Plot Summary
In 1943, eleven-year-old Dewey Kerrigan lives with her scientist father in Los Alamos, New Mexico, as he works on a top secret government program, and befriends an aspiring artist who is a misfit just like her
Critical Analysis
Dewey Kerrigans mother is dead, her grandmother who she has been living with is no longer healthy enough to take care of her, and her father, a mathematician, is to busy working on a top secret project for the government and cant spare the time to collect Dewey from the neighbor who is temporarily taking care of her. its 1943 and Dewey at 10 years old is put on a train to travel across the country to New Mexico by herself. During the trip we learn that Dewey is mechanically oriented and is designing a radio. Because of this she is disliked by the other girls in Los Alamos. She eventually becomes friends with Suze when she is sent to live with the Gordons when her father has to go to Washington.
This story of friendship, loss and belonging is set against the backdrop of the making of the atomic bomb. Klages adds authenticity to the stories setting with carefully chosen dialog such as calling the refrigerator and ice box and food choices like Ovaltine warmed on the stove. Authentic, historically significant characters, McKibbin, Feynman and Oppenheimer, also make appearances throughout the novel. The book would be a good companion story to those studying WWll and the atomic bomb.
In 1943, eleven-year-old Dewey Kerrigan lives with her scientist father in Los Alamos, New Mexico, as he works on a top secret government program, and befriends an aspiring artist who is a misfit just like her
Critical Analysis
Dewey Kerrigans mother is dead, her grandmother who she has been living with is no longer healthy enough to take care of her, and her father, a mathematician, is to busy working on a top secret project for the government and cant spare the time to collect Dewey from the neighbor who is temporarily taking care of her. its 1943 and Dewey at 10 years old is put on a train to travel across the country to New Mexico by herself. During the trip we learn that Dewey is mechanically oriented and is designing a radio. Because of this she is disliked by the other girls in Los Alamos. She eventually becomes friends with Suze when she is sent to live with the Gordons when her father has to go to Washington.
This story of friendship, loss and belonging is set against the backdrop of the making of the atomic bomb. Klages adds authenticity to the stories setting with carefully chosen dialog such as calling the refrigerator and ice box and food choices like Ovaltine warmed on the stove. Authentic, historically significant characters, McKibbin, Feynman and Oppenheimer, also make appearances throughout the novel. The book would be a good companion story to those studying WWll and the atomic bomb.
I was a bit reluctant to read this since it's listed as a children's book. It does involve two girls who are living in Los Alamos at the time of WWII and the development of the atomic bomb. The war is a secondary matter and the bomb is not a major issue except that the parents of the children are scientists working on the development.
The friendship that develops between Dewey and Suze is fraught with some rough spots but has a good ending and I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel White Sands, Red Menace.
The friendship that develops between Dewey and Suze is fraught with some rough spots but has a good ending and I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel White Sands, Red Menace.
A charming story about a very smart girl who likes to do "boy" things such as building stuff and inventing things. She's small for her age, a tomboy, and is very lonely. She finds friendship and mischief living at the Los Alamos national laboratory during the Manhattan Project and we learn about life during those times from the perspective of a child.
Beautifully written and poignant.
Beautifully written and poignant.
I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel. A wonderful new perspective for that time period.
I really enjoyed this book. It is very historically accurate with complex and believable characters. It is refreshing to have bright and thoughtful girl characters in YA books. There are some powerful themes in the book that are handled deftly without being overly sentimental. I highly recommend this book.
