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