In the Library Reviews - Theodore Taylor Reviews -- Page Three



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Reviewed Titles Billy the Kid The Bomb Ice Drift Sniper Weirdo	Theodore Taylor Reviews Page Three Added February 11, 2008 The Bomb Author: Theodore Taylor Publisher: Harcourt Inc. Available At: Bookstores Everywhere Publishing Date: Available now Genre: Young Adult: Historical Format: Trade paperback Price: $6.95 ISBN-13: 978:0-15-206165-4 Author Email/Website: www.theodoretaylor.com/ Reviewer: Joyce Handzo Rating: 9 Gargoyles Theodore Taylor's masterful blending of history and fiction creates a story with realistic overtones and a strong emotional appeal. Set in the Bikini Atoll, the innocent inhabitants of this tropical paradise are told to leave their homes because the United States government wants to test atomic bombs on their island. The year is 1946 and World War II is over. But for these island dwellers, the worst is yet to come. Amidst the historical facts and significance of this time period, the author places a sixteen-year-old boy named Sorry Rinamu. His heart is set afire with the injustice of the American government's "request' to leave their homeland. The people in the Bikini Atoll are ignorant of the devastation atomic bombs had brought to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and naively trust the promise that they will be able to return to their island in only two years. Sorry Rinamu knows that his youth prevents him from making any important decisions for the island community, but he steadfastly sets a desperate plan in motion to prevent the desolation of their paradise. Written from the perspective of the inhabitants of the Bikini Atoll, the emotional aspect of this true event is skillfully highlighted with a touch of fiction. Every chapter begins with a fact concerning the preparation and motivation behind testing the atomic bombs in this particular area of the world. Yet, the story dwells not with the technological advancements, but with the very real and practical issues surrounding the removal of these island dwellers from their home. As the United States military grapples with the scientific application of their project, calculating the potential damage and the spread of radioactive elements, the native people concern themselves with finding another island with a navigable lagoon and plenty of fish. This startling contrast between abstract scientific concepts and down-to-earth practicality bring the real fallout of this experiment to the surface. The conclusion lives up to the title and will leave traces of explosive ideas for years to come. Return to top of page. This page was last updated on February 11, 2008 This page and all its contents are Copyright© 2002-2008 In the Library Reviews and the individual reviewers. Except where noted, all graphics are Copyright© Eos Development and are used with permission. All book covers are Copyright© their respective publishers and are used with permission. The In the Library Reviews logo is Copyright© 2002 by In the Library Reviews/Sharyn McGinty. Site maintained by In the Library Reviews.