Book Review: Glow by Megan E. Bryant

Summary:
"I used to worry about the dark. When it's dark, your whole life can spiral out of control. But there's a certain kind of light I should have been afraid of all along."

Separated by the span of a century, two girls are drawn to the same dangerous secret. With her college plans wiped out by her mother's financial problems, Julie's stuck in a dead-end job, watching her best friend move on without her. A chance discovery of antique paintings with hidden glowing images captivates Julie and leaves her determined to learn the identity of the artist—even as she is haunted by the paintings' increasingly nightmarish images.
One hundred years earlier, Lydia spends her days in a factory painting luminous watch dials for soldiers; her nights are devoted to writing letters to her beloved on the front lines of the Great War. Lydia hopes the factory, and its exciting new scientific paint, will provide her whole family with a brighter future.
As Julie's obsession with the mysterious paintings mounts, truths about the Radium Girls—and her own complicated relationships—are revealed. But will she uncover the secret of the luminous paintings before putting herself and everyone she loves at risk?

Release Date: September 2017
Age Group: 
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Reviewed By: Ms. Leger

Review:
This is a 5/5 star read! The story-line & accuracy of this historical fiction is superb.  

Glow was so good that I read it in two days (while working). The story is told between two different periods in time. Bryant blended past & present perfectly, two simultaneous stories in one, not always easy to accomplish and she does is with ease. There is just enough mystery that it keeps the reader from finding a stopping point.  

I was familiar with the Radium Girls before beginning, had I not been familiar I would have stopped & done some quick research. I feel 100% confident that Bryant's research before writing this story was extensive and detailed. 

The past is written in the form of letters. As the story progressed, I found myself wanting to warn the dialpainters about working with radium.  So many times I wanted to shout "Stop, find another job!" but to no avail. 

The present day character, Julie, is more obsessed with art than with danger, not realizing what she has found. I have never seen radium but I can suspect its glow is memorizing. I understood Julie's fascination, I got pulled in too.

I recommend this book to all YA & historical fiction readers. I also insist Nat read GLOW next!

Ms. Leger 
One quick suggestion: read this fabulous fact sheet [HERE] before beginning Glow if you are unfamiliar with the discovery & uses of radium by dialpainters.