Overview

In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: when placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned three continents. In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists was hidden away at Los Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, risk-taking, deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb.

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9781250050649

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This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is boring. It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed--and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb. <i>The Wall Street Journal</i></p> 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. <i>BCCB, starred</i></p> ...reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it. <i>School Library Journal, starred</i></p> [a] complicated thriller that intercuts action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster. <i>Booklist</i></p> A must-read <i>Publishers Weekly, starred</i></p> A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world. <i>Kirkus, starred</i></p>

This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is boring. It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed--and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb. --The Wall Street Journal A must-read... --Publishers Weekly, starred review A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world. --Kirkus Reviews, starred review [a] complicated thriller that intercuts action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster. --Booklist .. .reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it. --School Library Journal, starred review 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. --Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, starred review

This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is 'boring.' It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed--and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb. -- The Wall Street Journal * 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. -- BCCB , starred review* Reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it. -- School Library Journal , starred review* A must-read. -- Publishers Weekly , starred review* A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world. -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review* Sheinkin here maintains the pace of a thriller without betraying history . . . or skipping over the science. -- The Horn Book Review , starred review [A] complicated thriller that intercuts action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster. -- Booklist

This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is boring. It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed--and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb. --The Wall Street Journal A must-read... --Publishers Weekly, starred review A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world. --Kirkus Reviews, starred review [a] complicated thriller that intercuts action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster. --Booklist ...reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it. --School Library Journal, starred review 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. --Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, starred review

This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is 'boring.' It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed--and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb. -- The Wall Street Journal * 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. -- BCCB, starred review* Reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it. -- School Library Journal, starred review* A must-read. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review* A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world. -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review* Sheinkin here maintains the pace of a thriller without betraying history . . . or skipping over the science. -- The Horn Book Review, starred review [A] complicated thriller that intercuts action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster. -- Booklist

This superb and exciting work of nonfiction would be a fine tonic for any jaded adolescent who thinks history is boring. It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed--and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb. --The Wall Street Journal A must-read... --Publishers Weekly, starred review A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world. --Kirkus Reviews, starred review [a] complicated thriller that intercuts action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster. --Booklist .. .reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it. --School Library Journal, starred review 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. --Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, starred review

Author Information

Steve Sheinkin, a reformed textbook writer, has dedicated his recent career to making up for his previous sins by writing gripping narratives that would never make it past the school board. He is the author of several fascinating books on American history, such as The Notorious Benedict Arnold, which won the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for nonfiction. He lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

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