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I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my local library had chosen a graphic novel for their September book discussion: Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout
What a beautiful, heartbreaking work of art. The non-fiction story is about the scientific research that developed alongside the relationship of the Curies. At every stage of the tale about radioactive elements, Redniss jumps to the way this science was used by others: from naive business people making deadly glow-in-the-dark curiosities from radium, to first person tales of the devastation of the bombs in Japan during WWII.
The main character is Marie Curie, whose story continues after her husband's death, ironically not from all the radioactive pollutants in his body. She was a brilliant scientist who was relentless in gaining the opportunities to do research in a time where women were not welcome, encouraged, or taken seriously. Her love of her husband was as passionate as her love of science.
Redniss' artwork haunts the pages of this book with transparent colors and ghost lines. Every aspect of the page design adds to the emotional impact. As a font nerd, I adored the Eusapia LR typeface. It turns out Redniss created it herself "based on the title pages of manuscripts at the New York Public Library. It is named after Eusapia Palladino, the Italian Spiritualist medium whose seances the Curies attended."
Check out this wonderfully interactive site by the NY Public Library about the book, the author, the art, and the Curies.
I recommend Radioactive for adults or older teens.
