Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood

Gr 2-5–Marie Curie is basically a household name, but even adults may have no concept of her background, her family life, or roots. What a gift to read this book and learn more about her similarly talented sister and the rest of her passionate family. Young readers will gain a complete and fully rich picture of Curie and her sister Bronia, who also loved science and studied medicine. Marshall highlights the importance of education to the young women and the importance of family bonds as she writes of the sisters’ devotion to each other and their parents: Bronia holds Marie to their oath to enroll in the Sorbonne and continue studying; she, in the name of working together to find solutions, stays with their ailing father so Marie can stay in Paris. It’s a little dry, but the novelty of the information more than makes up for staid storytelling.