Radioactive

When I was in second grade, I was bored and my teacher did what all good teachers do when they have students who are bored in class: she assigned me a research project.

My research project was on Marie and Pierre Curie.

Here I was, seven years old, reading about radiation and atomic particles and nuclear energy. I was fascinated, even if I didn't quite get everything I read.

The minute I saw this book, I knew it was a book that I had to read. If nothing else, I wanted to see if I understood radiation and atomic particles and nuclear energy any better this side of life.

Even though this book was a National Book Award Finalist, I could not find it at any of the seven libraries to which I have cards. I finally broke down and bought it.

It was a worthwhile purchase. I'd classify it as a graphic novel, a picture book for grownups, with brilliant illustrations that add to the text.

Lauren Redniss, who wrote the text and created the illustrations, tells the story of Marie and Pierre Curie, a story of the power and destruction that came with the discovery of radiation.

One of my favorite reads of this year.

Beautiful. Makes me want to go look up what Marie's grand-grand-grand-daughters are up to ...