Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Flash Point (2012), Edition: Illustrated, 272 pages
Description
Recounts the scientific discoveries that enabled atom splitting, the military intelligence operations that occurred in rival countries, and the work of brilliant scientists hidden at Los Alamos.
User reviews
LibraryThing member LizMBradley
Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon is a historical account of the building and effects of the world's first atomic bomb, which was built in the United States during World War II. The story follows the Manhattan Project, Soviet spies in America, and how the nuclear
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war began. The novel includes actual quotes from the people involved from Presidents Roosevelt and Truman to top officials in the Military, and spies from both sides. This text was quite interesting. Since it is a historical text, it isn't the most fun thing to read. However, i did end up getting attached to some of the characters. The way that the story is set up, piecing different story lines together through out the entirety of the book was kind of confusing and hard to keep up with. Show Less
LibraryThing member asomers
This was a very complex subject,but Mr. Sheinkin deserves every accoldade this book has received. It is written in a manner that is easy to understand and enjoyable to read.It is definietly thought provoking.It is a great history lesson and given recent world conflicts it is a lesson we need to
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hear yet again. Show Less
LibraryThing member KarenBall
The men saw a purple-gray mushroom cloud rising above Hiroshima, its top reaching three miles above their plane. The cloud boiled and writhed, they said, like a living thing. "Even more fearsome was the sight on the ground below"... the entire city, said Van Kirk, "looked like a pot of boiling
...Tibbetts wrote out a coded report and handed it to the radio operator. "Clear cut successful in all respects. Visual effects greater than Trinity... Proceeding to regular base."
This isn't just the story of how scientists figured out the physics of using atomic energy to create bombs, or how the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. It's three separate stories, connected by the events of World War II, and the need to find a conclusive way to end that devastating war. The Americans discovered that the Germans were working on building an atomic bomb, so they started working towards that as well. The Soviets worked harder at spying in order to steal the bomb-making process than in developing their own bomb. Finally, the Allies (though busy spying on each other) worked together to stop the Nazis from completing an atomic bomb. The entire saga involved all kinds of industrial espionage, a Norwegian special ops ski team, geeky scientists who were quietly collected from around the world and set to work in the deserts of New Mexico, secretaries, politicians, dictators, pilots and bombardiers. This is a well-written, incredibly well-researched book that shows far more of the political and social landscape than other books detailing the events and discoveries that led up to the war-ending bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Excellent spy-centered nonfiction, for 8th grade and up.
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black oil."...Tibbetts wrote out a coded report and handed it to the radio operator. "Clear cut successful in all respects. Visual effects greater than Trinity... Proceeding to regular base."
This isn't just the story of how scientists figured out the physics of using atomic energy to create bombs, or how the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. It's three separate stories, connected by the events of World War II, and the need to find a conclusive way to end that devastating war. The Americans discovered that the Germans were working on building an atomic bomb, so they started working towards that as well. The Soviets worked harder at spying in order to steal the bomb-making process than in developing their own bomb. Finally, the Allies (though busy spying on each other) worked together to stop the Nazis from completing an atomic bomb. The entire saga involved all kinds of industrial espionage, a Norwegian special ops ski team, geeky scientists who were quietly collected from around the world and set to work in the deserts of New Mexico, secretaries, politicians, dictators, pilots and bombardiers. This is a well-written, incredibly well-researched book that shows far more of the political and social landscape than other books detailing the events and discoveries that led up to the war-ending bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Excellent spy-centered nonfiction, for 8th grade and up.
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
This work of narrative nonfiction weaves together three stories taking place during the WWII era - the work to put together and complete the Manhattan project, the incredible amount of espionage that was happening to share those secrets of the development of the atom bomb with the Soviet Union, and
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the race during war time to stop Germany from developing a bomb of their own. I was fascinated as I learned the science behind the bomb and about many of the players involved in the stories surrounding the scientific work. Accessible and compelling, this was a well done project and one that I look forward to passing around to other readers. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeweyEver
This highly praised and award-laden book of 2012 deserves all the accolades it received. Sheinkin deftly explores the people, places and events involved in creating the atomic bomb. Complicated by the events of World War II, political figures, and spies, this narrative could have been bogged down
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but somehow Sheinkin makes it a tight and suspenseful read. Show Less
LibraryThing member claireforhan
I thought that the author did a very nice job presenting an abundance of information in a way that made it read like a novel. I learned a huge amount about the atomic bomb creation that I had never even before considered, but got a little lost with all the different people. I felt that the author
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did his best to distinguish between all the people involved in the project, but I had a hard time following along at certain parts. I was really fascinated by all the short anecdotes that the author compiled together, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about American history. Show Less
LibraryThing member amaraduende
Very well written, and very interesting.
LibraryThing member scote23
I read this book and was cheering for the bomb to be built in time without it getting into the hands of others...and then bawled when I remembered exactly what it was I was rooting for.
LibraryThing member hereandthere
It is less fashionable these days than it used to be to lie awake at night and worry about the destruction of life on earth by means of atomic weapons. For one thing, global climate change seems to be a much more certain fate, about which it is much harder to come to agreement. We may still have
Nonetheless, the story of how these death machines were invented is still worth reading. Sheinkin's "Bomb" is tertiary history, written for a high school audience, or for a complete novice to the history of the nuclear weapons program in the US. It's a first rate retelling of a story that is familiar to us old timers - familiar from biographies of key participants, from full academic histories written from specific perspectives, and if you are of my parent's generation, from newspaper reporting. There is nothing new here to a student of Cold War history, except the package itself. But what we do get here is a very nice package, a good historical polishing and finishing, a weaving together of the Soviet spy story, the Norwegian saboteur story, the Einstein story, the Truman story, the Oppenheimer story, the German scientists' story, and on and on. Each of these facets are animated and put on stage together and made to speak to each other.
The cast of familiar characters is vast, from Richard Feynmen to Moe Berg to the Rosenberg's - you've heard all these names before, and you've probably read about their roles in great detail. To read this book is to sit down in front of the TV and have NOVA narrate it all, although in considerably more detail than a TV show. You might say that this is a television documentary of a history book, in the very best sense. It can be finished in a few hours.
This is the form in which history enters consciousness, enters the minds of young people, becomes part of the narrative of popular culture. You could say that this is what history is reduced to, but history must be reduced to some form if it is to have relevance to culture. This story, as told here, is three, four and five steps removed from the reality, but it is very well presented. If you knew nothing about how the atomic bomb came to exist on planet Earth, or about the era and the people that created it, you would be well served and well educated by this history.
The footnoting style is notable: Each chapter relies extensively on secondary sources, and rather than using numbered footnotes, each reference is cited by chapter, and then by the first words of the quoted text. It's very clean and easy to work with.
The illustrations are familiar, but useful and interesting. The 1940s typewriter typeface used for the illustrations nicely captures the graphical feel of the time.
This is "the good parts" story of the development of the atomic bomb. All the boring stuff is left out, all the historical highlights (intrigue, ecstasy and agony) are there. It is short and sweet and to the point, with some satisfying "whatever happened to..." follow-ups in the epilogue that take us into the late 1990s. I found myself pulled along by the clear writing and the pleasure of reviewing a familiar technological horror story, a history of the birth of the end of the world.
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the nuclear weapons, but nobody thinks that the big powers, the ones who could really destroy the planet, want to use them. The nuclear wars we worry about these days would involve India, Pakistan, Israel or, coming soon to a Middle East near you, Iran. Nonetheless, the story of how these death machines were invented is still worth reading. Sheinkin's "Bomb" is tertiary history, written for a high school audience, or for a complete novice to the history of the nuclear weapons program in the US. It's a first rate retelling of a story that is familiar to us old timers - familiar from biographies of key participants, from full academic histories written from specific perspectives, and if you are of my parent's generation, from newspaper reporting. There is nothing new here to a student of Cold War history, except the package itself. But what we do get here is a very nice package, a good historical polishing and finishing, a weaving together of the Soviet spy story, the Norwegian saboteur story, the Einstein story, the Truman story, the Oppenheimer story, the German scientists' story, and on and on. Each of these facets are animated and put on stage together and made to speak to each other.
The cast of familiar characters is vast, from Richard Feynmen to Moe Berg to the Rosenberg's - you've heard all these names before, and you've probably read about their roles in great detail. To read this book is to sit down in front of the TV and have NOVA narrate it all, although in considerably more detail than a TV show. You might say that this is a television documentary of a history book, in the very best sense. It can be finished in a few hours.
This is the form in which history enters consciousness, enters the minds of young people, becomes part of the narrative of popular culture. You could say that this is what history is reduced to, but history must be reduced to some form if it is to have relevance to culture. This story, as told here, is three, four and five steps removed from the reality, but it is very well presented. If you knew nothing about how the atomic bomb came to exist on planet Earth, or about the era and the people that created it, you would be well served and well educated by this history.
The footnoting style is notable: Each chapter relies extensively on secondary sources, and rather than using numbered footnotes, each reference is cited by chapter, and then by the first words of the quoted text. It's very clean and easy to work with.
The illustrations are familiar, but useful and interesting. The 1940s typewriter typeface used for the illustrations nicely captures the graphical feel of the time.
This is "the good parts" story of the development of the atomic bomb. All the boring stuff is left out, all the historical highlights (intrigue, ecstasy and agony) are there. It is short and sweet and to the point, with some satisfying "whatever happened to..." follow-ups in the epilogue that take us into the late 1990s. I found myself pulled along by the clear writing and the pleasure of reviewing a familiar technological horror story, a history of the birth of the end of the world.
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LibraryThing member kmarch3
VOYA ratings (mine): 5Q, 3P
It's obvious that this book was very carefully researched, almost painstakingly so. I certainly appreciated that as a reader and learned so many things (from the parts I read anyway) about this crucial moment in our history. I can see kids who are into history, science
It's obvious that this book was very carefully researched, almost painstakingly so. I certainly appreciated that as a reader and learned so many things (from the parts I read anyway) about this crucial moment in our history. I can see kids who are into history, science
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and/or World War II being into this without much pushing, but since much of the vocabulary is somewhat scientific and a bit advanced, it would be difficult for other, less skilled readers. Maybe the inclusion of photographs or a few well-placed illustrations would help the book appeal to a wider range of teens. Show Less
LibraryThing member lindap69
I love the "story" of history, but felt bombarded by facts and a confusing litany of people. At about 70 pages in (I really was interested in the topic and wanted to know the outcome - this will cause many people to stay with this story and perhaps the reason the Newbery committee gave it the honor
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award) I turned to the back cover to read about the author - aaah a former text book writer! Sadly he has not completely made the transition. Give me history by Russell Freedman or Jim Murphy any day before Sheinkin. This is slightly less painful than a textbook or an encyclopedia, but not much. Show Less
LibraryThing member jfeucht
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this book. I am not a big fan of reading about war and conflict, but the rich history of this book, based more on the lives of the scientists involved with the Manhattan Project, rather than on the conflict of WWII was fascinating. It definitely focuses
The research for this book was extensive and there are a lot of details included about the movements and thoughts of all of the key players in the bomb race. I loved that there were pictures at the beginning of each chapter which helped to confirm the veracity of the writing and to remind the reader that these were real people and this is a true story.
A good pairing for this book would be The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages. This work of realistic fiction set in the same time period at the Los Alamos base. It is from the point of view of an eleven year old girl, who ends up there when her father is assigned to the project. Although it is a work of fiction, it would be a good way to understand the time period and what happened with the creation of the atomic bomb from a different point of view.
I would highly recommend Bomb to young adults. It is well written, easy to read, and interesting. I think it would be well liked.
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on the characters involved and how they worked together in the race to build the atomic bomb, or how they worked against one another in the Soviet's race to do the same.The research for this book was extensive and there are a lot of details included about the movements and thoughts of all of the key players in the bomb race. I loved that there were pictures at the beginning of each chapter which helped to confirm the veracity of the writing and to remind the reader that these were real people and this is a true story.
A good pairing for this book would be The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages. This work of realistic fiction set in the same time period at the Los Alamos base. It is from the point of view of an eleven year old girl, who ends up there when her father is assigned to the project. Although it is a work of fiction, it would be a good way to understand the time period and what happened with the creation of the atomic bomb from a different point of view.
I would highly recommend Bomb to young adults. It is well written, easy to read, and interesting. I think it would be well liked.
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LibraryThing member JenJ.
Fascinating and particularly good timing for me as I've just read Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption and Code Name Verity. It makes me want to go back and reread The Green Glass Sea. However, I just do not seem to connect to non-fiction the same way I do with
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fiction. I loved reading about the science and the spy missions, but I had the hardest time convincing myself to pick this book back up each time I put it down. Excellent and I expect it has a good shot at several of the ALA awards come January (Newbery, Sibert, Printz and YALSA Non-Fiction all seem like possibilities to me). Show Less
LibraryThing member Renee.Brandon
Spies, bombs, war, racing to be the first. Told in a narrative style that makes you want to keep reading.
LibraryThing member lilibrarian
Once it was discovered that huge power could be released by fissioning uranium atoms, it was only a question of time. Whichever power developed a bomb first would win the war. The cook is a detailed history of the Manhattan project, the scientists and politicians, and the spies who wanted the
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information for the Soviet Union. Show Less
LibraryThing member alphaselene
5Q, 5P, non-fiction, siebert award, atomic bomb, sheinkin, M - YA: This is the story of the global race to build the world's most perfect weapon. It is an amazing patchwork of spies, scientists, politicians, military leaders and everyday heros that keeps the reader enthralled and guessing despite a
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general awareness of the final conclusion. All individuals involved are made multi-dimensional and empathetic (well, maybe not Stalin). Sheinkin is a master of historical detail and dialogue. Bomb is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The chapters are perfectly paced to keep a younger reader engaged and lyrical enough to appeal to an older reader.It is already a hit with my middle school students, especially those who like military thrillers. Show Less
LibraryThing member Erin_Boyington
VOYA: 5Q, 5P Mine: 5Q, 4P
Sheinkin tells the riveting story of how people discovered the secrets of the atom bomb - some with careful brainstorming at Los Alamos, some by reading stolen documents delivered by spies. There is heroic sabotage, principled deceit, and a breakneck race to build the first
Sheinkin tells the riveting story of how people discovered the secrets of the atom bomb - some with careful brainstorming at Los Alamos, some by reading stolen documents delivered by spies. There is heroic sabotage, principled deceit, and a breakneck race to build the first
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superweapon before the other guy. The development of the atomic bomb was a critical moment for humanity, and Sheinkin gives us all the twists and turns that led to the fateful flight of the Enola Gay and the long standoff of the Cold War. Show Less
LibraryThing member LibrarianMaven
Sheinkin takes readers behind the scenes of the designing, building, and use of the atomic bomb during World War II. He focuses primarily on the American building of the bomb, but successfully integrates German and Soviet work as well in the multiple storylines. Bomb’s storyline hooks readers
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from the beginning and keeps them engaged; the clear lay out of the book keeps the multiple storylines from getting confusing. The black and white photo collages at the beginning of each section add interest and remind readers that the characters in the book were all real people- this is nonfiction that sometimes reads like the best of spy fiction. Sheinkin includes just enough science that readers can understand the theories behind the scientist’s work but not so much as to put off non-science oriented readers, though those interested in further reading in the science of atomic bombs or spycraft will find plenty of sources in the source notes. A helpful index is also included, along with endnotes for each chapter. Sheinkin does not shy away from the devastating effects of an atomic bomb and makes clear that is an issue still very much present today. Highly recommended for public and school libraries alike. Show Less
LibraryThing member molbhall
This award-winning nonfiction book (many times over) details the creation of the first atomic bombs during World War II and the lead-up to and aftermath from this earth-rattling discovery. People know about the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but they may not be aware of the sheer
The backmatter includes extensive source notes, going so far as to include where dialogue in the text came from. This book could be a supplemental resource in a high school history class covering the war, allowing students to go more in-depth with this era than a textbook would allow them to go. Besides being informational, Bomb is also a thrilling true story. It could spark teens’ interest in history and get even the most diehard fiction fans to give nonfiction a try.
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amount of work and the huge number of people who contributed to the Manhattan Project. Sheinkin shows events unfolding from the perspectives of many of the important players, from the many scientists who built the bomb to the spies from both the Soviet Union and the United States who tried to get information from the other side of the bomb race.The backmatter includes extensive source notes, going so far as to include where dialogue in the text came from. This book could be a supplemental resource in a high school history class covering the war, allowing students to go more in-depth with this era than a textbook would allow them to go. Besides being informational, Bomb is also a thrilling true story. It could spark teens’ interest in history and get even the most diehard fiction fans to give nonfiction a try.
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LibraryThing member Michaela.Bushey
This informational book by Steve Sheinkin chronicles the evolution of the atomic bomb, from the discovery of fission to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This book is expertly written in a way that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In addition, it raises important questions and
In a classroom, this would be an excellent alternative to a textbook about WWII. It is factual, and written in a way that is very engaging. With additional texts it could make a comprehensive history unit. Additionally, the book provides many points of view and would lead perfectly to discussions about war, democracy, and morality. This book would be a fantastic addition to any classroom.
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wonderings about the implications of these powerful weapons. In a classroom, this would be an excellent alternative to a textbook about WWII. It is factual, and written in a way that is very engaging. With additional texts it could make a comprehensive history unit. Additionally, the book provides many points of view and would lead perfectly to discussions about war, democracy, and morality. This book would be a fantastic addition to any classroom.
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LibraryThing member nataliaanishchenko
This historical fiction gives a reader some prospectives about the WWII, about risk taking, spying and a race against other countries to develop a nuclear bomb. It is for those who is interested in either history or science (physics).
LibraryThing member Megs_Scrambled
This book has a fascinating subject matter and Roy Samuelson's narration of the audiobook somehow makes it more informative and exciting at the same time. The book follows the creation of the atomic bomb and how its construction involved an intricate network of spies. It's frightening, suspenseful,
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and just all together interesting. I don't believe this subject matter isn't shared much with kids, which is a shame because this is just the kind of spy/adventure story children enjoy in fiction. To listen to something like this that sounds like fiction but not may get more kids reading or listening to nonfiction by choice. I'd recommend this to any child in this age group who enjoys spy stories or historical fiction. Teacher can also play the audiobook in their classroom to supplement a history curriculum. Show Less
LibraryThing member eekazimer
Fast paced. Reads like a spy thriller. Indeed there are spies before, after and during the war trying to get the secrets of nuclear reactions. Spellbinding non-fiction
LibraryThing member wadehuntpc
Disclaimer: I review books on how they stand alone without regards to anyone’s personal views about the author. I review based upon readability and how the book affects my life for good, and less upon literary style.
I loved this book. For a non-fiction book, it was fascinating to read and hard to
The book does a good job of painting a picture of what it was like to experience the bomb and the humanity side of things... How the scientists that developed the bomb initially celebrated, justifiably so, when the bomb proved to be successful, but afterward was tempered with the realization of human suffering, especially of the implications of what it could mean for future generations. Oppenheimer himself struggled with this greatly.
Finally, although the book doesn't mention God in it, I can see clearly how His hand was helping out... Even though there were countless obstacles, everything seemed to click into place just at the right time. I see this not as any coincidence, but divine help and that the basic morale and intent of the USA was freedom and the protection of its citizens.
I loved this book. For a non-fiction book, it was fascinating to read and hard to
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put down. The book shows how important it is to be a true patriot and a person of integrity. There were many examples of this in the work, namely, Robert Oppenheimer who headed up the effort, the Gunnerside Team who destroyed the Germans' capability to develop the bomb, the many scientists who worked tirelessly under Openheimer, and the presidents of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. There were also documented those who ended being spies for the Soviets... Although, their motives were mixed, including helping an ally, the Soviets as pointed out in the book were never and never intended to be allies to the United States. It just so happened that we were both fighting the same enemy. To me, the book points out the importance of protecting the secrets of the country and being loyal to it. Furthermore, I believe the book points out that there is no worthy motive for betraying the USA.The book does a good job of painting a picture of what it was like to experience the bomb and the humanity side of things... How the scientists that developed the bomb initially celebrated, justifiably so, when the bomb proved to be successful, but afterward was tempered with the realization of human suffering, especially of the implications of what it could mean for future generations. Oppenheimer himself struggled with this greatly.
Finally, although the book doesn't mention God in it, I can see clearly how His hand was helping out... Even though there were countless obstacles, everything seemed to click into place just at the right time. I see this not as any coincidence, but divine help and that the basic morale and intent of the USA was freedom and the protection of its citizens.
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LibraryThing member Tvickrey
I was hooked from the first word of the first chapter. It reads like a spy novel, but with incredible facts and interviews that strengthen the story to an ultimate mix of war and espionage. Sheinkin did an amazing job of incorporating fact without bogging the exciting action story down. Not only do
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we get to clear about building the atomic bomb but also the spy and espionage happening all over the world to further the Manhattan Project. I love love loved it! Show Less
Awards
National Book Award (Finalist — Young People's Literature — 2012)
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (Nonfiction — 2012)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 2015)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2015)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 2015)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (Nonfiction — 2012)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Informational Books — 2014)
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2015)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2015)
Cardinal Cup (Winner — Older Readers — 2013)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2015)
Newbery Medal (Honor Book — 2013)
Great Lakes Great Books Award (Honor Book — 2014)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
Nevada Young Readers' Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2016)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — 2015)
Margaret A. Edwards Award (2020)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2015)
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal (Winner — 2013)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2015)
Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (Selection — Grades 9-12 — 2024)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2015)
CYBILS Awards (Winner — Young Adult Nonfiction — 2012)
Denny O’Neil Graphic Novel List (Grades 6-8 — 2024)
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction (Nominee — 2013)
CCBC Choices (2013)
Nerdy Book Award (2012)
Notable Children's Book (2013)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens (Non-Fiction — 2024)
Reading Olympics (Middle School — 2024)
OYAN Book Rave (2013)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Informational Books for Older Readers — 2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
272 p.; 9.53 inches
ISBN
1596434872 / 9781596434875