Rosalind Franklin made many breakthroughs in science, but her biggest feat was ‘helping to solve a huge mystery’ says this graphic novel version of her life, when, in 1952, ‘she took an X-ray photo that revealed the true structure of DNA.’
The book describes neatly and effectively how much Franklin loved the study of science, as well as just how many battles she faced as a woman in the early 20th century to pursue her passion. It’s informative and inspiring in equal parts, and young readers are sure to feel outrage at the injustice of Watson and Crick excluding Rosalind Franklin as they claimed credit for discovering DNA.
The book makes sure we understand the unique contribution to science this extraordinary woman made and is a must for any school or library bookshelf.
Rosalind Franklin was a British chemist during the 1940s and 1950s, when few women worked in the sciences. During WWII, she expanded our knowledge of the physics of coal and carbon, and later she studied viruses.
Her “Photo 51” was central to understanding the double helix structure of DNA, ground breaking work she was never given credit for in her lifetime.
Karen de Seve loves to tell stories about science in new and fun ways. She has written comics about tiny critters that have super strength, and about the women heroes who discovered West Nile virus in New York City.
She lives in New Jersey with her own heroes: her husband and two daughters.
