What a harrowing and hopeful story of four incredible women who pursued their passion and research while their lives were at risk. I appreciated the narrative flow to the story and thought the narrator did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. After reading the book I went on an even deeper dive to learn about these women and their achievements. I appreciated how Campbell highlighted the context these women were working in, while also exploring the research they were doing. I did struggle with jumping from scientist to scientist, but that may because I was listening reading than reading the names throughout.
4.5 stars rounded up

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: Nazi Germany; United States of America
Genre: Historical Biography

In Sisters in Science, readers are immersed in the gripping, historically rich, and deeply inspiring true story of four pioneering women physicists—Hedwig Kohn, Lise Meitner, Hertha Sponer, and Hildegard Stücklen—who defied Nazi oppression and changed the course of scientific history. This meticulously researched book sheds light on the harrowing realities of Nazi Germany while celebrating the indomitable spirit of these brilliant minds, who were forced to flee their homeland due to their Jewish ancestry or opposition to the regime.

The book masterfully balances scientific achievement with human resilience, presenting the women’s groundbreaking contributions to physics while chronicling their dangerous escapes and struggles to rebuild their careers in foreign lands. Lise Meitner’s pivotal role in the discovery of nuclear fission in Sweden, Hertha Sponer’s influential work in molecular physics in the United States, and the extraordinary perseverance of Kohn and Stücklen illustrate how talent and determination can flourish despite persecution and exile. Their stories underscore not only the systemic barriers women faced in science but also the remarkable ways in which they shattered them.

The author’s cinematic prose makes Sisters in Science read like a historical thriller while remaining firmly grounded in rigorous scholarship. Vivid storytelling breathes life into each woman’s personal and professional journey, making this book as emotionally compelling as it is intellectually stimulating. The narrative seamlessly weaves scientific breakthroughs with political history, demonstrating how these women not only survived but thrived—forever changing the landscape of physics.

More than just a historical account, Sisters in Science is a testament to the power of intellectual courage and solidarity among women in STEM. A must-read for history enthusiasts, science lovers, and anyone seeking inspiration from extraordinary individuals who overcame the darkest of times to leave a lasting impact on the world. Readers of The Radium Girls and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks will find this book particularly captivating.

A truly outstanding and essential contribution to both scientific and historical literature. #NetGalley #sistersinscience

Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scienctifc History by Olivia Campbell was an interesting read! It was obvious that Olivia Campbell had extensively researched the women.

It is about Hedwig Kohn, Hertha Sponer, Lise Meitner, and Hildegard Stucklen. They were four women physists who were stripped of their teaching and research duties because they were women and Jewish in Nazi Germany. All of the women struggled to leave Germany for a variety of reasons. They fled to different locations and were received with varying welcomes.

These women went on to further their scientific careers and helped show the importance of women in science. We still have a long way to go. But it was these and other women that have helped us come this far!

Thank you, Netgalley and Harlequin Audio, for this copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

In turns heartbreaking and inspiring, this story of four brilliant scientists escaping Nazi Germany while reshaping the field of physics is a must read.

Above and beyond their struggle to be recognized as leaders in their field because of their gender, those who wore the moniker of “jewess” even without practicing the religion were at even greater peril as the crack down on travel and safety threatened their lives and livelihoods. Only the hope of winning teaching positions in other countries could secure their possible freedom, and even then, that was often contingent upon the good will of the men in their networks.

I found the tender and personal accounts of their stories to be immensely compelling and it’s obvious that the research here focused not only on their academic and historical background, but lingered on their correspondence in a way that teased out their personalities and relationships in a very intentional manner. It also serves to help set the record straight on their contributions to the field of physics in so many instances, with Campbell making sure their legacies are intact. So well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for my copy. These opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Sisters in Science was such a wonderful selection to enjoy as an audiobook. Due to the in-depth information provided, listening to the book allowed for the experience of a lecture series, which I really enjoyed.

Sisters in Science tells the story of four female scientists who are forced to leave Germany due to their Jewish ancestry. Lise Meitner, Hedwig Kohn, Hildegard Stucken, and Hertha Sponer dedicated their lives to scientific discovery and faced many difficult challenges in order to be part of a field dominated by men. They were often not accepted in labs and were restricted in teaching positions and professional compensation. In addition, their research findings were often not respected by colleagues. While these challenges seem extremely difficult, they come nowhere close to the atrocities these women would face under the reign of Hitler if they were not able to escape. Therefore, once Hitler gains control, their focus becomes escaping Germany. The women must rely on their colleagues, friends, and the kindness of strangers all over the world in order to safely escape and continue their professional pursuits.

Campbell provided a thorough discussion of Lise, Hildegard, Hedwig, and Hertha’s stories and their many professional achievements. It is clear that she dedicated much time to researching the women’s lives and telling their story. This is a powerful work that portrays feminine strength, courage, and resilience in the hardest of times and when facing incredibly bleak circumstances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and HTP The Hive for the opportunity to review Sisters in Science.

This is such a well researched and unique story. This follows female, Jewish scientists as they try to get out of Germany during WWII. These ladies have to depend on the science community to help get them to safety. And believe me…it is not easy. As with most books set in this time period, it is emotional. But I have to give kudos to the author for the research and the subject. As I said before, very unique

The book tells the story of women educators durning WWII - the primary figures are Hedwig Kohn, Lise Meitner, Hertha Sponer and Hildegard Stucklen. Four women who lost their academic positions and were forced to find refuge at international locations or face the labor camps as staying in Germany was not safe.

The book is fascinating and the reader catches glimpse of other influential scientists and their escape from the Nazis - we see colleagues petitioning and finding the funding necessary to help other academics and learn of pioneers of science murders in the death camps. The story is important however I found the book to drag on and read more like a textbook than a novel.

Truly a wonderful look into the history of women in science and the struggle women have always face and certainly more desperate during a time of life or death. Not a light read but a story that needed to be told.

The subject of this book, women scientists who escaped Nazi Germany, intrigued me. However, this was simply not the book for me. I was hoping for more emphasis on their escape and unfortunately, I instead got a ton of physics information (none of which I understood, somehow having managed to avoid ever taking a physics class). Given that I was listening to the audiobook version, skimming those sections was not really an option. This is no knock on the narrator, but more of an issue for this listener.

Sadly, I decided to DNF Sisters in Science. It just wasn’t the right audiobook for me. I’m sure it will find an appreciative audience, however.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

(I'm only leaving a star rating because it is required.)

ALC Review: Sisters in Science by Olivia Campbell
Pub date: Dec 31, 2024
Narration by: Cassandra Campbell

This was an excellent nonfiction book following 4 women scientists in Germany before and during WW2. I found it engaging and not over my head at all, even when Campbell was explaining the science that the women were working on. To no surprise, the stories are harrowing and deal with misogyny, racism, antisemitism, etc. It's remarkable that these women were able to survive and this book really explained things well and had a time line that was easily understandable.

I really liked the narration by Olivia Campbell! I'm a stickler for pronunciation and she pronounced all the German correctly. She kept my interest and made me want to keep listening.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Thank you Harlequin Audio, Park Row Books, HTP Hive, HTP Books for my #gifted listening copy and ARC of Sisters in Science! #SistersInScience #HTPHive #htpbooks #ParkRowBooks

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐳𝐢 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

Sisters in Science tells the true story of four women during WWII and their escape out of Nazi Germany. In the 1930s when Nazis took power, Jewish and female citizens were forced out of their academic positions. That meant Hedwig Kohn, Lise Meitner, Hertha Sponer, and Hildegard Stücklen had no choice but to flee because of their Jewish ancestry or anti-Nazi sentiments. This book was so well-researched and I loved learning more about these women and their story. I would have never known about these women and all they did for the field of physics without this book. While I read a lot of historical fiction based on true events, it was nice to read some non-fiction about four women who persisted despite the odds that were stacked against them.

🎧I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Cassandra Campbell. Campbell. Did such an amazing job telling the story of these four women. I loved my time listening to her and thought she was a phenomenal storyteller. I am used to her narrating fiction, and I can say, she was just as dynamic narrating a non-fiction audiobook. I highly recommend this one on audio!

An absolutely beautiful story of the critical contributions of women in science despite the immense duress of war and persecution. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advanced electronic audio review copy of this informative book. This is a wonderful story about the journey four very courageous and brilliant women scientists had to take to escape Nazi Germany and then be acknowledged and accepted among their male peers as they made major scientific contributions that in some cases changed the course of history.