Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
 | |
| Author | Steve Sheinkin |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Roaring Brook Press |
Publication date | 2012 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 272 |
| ISBN | 1596434872 |
| OCLC | 758244492 |
| 623.45119 SHE | |
| LC Class | UG1282.A8 .S235 2012 |
Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon is a 2012 adolescent non-fiction book by author Steve Sheinkin. The book won the 2013 Newbery Honor and Sibert Medal from the American Library Association. This book follows the process of building the nuclear bomb by the discovery of nuclear fission by German scientist Otto Hahn in December 17, 1938.
Introduction
The book traces the origin and development of the first atomic bomb. It follows the development of the atomic bomb from the discovery of nuclear fission through the Nazi heavy water manufacture to the Manhattan Project and the attempts of the Soviet Union to steal the bomb design, finishing at the dropping of the bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Reception
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) in 2013 called it the best nonfiction book and stated that it was a '... most distinguished informational ...' book,[1] while Kirkus Review said 'the book is a true spy thriller...It takes a lot of work to make a complicated subject clear and exciting, and from his prodigious research and storytelling skill, Sheinkin has created a nonfiction story young people will want to read.'[2] Lisa Taylor, from School Library Journal Reviews suggested that 'this award-winning, meticulously sourced book deserves a spot in every library'[3] and Brian Odom noted the inclusion of historical information and hard facts and concluded that Bomb was a 'well-documented account. It reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it.'[4]
Awards
- Winner of the 2013 Sibert Medal
- Winner of the 2013 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction
- A 2013 Newbery Medal Honor Book
- 2012 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature
- National Book Awards Finalist