Bomb: the Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

1. Bibliography 

Sheinkin, Steve. Bomb: the Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon. New York, NY: Square Fish, 2018.

2. Plot Summary 

From Steve Sheinkin comes the amazing true story about the atomic bomb race. Filled with amazing characters, science, and even plots to kidnap, this book will easily engage young readers in history. Starting with the discovery of splitting atoms in 1938 and ending with 1980s efforts to reduce the number of arms, readers will learn about this exciting and important time in history.  

3. Critical Analysis

Steve Sheinkin writes this informational book in such a way that it reads more like a spy thriller than a nonfiction account of these historic events. It is separated into four parts and separate chapters and is the size of most standard chapter books. The story is mostly in chronological order, but jumps to different key players be it the scientist, the spies, or the government at different times during the story. Before each new section, black and white photographs of new people and groups being introduced cover the two page spreads like a scrapbook. Readers can be assured that the information is factual as they can flip to the back of the book and see citations of the source and quotation notes. This book is great for middle grade, high school, or adult readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

4. Award(s) and Review Excerpt(s)

• 2013 Sibert Medal
  
• 2013 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction
  
• 2013 Newbery Medal Honor Book
  
• From Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books: ““This is edge-of-the seat material that will resonate with YAs who clamor for true spy stories, and it will undoubtedly engross a cross-market audience of adults who dozed through the World War II unit in high school.”
  
• From School Library Journal: “Sheinkin has again brought his superior talent for storytelling to bear in what is truly a gripping account of discovery, espionage, and revolutionary changes in both physics and the modern world.”

5. Connections

Gather other titles by Steve Sheinkin: The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery. ISBN 1250024609

• The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights. ISBN 1250073499
  
• Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War. ISBN 125018083X
  
• Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion. ISBN 1250075769
  
• King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution. ISBN 1250075777
  

Use as a read aloud in a chemistry class. Have students note scientific theories and processes mentioned when reading.