Bomb: The Race to Build--And Steal--The World's Most Dangerous Weapon (Newbery Honor Book & National Book Award Finalist)

By Steve Sheinkin

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin presents the fascinating and frightening true story of the creation behind the most destructive force that caused the arms race and the Cold War

★ A Newbery Honor book
★ A National Book Awards finalist for Young People's Literature
★ A Washington Post Best Kids Books of the Year title

In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned three continents.

In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists, led by "father of the atomic bomb" J. Robert Oppenheimer, was hidden away at a remote site at Los Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb.

Don't miss out on these exciting true stories by Steve Sheinkin, perfect for all historians
● Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe
● Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown
● Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America
● Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
● Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
● The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
● Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon (A Newbery Honor Book-also available in Graphic Novel )
● The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery
...and more

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1596434872
• ISBN13: 9781596434875
• Release Date: September 2012
• Publisher: Flash Point
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 7.7" x 9.4"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

I had no idea

I am so amazed at the abilities of early scientists and the stealth in which they worked to create the atom bomb even while surrounded by spies. I am also amazed at the communication that had to be difficult during that time of the world, passing scientific information in order for other countries to come close to nudging ahead in the race to create this weapon. I also appreciated the after effects of realizing just what they did and feeling sick about the outcome. This is a scare we will all carry wondering when someone will decide to start up this type of warfare again.