★ "[A] compelling introduction to an extraordinary scientist." --Booklist, starred review

Rosalind Franklin was a Jewish scientist with a remarkable talent as a chemist. Although there were few women working in this field in the 1950s, Franklin, using crystallography, captured an image that held the secret to unlocking the structure of DNA: the double helix. Her Photo 51 was used by her male colleagues without her knowledge, and they went on to win the Nobel Prize, while Franklin never found out how instrumental her work was to the discovery of the double helix. This incredible story uncovers the life and work of an extraordinary scientist, rightfully celebrating her landmark contributions to history.

★ "Poignant ... Enlightening .... students with an appreciation for learning about lesser-known historical figures and an interest in science will find inspiration in Franklin's resilience. Remember Rosalind? She's unforgettable." --School Library Journal, starred review

★ "As she weaves science and history, Tanya Lee Stone unravels dual mysteries centering on the double helix: how the 'secret of life...makes you--YOU' and how a 'twist of fate' triggered Rosalind Franklin's posthumous recognition." --Horn Book, starred review

"[An] inspiring picture book biography introducing Rosalind Franklin's groundbreaking life to young readers." --A Mighty Girl

CCBC Choice 2025
Booklist Editors' Choice 2024
School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Elementary 2024
NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book
2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Booklist
Finalist for the Vermont Book Award
Chicago Public Library Best Books 2024