Marissa Moss, award-winning author and illustrator, tells the gripping story of Lise Meitner, the physicist who discovered nuclear fission. As a Jewish woman physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Lise Meitner fought for her education, her job, and equality in her field, such as having her name listed on her own research papers.

Meitner made groundbreaking advances in the study of radiation, but when Hitler came to power in Germany, she faced not only sexism but deadly anti-Semitism. Despite the adversity, she persisted and one day made a discovery that shocked the world: the splitting of the atom. While her male colleague was awarded a Nobel Prize for this achievement, the committee refused to give her any acknowledgment.

Along the way, the race to build the atomic bomb was in full swing, even though Meitner was appalled to be associated with such a weapon. As a "physicist who never lost her humanity," Meitner wanted only to understand how the world works, advocating for peace while others called for war.

The book includes an epilogue, author's note, timeline, selected physics terms, glossary of mentioned scientists, footnotes, selected bibliography, index, and Marissa Moss's favorite illustrations. The Woman Who Split the Atom is a fascinating look at Meitner's intense passion, integrity, and enduring struggle to have her contributions to physics recognized.

Pages: 264, Year of Publication: 0714, Dimensions: 14x14cm