"Bomb! The Rave to Build-and Steal-the World's Most Dangerous Weapon" by Steve Sheinkin- Book Review

Bomb! The Race to Build-and Steal-the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. Macmillan Publishers. 2012

The non-fiction book Bomb! The Race to Build-and Steal-the World's Most Dangerous Weapon details the making of the first atomic bomb including the formation of the Manhattan Project. With World War II still underway the United States races to beat the Soviet Union in the creation of the atomic bomb. Sheinkin’s book includes the stories of multiple scientists entrusted with the creation of the deadly weapon, such as: Harry Gold, Leslie Groves, Robert Oppenheimer and Klaus Fuchs. The stakes are high and the pressure to create the atomic bomb while keeping it all under wraps may prove to be harder than they thought.

One of the things I enjoyed most about Steve Sheinkin’s book is the use of text features which are interspersed throughout the book. Text features of, for example, photographs of the scientists or the construction of the gadget really add to the story and lets the reader know that these are in fact real events that occurred. Sheinkin also includes a couple of diagrams that help the reader conceptualize abstract topics such as the topic of nuclear fission. Towards the end of the book the author sites his primary sources, and character sources as well. 

I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Although I love learning about historic events sometimes reading non-fiction books can feel as if the author is just regurgitating information. However, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bomb!. Steve Sheinkin’s book reads more like a thriller or action novel. Because the book begins with Harry Gold telling his story to FBI agents the whole book gives off a feeling that you are being told a story. Which makes for a very informative and enjoyable book. Bomb! would be a great book to read as a whole class during a unit on WWII or even recommend it to a student who is interested in WWII or the creation of the atomic bomb. Sheinkin’s writing is not hard to comprehend but it also does not talk down to the reader, because of this I would utilize this book with student’s in 5th grade and older. 

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