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

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Sheinkin, S. (2012) Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--The World's Most Dangerous Weapon. [audiobook] New York: Roaring Brook Press.

This is book is a non-fiction story about the story of the building of the worlds first atomic bomb. Sheinkin does this by using the lives of the scientists, spies and saboteurs. The material is from archival material and government documents. There are tales from the Norwegian spies that wanted to sabotage the efforts to make the atomic bomb. Within the story there are also pictures that help the readers (or listeners) to understand what happens when an atomic bomb goes off. There are also many first person accounts of the making and researching of the bomb which allows the reader to get into the heads of those researchers and scientists. As well as those who experienced the aftermath of the bomb. The way that he ends the book is very thought provoking, “The making of the atomic bomb is one of history’s most amazing examples of teamwork and genius and poise under pressure. But it’s also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping our species off the planet. It’s a story with no end in sight… And like it or not you’re in it” (Sheinkin, 2012). 

This book might not appeal to as many as some of the other books in this reading blog. However it gives a wonderful look at a monumental moment in history. With the explanations and diagrams to go on with them the young readers would be able to understand just what goes on in an atomic bomb. The fact that there are first hand accounts of the aftermath would let them connect to people that went through this terrible thing. The audience of this book would be between the ages of 12 18 for the YA age groups but could also appeal to adults as well. 

Rating: 4/5