Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb: Young Readers Edition of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Gr 5 Up–A dense but fascinating biography on the controversial “father of the atomic bomb,” whose work has impacted all of humanity. Adapted from American Prometheus, the basis of the Oscar-winning film, this extensive work covers physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s childhood, education, prominence as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project’s Los Alamos Laboratory and the development of the atomic bomb, and the work he did to campaign for disarmament. Bird, Sherwin, and Singer present extensive details on his early brilliance, mental health issues, personal and political life, and the complicated creation of the single most deadly weapon to ever be used in war. While the writing is often compelling, the narrative sometimes gets bogged down by minutia that will make young readers’ eyes glaze over, especially in the first half. The authors balance the text about Oppenheimer’s life with sporadic insights into the aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Plentiful black-and-white photos, diagrams, and pull quotes break up the text and back matter includes a list of historical figures, end notes, and index.