Atom Bomb

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-This small but powerful book offers a complete view of the conception, devastation, and aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The time-line style of the text and clear language make for easy research. The black-and-white photographs powerfully reveal what the development of this weapon truly meant to the history of the world. These photos show the impact on the cities as well as on the men involved in its creation. The human tragedy is clearly shown but not sensationalized. The author concludes with the story of the 1,000 paper cranes and the memorials to the victims that still stand today. The completeness of the information, the thorough index, and the photographs help make this title a solid research tool for any library. A high-quality book about a complicated period in history.-Tracey Kroll, Brookland Middle School, Richmond, VA

Carolyn Phelan

This slender volume focuses on the development of the first nuclear weapons and their deployment at the end of World War II. Arranged by significant dates, the text chronicles early research that led to atomic fission, developments within the Manhattan Project, the dropping of bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the bombs' immediate and long-term effects. Black-and-white photographs appear throughout the book. Their stark, rather grim appearance is heightened by the use of negative photographic prints in the sections showing scenes from the bombed cities. A good starting place for understanding the events and the research leading to the development of the atom bomb.