Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon

• Genre: Nonfiction; middle grade history, science, and technology
• Originally Published: 2012
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 920L; grades 5-8
• Structure/Length: 4 parts, prologue, epilogue, and notes; approx. 304 pages; approx. 7 hours, 12 minutes on audio
• Central Concern: This nonfiction narrative describes the complex events and major historical figures involved in the pursuit to develop the atomic bomb.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: War; violence; profanity; graphic images

Steve Sheinkin, Author

• Bio: Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1968; enjoyed action and adventure stories as a child; attended Syracuse University for communications and international relations; attempted careers in moviemaking and writing after college; earned a living as a textbook writer until 2008, when King George: What Was His Problem? was published; lives in Saratoga, New York with his wife and two children; known for award-winning American history nonfiction titles
• Other Works: The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights (2014); Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War (2015); Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team (2017); Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown (2021); Time Twisters, a chapter book series
• Awards: National Book Awards for Young People's Literature finalist (2012); Washington Post Best Kids’ Books of the Year title (2012); Newbery Honor Book (2013); ALA Notable Children’s Book (2013)