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Steve Sheinkin

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Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon (Newbery Honor Book & National Book Award Finalist) Kindle Edition

by Steve Sheinkin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 1,763 ratings

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Perfect for middle grade readers and history enthusiasts, New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin presents the fascinating and frightening true story of the creation behind the most destructive force that birthed the arms race and the Cold War in Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon.

A Newbery Honor book
A National Book Awards finalist for Young People's Literature
A Washington PostBest Kids Books of the Year title

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

“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.” —The Bulletin (starred review)

Also by Steve Sheinkin:

The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion
King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution
Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War
Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-"Harry Gold was right: This is a big story." So begins this depiction of the "creation-and theft-of the deadliest weapon ever invented." As he did in The Notorious Benedict Arnold (Roaring Brook, 2010), Sheinkin has again brought his superior talent for storytelling to bear in what is truly a gripping account of discovery, espionage, and revolutionary changes in both physics and the modern world. This fascinating tale, packed with a wide cast of characters, focuses mainly on three individuals: spy for the Soviets Harry Gold, leader of the Manhattan Project J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Knut Haukelid, who sabotaged German bomb efforts while working for the Norwegian resistance. Sheinkin skillfully combines lucid, conversational snapshots of the science behind the atomic bomb with a fast-paced narrative of the remarkable people who made it possible and attempted to steal it. Handsomely designed and loaded with archival photos and primary-source documents, the accessible volume lays out how the bomb was envisioned and brought to fruition. While the historical information and hard facts presented here will likely be new to the intended audience, they in no way overwhelm readers or detract from the thoroughly researched, well-documented account. It reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it.-Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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

“...reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it.” ―School Library Journal, starred

“[a] complicated thriller that intercuts action with the deftness of a Hollywood blockbuster.” ―Booklist

“A must-read…” ―Publishers Weekly, starred

“A superb tale of an era and an effort that forever changed our world.” ―Kirkus, starred

About the Author

Steve Sheinkin is the acclaimed author of fast-paced, cinematic nonfiction histories, including Fallout, Undefeated, Born to Fly, The Port Chicago 50, and Bomb. His accolades include a Newbery Honor, three Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards, a Sibert Medal and Honor, and three National Book Award finalist honors. He lives in Saratoga Springs, New York, with his wife and two children.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Bomb

The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous WeaponBy Steve Sheinkin

Flash Point

Copyright © 2012 Steve Sheinkin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9781596434875
SKINNY SUPERHERO

HARRY GOLD WAS RIGHT: This is a big story. It’s the story of the creation—and theft—of the deadliest weapon ever invented. The scenes speed around the world, from secret labs to commando raids to street-corner spy meetings. But like most big stories, this one starts small. Let’s pick up the action sixteen years before FBI agents cornered Harry Gold in Philadelphia. Let’s start 3,000 miles to the west, in Berkeley, California, on a chilly night in February 1934.
On a hill high above town, a man and woman sat in a parked car. In the driver’s seat was a very thin young physics professor named Robert Oppenheimer. Beside him sat his date, a graduate student named Melba Phillips. The two looked out at the view of San Francisco Bay.
It was a fine view, but Oppenheimer couldn’t seem to stay focused on the date. He turned to Phillips and asked, “Are you comfortable?”
She said she was.
“Mind if I get out and walk for a few minutes?”
She didn’t mind.
Oppenheimer got out and strolled into the darkness. Phillips wrapped a coat around her legs and waited. She waited a long time. At some point, she fell asleep.
She woke up in the middle of the night—the seat beside her was still empty. Worried, she stepped onto the road and waved down a passing police car.
“My escort went for a walk hours ago and he hasn’t returned,” she told the cop.
The police searched the park, but found nothing. They notified headquarters, and a wider search was begun. An officer drove to Oppenheimer’s apartment to look for useful clues.
He found the professor in bed, sound asleep.
The cop shook Oppenheimer awake and demanded an explanation. Oppenheimer said he’d gotten out of the car to think about physics. “I just walked and walked,” he said, “and I was home and I went to bed. I’m so sorry.”
A reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle got hold of the story and wrote an article with the headline: “Forgetful Prof Parks Girl, Takes Self Home.”
No one who knew Robert Oppenheimer was the least bit surprised.
* * *
HE’D ALWAYS BEEN DIFFERENT. A girl who knew Robert as a child in New York City described him as “very frail, very pink-cheeked, very shy, and very brilliant.”
Oppenheimer was a tougher critic. “A repulsively good little boy,” he said of himself. “My life as a child did not prepare me for the fact that the world is full of cruel and bitter things.”
He was constantly getting sick, so his nervous parents tried to protect him by keeping him inside. While other boys played in the street, Robert sat alone in his room studying languages, devouring books of literature and science, and filling notebooks with poetry. Around kids his age he was awkward and quiet, never knowing what to say unless he could bring the conversation around to books. Then he would let loose annoying bursts of learning.
“Ask me a question in Latin,” he’d say, “and I’ll answer you in Greek.”
Hoping to toughen up their stick-skinny fourteen-year-old, Robert’s parents sent him to a sports summer camp. But he was an awful athlete and simply refused to participate. Then the other campers found out he wrote home every day, and that he liked poetry and looking for minerals. That’s when they started calling him “Cutie.”
Robert never fought back. He never even responded. That made his tormentors even angrier.
One night, after dinner, Robert went for a walk. A group of boys waited for him in the woods. They grabbed him, dragged him to the icehouse, and tossed him on the rough wood floor. They ripped off his shirt and pants, dipped a brush in green paint, and slapped the dripping bristles against his bony body.
Robert never said a word about the attack to camp counselors. “I don’t know how Robert stuck out those remaining weeks,” his only friend at camp later said. “Not many boys would have—or could have—but Robert did. It must have been hell for him.”
Science saved him. Robert dove deep into chemistry and physics in high school, graduated from Harvard University in 1925, then earned advanced degrees at top universities in Britain and Germany. Even in classes with some of the brightest students in the world, “Oppie,” as friends called him, never lost his know-it-all style. He interrupted physics lectures with his own theories, sometimes charging to the chalkboard, grabbing the chalk and declaring. “This can be done much better in the following manner.” Classmates got so annoyed they actually signed a petition asking him to allow others to speak in class. After that, Oppenheimer calmed down. A little bit. “The trouble,” a friend said, “is that Oppie is so quick on the trigger intellectually, that he puts the other guy at a disadvantage.”
He’d lucked into a thrilling time in theoretical physics. Physicists were just beginning to figure out what atoms look like, and how the tiny particles inside them move and affect each other. Theoretical physicists were the explorers of their day, using imagination and mind-bending math to dig deeper and deeper into the surprising inner workings of atoms. Oppenheimer knew he’d found his calling.
When he returned to the States, schools all over the country tried to hire him. He picked the University of California, in Berkeley, where he quickly built the country’s best theoretical physics program. Students who came to study with Oppenheimer quickly realized they were in for a wild ride. “When you took a question to him,” one student remembered, “he would spend hours—until midnight perhaps—exploring every angle with you.”
“He generally would answer patiently,” another student agreed, “unless the question was manifestly stupid, in which event his response was likely to be quite caustic.”
While sitting in on other professors’ lectures, Oppenheimer was known to squirm impatiently. “Oh, come now!” he’d call out. “We all know that. Let’s get on with it!”
Oppenheimer’s own lectures, according to a student named Edward Gerjuoy, were lightning bursts of ideas, theories, and math on the blackboard. “He spoke quite rapidly, and puffed equally rapidly,” Gerjuoy said. “When one cigarette burned down to a fragment he no longer could hold, he lit another.” Oppenheimer paced as he lectured, his wiry black hair sticking straight up, his large blue eyes flashing, as he furiously wrote, erased, wrote more, talked, puffed, and bobbed in and out of a cloud of white smoke.
During one lecture, he told students to think about a formula he’d written. There were dozens scrawled all over the board, and a student cut in to ask which formula he was talking about.
“Not that one,” Oppenheimer said, pointing to the blackboard, “the one underneath.”
There was no formula below that one, the student pointed out.
“Not below, underneath,” snapped Oppenheimer. “I have written over it.”
As one of Oppenheimer’s students put it: “Everyone sort of regarded him, very affectionately, as being sort of nuts.”
* * *
“I NEED PHYSICS MORE THAN FRIENDS,” Oppenheimer once told his younger brother. Lost in his studies, Oppenheimer paid little attention to the outside world. He didn’t hear about the stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression until six months after it happened. He first voted in a presidential election in 1936, at the age of thirty-two.
“Beginning in late 1936, my interests began to change,” he later said. There were a few reasons.
For one thing, the country’s ongoing economic troubles began to hit home. “I saw what the Depression was doing to my students. Often they could get no jobs,” he said. “And through them, I began to understand how deeply political and economic events could affect men’s lives. I began to feel the need to participate more fully in the life of the community.” Oppenheimer started going to political meetings and discussion groups. He began giving money to support causes like labor unions and striking farm workers.
But it wasn’t only events in the United States that caught Oppenheimer’s attention—he was also alarmed by the violent rise of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party in Germany. Hitler took over as chancellor of Germany in 1933 and started arresting political opponents and tossing them into concentration camps. With complete control of the country in his hands, Hitler began persecuting German Jews, stripping them of their legal rights, kicking them out of universities and government jobs. Oppenheimer, who was Jewish, still had family in Germany, as well as Jewish friends from his student days. When he heard that Hitler was harassing Jewish physicists, Oppenheimer dedicated a portion of his salary to help them escape Nazi Germany.
At the same time, the German dictator built up a huge military and started hacking out what he called a “Greater Germany,” a massive European empire that Hitler insisted rightfully belonged to Germans. He annexed neighboring Austria in 1938, then demanded a huge region of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France were strong enough to stand in Hitler’s way—but they caved in to his threats, hoping to preserve peace in Europe.
“This is my last territorial demand in Europe,” Hitler promised.
A few months later, he sent German troops into the rest of Czechoslovakia. Just twenty years after the end of World War I, it looked like a second world war was about to explode.
Oppenheimer followed these terrifying events from his home in California, burning with what he described as “a continuing, smoldering fury” toward Adolf Hitler.
But how was a theoretical physicist supposed to save the world?

Copyright © 2012 by Steve Sheinkin

Continues...
Excerpted from Bomb by Steve Sheinkin Copyright © 2012 by Steve Sheinkin. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00842H6AI
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flash Point; Illustrated edition (September 4, 2012)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 2012
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 7467 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #252,953 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #20 in Children's 19th Century American History
- #21 in Children's 20th Century American History
- #25 in Children's Military & War History Books

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4.6 1,763 ratings

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Steve Sheinkin

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A former textbook writer, Steve Sheinkin is now making amends by writing history books that kids and teens actually want to read. His award-winning nonfiction books include FALLOUT, BOMB, UNDEFEATED, THE PORT CHICAGO 50, MOST DANGEROUS, THE NOTORIOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD, LINCOLN'S GRAVE ROBBERS, BORN TO FLY, and his newest title, IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE. His chapter book series, TIME TWISTERS, is a history/comedy mash-ups - just another way to make history come alive for readers. Steve lives with his family in Saratoga Springs, NY.

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Danny Boy

Immensely readable and informative. 5 stars.

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023

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I’ve become a Sheinkin fan I am. I already knew quite a bit re: Los Alamos and Oppenheimer, et all, but this author added much more very interesting side info to an easy to read and very intriguing book. I couldn’t put it down; I read this book in 3 sittings: 5 stars.

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cc5449

You'll be glad you read it!

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2015

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I am in eighth grade and I think this book describes both the race to develop and use the atomic bomb perfectly. The main plot is about the discovery of fission and the making of the first atomic bomb and the ones that followed. It is also about the race between America, the Soviet Union, and Germany to finish constructing the atomic bomb as soon as possible in order to use it if there is a possible or definite threat from the other country or countries. The book is well written and is also full of suspense. The main characters in the novel are Robert Oppenheimer (a physicist who was in charge of the making of the first atomic bomb), Leslie Groves (an army general who was in charge of the entire Manhattan Project), Klaus Fuchs (a physicist who ended up spying for the Soviet Union), and Harry Gold (a chemist from Philadelphia who betrayed his country by giving top-secret information to the Soviets.) The main locations the novel takes place in are America, Japan, and Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. The subplots talk about the scientists and physicists who were involved in the making of the atomic bomb and the ones who were also spies or were not spies but were accused of being a spy. The subplots also talk about the different locations where each bomb was tested. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American history or physics (science.)

10 people found this helpful

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Shauna Marie

Historical Non Fiction, Interesting, Enjoyable Read

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017

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I have now read several of his books, some of his books that are more geared towards younger ages and still enjoyed them. I love the source notes he includes in all of his books as evidenced for where he obtained his facts and information for the book. Full disclosure so did read this with the Audio Books voice reading it to me while I read along. Some of the names would have probably taken a lot longer to read the book if I hadn't done that bc I would have been stuck on trying to figure out the proper pronunciation of each challenging name. LOL I also liked the pictures to go along with some of the people as well as things referenced throughout the book. I love the way he gives historical information and ties it in with more recent updated information of things I have either heard about or wondered as of 2017. My 12 yr old son would listen along to the Audiobooks reading aloud, and stop and want to read along with me as well, & see the pictures. He also wanted to know more about the bits that he heard. We were able to use the source notes in those cases. This one was a little more detailed with less humor, as to be expected given the subject & content and probably targeted audience than his other books my son and I have read. Overall I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a little learning while reading a good book. Being able to take away information after the book is completed is a great feeling for me. If anyone had read this book or any of his other books, and felt the same way about them, please feel free to leave a comment of other books you might recommend. I am always looking for another good book to read.

7 people found this helpful

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Immanuel Kant

In Depth about History and Chemistry

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024

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Really Nice book, It went not only in some depth about the history of the bomb itself, but also the chemistry. It didn't offer too much chemistry though. It talked about the process of fission and starting energy (pretty basic stuff). Nice to see it added though.

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s

Fantastic & engaging.

Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2023

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One of the best books I've read! Full of info but presented un such an engaging way that u hardly realize ur head is being crammed w facts.

One person found this helpful

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Goldjay

Great Insight

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2021

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My son had to read this book for his 8th grade English class. My husband was curious to read the book after my son started telling us about it. It is an amazing book. While it is used for high school level classes, it is definitely a book for adults/mature teens. There are a lot of facts in it and a lot of very descriptive language. It is great for any history buff or anyone who just wants to learn more about the production and use of nuclear bombs. While I did not read the book in it's entirety (both my son and husband did), many excerpts were read to me and many facts were related to me. I highly recommend it. (I was not paid nor compensated for this review. this is simply my HONEST opinion.)

5 people found this helpful

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Jerry B.

Must read for WWll acolytes

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2023

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Haven't finished however, the coverage of some of the luminaries who developed the bomb and their
soviet nemesis if most informative. Great story behinds the story. If you loved Richard Rhodes'
THE MAKING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB this will be a rea winner.

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Jerry S.

Bomb tech/retired CIA Physicist

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2013

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Bomb, while billed as a children's book is much more than that! As a retired physicist/spy I "devoured" it in two days. Sheinkin does an excellent job interweaving the two subjects of spies and simple bomb physics into an interesting chronological flow. While I learned little in new facts, I was intrigued with the persona characterized of the principal players in this drama, both spies and scientists. Much of this personal detail previously and variously reported was new to me. The sourcing of the author's information, much of which I am very familiar - i.e. Richard Rhodes "Making of the Atomic Bomb", was extensive. I do have a few criticisms to note: there is scant emphasis that the Japanese as well as the Germans and Russians were also pursuing the Bomb, the lack of sufficient emphasis that development of the Bomb was a joint British/American endeavor, AND the decision when and where to use the Bomb was likewise a decision of the Joint British/American Targeting Committee. Another criticism is the author's failure to provide a good alphabetized index in the book. Overall, an excellent read, and not just for "children". Jerry S. Westminster, MD.

6 people found this helpful

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Ms Clare S Dyer

Extremely readable (according to my kids).

Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2020

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I have a tough time finding books that my boys (aged 12 and 14) will read, but they both zipped through this one and said they loved it.

Witz

avvincente come un thriller

Reviewed in Italy on August 4, 2022

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Preciso e documentato come un saggio, avvincente come un thriller

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Reme Court

Brilliant style of writing for a difficult subject

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2020

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Any book that has my teenager rushing to tell me something he finds fascinating or researching further to find out more is a huge success in my eyes.
Love the style of writing. A real eye opener. Brilliant.
Please note my teen is engineering and war obsessed.

2 people found this helpful

Lara y Jesús

The race to create the deadly weapon that would win the war

Reviewed in Spain on September 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed the way the novel is written. I like that even though its a very scientific matter, it's balanced out by the adventurous spy stories. Reading this book I learned about nuclear weapons and their effects, the life of spies, important historical events and the division of the world into two groups.
Although this isn't the type of book I usually read, I must say I found it very entertaining, informative and I would definitely recommend it.

Malula

Envió normal

Reviewed in Mexico on November 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

El envío estuvo bien dentro de lo que cabe. Tardo 5 días en llegar a CDMX desde Austin, Texas, USA. Era envió normal

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Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon (Newbery Honor Book & National Book Award Finalist) Kindle Edition

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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

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