The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner

Bestselling author-illustrator Marissa Moss tells the gripping story of Lise Meitner, the physicist who discovered nuclear fission

As a female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Lise Meitner had to fight for an education, a job, and equal treatment in her field, like having her name listed on her own research papers.

Meitner made groundbreaking strides in the study of radiation, but when Hitler came to power in Germany, she suddenly had to face not only sexism, but also life-threatening anti-Semitism as well. Nevertheless, she persevered and one day made a discovery that rocked the world: the splitting of the atom. While her male lab partner was awarded a Nobel Prize for the achievement, the committee refused to give her any credit.

Suddenly, the race to build the atomic bomb was on--although Meitner was horrified to be associated with such a weapon. "A physicist who never lost her humanity," Meitner wanted only to figure out how the world works, and advocated for pacifism while others called for war.

The book includes an afterword, author's note, timeline, select terms of physics, glossary of scientists mentioned, endnotes, select bibliography, index, and Marissa Moss's celebrated drawings throughout. The Woman Who Split the Atom is a fascinating look at Meitner's fierce passion, integrity, and her lifelong struggle to have her contributions to physics recognized.

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Published: 04/05/2022
Pages: 264
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.40w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781419758539
Age: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2022
Booklist 02/15/2022 pg. 44
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2022
School Library Journal 04/01/2022 pg. 155
Publishers Weekly 04/18/2022
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2022 pg. 146

About the Author
Marissa Moss has written more than 70 children's books. She is the bestselling author-illustrator of the Amelia's Notebook series and illustrator of The Eye That Never Sleeps, America's Tea Parties, Barbed Wire Baseball, and Nurse, Soldier, Spy. Her awards include two California Book Awards, a Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Award Honor, an NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, an ALA Notable, and the Cowan Writer's Prize. She lives in Berkeley, California.