From School Library Journal
Grade 6-10-This biography is full of details about the life of one of the great unheralded female scientists of the early 20th century. Hamilton does a fine job of outlining the political climate of the time, which helps place the events of Meitner's life in historical context. Born in 1878 in Austria, Meitner spent much of her young adult life conducting research in nuclear fission in Germany with her collaborator Otto Hahn. In 1938, she fled Nazi Germany. In 1944, Hahn, who remained in Germany, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his discovery of nuclear fission. Although Meitner had been nominated with him in the past, she was not included this time. Black-and-white photographs, as well as some simple drawings of atoms and their internal structures, appear throughout the text, which is well documented. The book concludes with a few activities including how to observe electron movement using a simple experiment involving balloons. This title is similar in scope to Rachel Stiffler Barron's Lise Meitner (Morgan Reynolds, 2000). Hamilton's compelling book will make an excellent choice for curriculum support.
Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, WA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, WA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
