A review by shelleyanderson4127
The Hitherto Secret Experiments of Marie Curie by Henry Herz, Bryan Thomas Schmidt
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a collection of 16 short fantasy stories and four poems, many by best selling authors like Jane Yolan, Mylo Carbia and Jonathan Maberry. An introduction with facts about twice Nobel prize winner Marie Curie provides useful information and context, especially about the pioneering scientist's early life in Russian-occupied Poland. There is also a resource list in the back as to further books about Curie, and books and websites about girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
There is a similar plot to the majority of stories: the young Marie, usually 14 or 15 years old, is a brilliant student whose drams of further study--or even a decent school laboratory, are restricted by reactionary views of what girls can do. She uncovers (or in some cases invents) a supernatural threat to her family or to her fellow Poles, who are suffering under Russian oppression. She uses science to overcome the threat. The stories (and free verse poetry by Jane Yolan) are all well-written and often include interesting snippets of Polish folklore (such as Susanne Lambdin's The Cold White Ones) and history. Anyone who likes a little horror, and their stories on the dark side will enjoy this anthology, despite the contrived feeling of most of the stories. Jonathan Maberry's The Night Flyers really stands out for its excellent plot and sense of suspense.
This is a timely anthology, given the attacks on both science and women's rights (including, as Afghanistan's Taliban show, the attack on education for girls). The world pandemic means many people, including young adults, are grappling with illness, disrupted educations, and the deaths of loved ones. Marie Curie was deeply affected by the early deaths of her mother and of her sister Zofia, which forms a strong part in many of these short stories. All in all, this anthology succeeds in entertaining and at the same time encouraging girls' empowerment.
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Pub. date 11 April, 2023.
There is a similar plot to the majority of stories: the young Marie, usually 14 or 15 years old, is a brilliant student whose drams of further study--or even a decent school laboratory, are restricted by reactionary views of what girls can do. She uncovers (or in some cases invents) a supernatural threat to her family or to her fellow Poles, who are suffering under Russian oppression. She uses science to overcome the threat. The stories (and free verse poetry by Jane Yolan) are all well-written and often include interesting snippets of Polish folklore (such as Susanne Lambdin's The Cold White Ones) and history. Anyone who likes a little horror, and their stories on the dark side will enjoy this anthology, despite the contrived feeling of most of the stories. Jonathan Maberry's The Night Flyers really stands out for its excellent plot and sense of suspense.
This is a timely anthology, given the attacks on both science and women's rights (including, as Afghanistan's Taliban show, the attack on education for girls). The world pandemic means many people, including young adults, are grappling with illness, disrupted educations, and the deaths of loved ones. Marie Curie was deeply affected by the early deaths of her mother and of her sister Zofia, which forms a strong part in many of these short stories. All in all, this anthology succeeds in entertaining and at the same time encouraging girls' empowerment.
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Pub. date 11 April, 2023.