisionist history, this book celebrates the diversity and complexity of a watershed moment in history.

The atomic women you'll learn about include:

• Lise Meitner and Irène Joliot-Curie (daughter of Marie Curie), who laid the groundwork for the Manhattan Project from Europe
• Elizabeth Rona, the foremost expert in plutonium, who gave rise to "Fat Man" and "Little Boy," the bombs dropped over Japan
• Leona Woods, Elizabeth Graves, and Joan Hinton, who were inspired by European scientific ideals but carved their own paths

Perfect for...
★ Fans of Oppenheimer and Hidden Figures
★ Women in STEM
★ Readers of Elizabeth Wein, Steve Sheinkin, and Kate Quinn
★ History lovers

Review Quotes

"Montillo powerfully explains how the brilliant figures of Atomic Women overcame gender bias and pursued scientific passions....[A]n impressive commemoration of extraordinary scientists."--Shelf Awareness

"A well-researched book on women scientists and their roles in developing the atomic bomb."--Booklist

"An eye-opening historical reconstruction that respects the intellectual diversity of the women behind and within the Manhattan Project."--BCCB

"Lively, well-researched, and comprehensible. A useful work of scientific history."--Kirkus

"Montillo's detailed and organized writing stresses the importance of these women, who were as indispensable to the Manhattan Project as more well-known men."--School Library Journal

"Montillo's woman-centered narrative fills a major gap in the popular understanding of how the atomic bomb came to be."--Publishers Weekly

"Recommended for readers with an interest in the sciences, women's studies, and who support the ethic of giving women their due for their accomplishments."--School Library Connection

About the Author

Roseanne Montillo is the author of three works of nonfiction, Fire on the Track, The Lady and her Monsters, and The Wilderness of Ruin. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, where she taught courses on the intersection of literature and history. She lives outside of Boston.