Historical Fiction-Review1

1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Klages, Ellen. 2006. THE GREEN GLASS SEA. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN 0670061344

2.PLOT SUMMARY
Dewey Kerrigan and Suze Gordon are two young girls living on “The Hill” in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The time period is during the 1940s when the enduring and threatening World War II brought about the need for the race towards building an atomic bomb. This novel relates the lives of Dewey, Suze, and several other children who lived part of their childhood years in an enclosed place that was non-existent to the rest of humanity. The reader experiences their adventures, disappointment, and friendships made and lost while simultaneously providing insight into the secret workings of the men and women scientists who collaborated for years to build the atomic bomb. Finally, the bomb is ready to be tested and is a success. With their mission accomplished some families start returning to their homes and careers they had left behind.

3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is a historical fiction novel that provides entertainment and historical events simultaneously. The story places both Dewey Kerrigan and Suze Gordon as protagonists. The careful reader comes to really experience their individual personalities through their daily actions which show, not tell. Although the girls are living apart from the normal world and the setting is set during the 1940s, their school attendance, homework doing on the kitchen table, bullying, and adventure seeking behaviors allow for young reader identification. Other characters such as director Mr. Opphenheimer, Dewey’s train acquaintance Mr. Dewey, and other scientists were minimally developed. In keeping with guidelines for providing accurate history as described by our textbook, however, only the necessary dialogue to portray their true roles was used.

The setting of the story was well developed and readers could experience the time period. Cokes were the preferred drink and were sold for a mere 5 cents a bottle. The consequences of the ongoing World War II were revealed when Dewey explained that “Nana mostly made red-sauce spaghetti, because their meat ration coupons only allowed for chicken on Sunday.” Several other references made provided for the historical feel: the use of phonograph records, the child created verses against Hitler, and the inability of alarm clocks to be set specifically for a.m. or pm. yet.

Readers can detect two underlying themes. One is that of friendship amidst personal and physical differences. Dewey is described as geeky looking with eyeglasses, wears a specialized shoe to accommodate her shorter left leg, and is always looking for gadgets to fit her inventions. Suze is the everyday young girl wanting to fit in with the popular crowds. When Dewey is forced to move in with Suze’s family, Suze is disgusted. With time, however, she learns to appreciate Dewey. “She didn’t’ feel like she had to be funny, or try to show Dewey how smart she was”.

A second identified theme is that of patriotism. The scientists who lived in “The Hill” made many sacrifices for their country. They abandoned their previous homes and works, often worked late into the night, and had little time for their families. In Dewey’s case, she was displaced from her father when he had to travel outside “The Hill” to decipher some important German papers. Suze “had to do her part by sharing” her room with “Screwy Dewey” as Dewey had been nicknamed at school.


4.REVIEW( EXCERPTS)
2007 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL-“Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos's historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful, way.”

BOOKLIST- “The novel occasionally gets mired down in detail, but the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes.”

5.CONNECTIONS
-Hold a classroom debate over the use of an atomic bomb.
- Write a chapter to continue the story.
- History Unit of World War II.
-Author Ellen Klages suggested the following resources amongst several listed to learn more on the topic:(Klages 2006,320-321)
Broder, Bernice. TALES OF LOS ALAMOS: LIFE ON THE MESA.
Conan, Jennet. EAST PALACE: ROBERT OPPENHEIMER AND THE SECRET CITY OF LOS ALAMOS.
CRITICAL MASS: AMERICA’S RACE TO BUILDING THE ATOMIC BOMB, Corbis, 1995. (CD-ROM).