Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Green-Glass-Sea/Ellen-Klages/e/9780670061341/?itm=2, accessed November 9, 2008.Bibliography
Klages, Ellen. 2006. THE GREEN GLASS SEA. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
ISBN 978014241149
Plot Summary
In this work of historical fiction by Ellen Klages, we meet Dewey Kerrigan as she is on her way to Los Alamos, New Mexico, to be reunited with her father, a mathematician and former professor at Harvard. The year is 1943 and World War II is in full swing. Los Alamos, a town that officially doesn’t exist, is home to scientists and mathematicians from all over America and Europe as they work on the biggest secret of the war, which they call “the gadget.” None of them know, least of all Dewey, how much “the gadget” is about to change their lives forever.
Critical Analysis
The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages is a rare look into what life was like for children who lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico during the early 1940’s. The two main characters in the story, eleven-year-old Dewey, nicknamed “Screwy Dewey” because she is always building something, and ten-year-old Suze nicknamed “The Truck” because “she’s kind of big and likes to push people around,” are two outcasts who find themselves thrown together because of circumstances beyond their control. The two girls don’t like each other initially, but learn to rely on one other for support, comfort, and companionship.
Clearly written with attention to detail, this story will bring readers into the unfamiliar world of this secretive scientific community as seen through the eyes of the children and their families. The particulars of this era, the pastimes, music, and products, are well represented and add authenticity to the story as do brief appearances by some historic figures such as Robert Oppenheimer, affectionately known as “Oppie.” As the book progresses, ethics come into question for both children and adults as they learn the ultimate use of the atomic bomb.
The book, which won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2007, looks at a time and place in history that has rarely been explored before and shows us that children will be children no matter where they live. Readers will come away with a greater understanding of what took place during this time in history and will look forward to the sequel “White Sands, Red Menace”, out last month.
Review Excerpt(s)
Klages, Ellen. 2006. THE GREEN GLASS SEA. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
ISBN 978014241149
Plot Summary
In this work of historical fiction by Ellen Klages, we meet Dewey Kerrigan as she is on her way to Los Alamos, New Mexico, to be reunited with her father, a mathematician and former professor at Harvard. The year is 1943 and World War II is in full swing. Los Alamos, a town that officially doesn’t exist, is home to scientists and mathematicians from all over America and Europe as they work on the biggest secret of the war, which they call “the gadget.” None of them know, least of all Dewey, how much “the gadget” is about to change their lives forever.
Critical Analysis
The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages is a rare look into what life was like for children who lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico during the early 1940’s. The two main characters in the story, eleven-year-old Dewey, nicknamed “Screwy Dewey” because she is always building something, and ten-year-old Suze nicknamed “The Truck” because “she’s kind of big and likes to push people around,” are two outcasts who find themselves thrown together because of circumstances beyond their control. The two girls don’t like each other initially, but learn to rely on one other for support, comfort, and companionship.
Clearly written with attention to detail, this story will bring readers into the unfamiliar world of this secretive scientific community as seen through the eyes of the children and their families. The particulars of this era, the pastimes, music, and products, are well represented and add authenticity to the story as do brief appearances by some historic figures such as Robert Oppenheimer, affectionately known as “Oppie.” As the book progresses, ethics come into question for both children and adults as they learn the ultimate use of the atomic bomb.
The book, which won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in 2007, looks at a time and place in history that has rarely been explored before and shows us that children will be children no matter where they live. Readers will come away with a greater understanding of what took place during this time in history and will look forward to the sequel “White Sands, Red Menace”, out last month.
Review Excerpt(s)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Klages makes an impressive debut with an ambitious, meticulously researched novel set during WWII. Writing from the points of view of two displaced children, she successfully recreates life at Los Alamos Camp, where scientists and mathematicians converge with their families to construct and test the first nuclear bomb.”
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: “All of the characters are likable, realistic, and well developed. Dewey is worthy of both empathy and respect, and readers can look forward to the sequel, which the author is currently writing.”
VOYA: “The Green Glass Sea is a wonderful representation of the hardships and little wonders of World War II. Suze and Dewey have their differences, but they become friends in the center of one of the most debated and notorious places of that era. Although Los Alamos is seen as the beginning of all the atomic bomb controversy and destruction, this novel gives the other side. Poetic and real, this one will keep you reading and leave you thinking.”
Connections
After reading the book do an in-depth study of Los Alamos, NM and what took place there during WWII. For Example: What was day-to-day life like for the children? Families had to use food coupons and gas coupons for every day necessities such as groceries. Why? The kids in the story talk about going to the PX for a coke. What was the PX?
Other books you may find interesting about Los Alamos:
Bograd, Larry. LOS ALAMOS LIGHT. ISBN 0374346569
Embry-Litchman, Kristin. SECRETS!: OF A LOS ALAMOS KID 1946-53.
ISBN 0941232271
Reeder, Carolyn. SECRET PROJECT NOTEBOOK. ISBN 0941232336
VOYA: “The Green Glass Sea is a wonderful representation of the hardships and little wonders of World War II. Suze and Dewey have their differences, but they become friends in the center of one of the most debated and notorious places of that era. Although Los Alamos is seen as the beginning of all the atomic bomb controversy and destruction, this novel gives the other side. Poetic and real, this one will keep you reading and leave you thinking.”
Connections
After reading the book do an in-depth study of Los Alamos, NM and what took place there during WWII. For Example: What was day-to-day life like for the children? Families had to use food coupons and gas coupons for every day necessities such as groceries. Why? The kids in the story talk about going to the PX for a coke. What was the PX?
Other books you may find interesting about Los Alamos:
Bograd, Larry. LOS ALAMOS LIGHT. ISBN 0374346569
Embry-Litchman, Kristin. SECRETS!: OF A LOS ALAMOS KID 1946-53.
ISBN 0941232271
Reeder, Carolyn. SECRET PROJECT NOTEBOOK. ISBN 0941232336
1 comment:
Odell Barnes
full story watch here: http://tubedirects.net/index.php?q=odell-barnes-story
Highly recommended!
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