Bomb: The race to build-and steal-the world's most dangerous weapon

Bomb
by Steve Sheinkin

When my son was quite young, perhaps four, he asked his Montessori Director for a lesson in botany.  The Director had an interest in him working on his reading, and she reminded him that once he learned to read, he would be able to teach himself anything he wanted to learn.   He received the lesson, it was about leaves, but what he remembers most about that moment was that he really needed to master reading.

He spent most of his early reading years in nonfiction books about animals and plants.  As a matter of fact, it took a bit of work to find fiction that would suit him when he became an independent reader.  Luckily, realistic fiction gave way to historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and today you will rarely find him without a book.  Sadly, the book is rarely nonfiction, because it is hard to find one interesting enough to keep my 12 year old's attention.

Happily, Steve Sheinkin, has written Bomb: The race to build,and steal, the world's most dangerous weapon.  The cover flap describes it this way:

This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and the genius that created the world's most formidable weapon.  This is the story of the atomic bomb.

It is written in short, clear chapters that uncover the details of this secret operation, that would forever change warfare for humanity.  It is one of those books that makes you want to learn more about the time period and what would come next in the history of the world.  It has gotten me thinking a lot about the Cold War.

I believe it would appeal to any capable reader, even an adult, looking for a primer on the creation of the bomb.  Many of us know what the outcome of its use was, but few understand how it was developed.  If you or your reader like to learn, you ought to check out Bomb!