Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

Harry Gold becomes a Soviet Spy

Feb 10, 1933

I think that the beginning of the book throws the reader into the world of Harry Gold. It catches your attention and does not let you go.

Robert Oppenhiemer leaves his date and walks home mysteriously

Feb 14, 1934

I thought this was a strange story to start the book with. Oppenhiemer seems to be a strange and absentminded person. He remids me of some of my students that are Autistic, but extremely bright. His quote, "I need physics more than friends," is something I could hear my students saying as adults. A lot of them think that learning and science is so much more important than socializing and they do not understand why others don't feel this way.

Otto Hahn discovers how to split Uranium atoms

Dec 3, 1938

I find that it is very interesting that the Germans are the ones that first discover Uranium atoms can be split by combining radioactive material. While it was the U.S. who actually created the bomb. I would think the scientist that made this discovery would have made the first bomb. I am thankful he did not because that would have seriously changed the outcome of WWII.

Sachs delivers a letter from Einstein to the President

Sep 1, 1939

This letter urges the President to start working with physicists to explore building atomic bombs. I am surprised to some extent that Einstein was not asked to work on helping to create the bomb. From reading his biography I know that he wanted to stop Hitler at all costs.

Oppenhiemer attends Uranium Commitee Meeting

Oct 1, 1941

I find it interesting how the author discusses how this meeting changes Oppenhiemer's life. I can't imagine sitting in this meeting and figuring out how detrimental a Uranium bomb can be. I am sure it was fascinating for Oppenhiemer and at the same time very scary.

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

Dec 1, 1941

In this section of the book I was really impressed by the language the author used. For example the quote, "I was nauseated by the smell of burning flesh, which turned out to be my own as I climbed up the hot ladder." The author is able to use powerful language to envoke empathy in the reader.

Georgi Flerov realizes the U.S. is beginning to create atomic bombs

Jan 4, 1942

I feel like this is the turning point for the Soviet's. They realize that the U.S. is not their friend they just want Hitler to be stopped. They also decide that if they want an atomic bomb soon they are going to have to steal it.

KGB gets a break

Mar 26, 1942

I wonder why Hiskey tells Franklin he is working on the atomic bomb. It seems like such a casual conversation to leak so much information. Did he just want to brag or did he secretly want the information to be leaked out with an alternative motive?

Churchhill visits Roosevelt

Jun 19, 1942

They decide that the U.S. and Great Britian need to work together on the bomb. The safest place is in the U.S. because Great Britian is still under attack. I wonder how U.S. scientists and English scientists felt about working together? Could they truly trust one another?

Oppenhiemer Wants the Job

Oct 8, 1942

I agree with some of the concerns of having Oppenheimer direct the project of the bomb's construction. He seems very absent minded and he seems to lack people skills, which are needed to direct a large group of scientists. Groves essentially goes with his gut feeling to about Oppenhiemer. It is interesting to me that so many well educated people throughout history have made so many huge decisions based on "gut feelings".

Poulsson's Team parachute onto Norway's Hardanger Plateu

Oct 10, 1942

I find it fascinating that someone could tell the difference between finger taps of different people using a telegraph. I also find it comical that the British Intelligence was unsure if it was Haugland sending the messages because his fingers were frozen.

Los Almos

Nov 16, 1942

I think the boy's school is an interesting choice for the bomb site. It seems to have isolation that they need. I also find it strange how the team is recruiting top scientists. Others that know the scientists seem to think they are dissappearing. I am not sure if I would want to join a secret mission to work for the goverment.

Chevalier approches Oppenhiemer about sharing information with the Soviets

Nov 25, 1942

I wonder why Dr. Oppenhiemer never tells General Groves about Chevalier approaching him. I am predicting that he is going to regret this desicion, but why does he not share it? Does he simply not think it is important or is he scared of what might happen to him and his friends?

KGB uses Ruth Werner as a Spy

Dec 4, 1942

I find that Ruth Werner is an interesting person since she is the first women mentioned in this book. It is interesting how she is using her womanly charm to get information from a British scientist working on the bomb.

Haukelid and Gunnerside Men attempt to destroy Vemork Plant

Feb 17, 1943

I can't imagine what the men must be feeling on this mission to sneak into the plant. They needed to prepare themselves to die either by their own hand or the Germans. I feel that this point in the book really captures the audience and would hold the interest of students.As the men enter the plant and begin to carry out the mission I think it is interesting how the author included the part about how Ronneberg saves the nightworker's glasses. It shows a very compassionate and human side of him.

The Gadget

Apr 15, 1943

I am surprised that the scientists allowed this meeting discussing how an atomic bomb works to take place while electricians were on the property. I wonder why Serber chose the word "gadget" to in place of the bomb? It seems like this would be easy to figure out. I also wonder why so many did not trust Oppenhiemer? He had made his thoughts about sharing information with Communists clear before.

Oppenhiemer seen as dishonest by CIC

Jun 14, 1943

I understand the curosity of the CIC as to why Oppenhiemer was spending so much personal time with a Communist party member. I wonder if Oppenhiemer knew she was a member of the Communist party? Oppenhiemer seemed to have difficulty reading people and using "gut feelings" that were mentioned previously.

Haukelid attempts to stop heavy water shipment to Germany

Feb 20, 1944

I can't imagine how Haukelid felt carrying around this bomb to place in the front of the ship. I like how the author included the quote, "There was one-third of an inch between us and disaster," when Haukelid was referring to the clock's bell hammers.

Oppenhiemer begins to show visable toll stress is taking on him

Mar 1, 1944

I think that it is interesting that Oppenhiemer only continued to grow stronger as he worked. He dropped a large amount of weight and was smoking 4 to 5 packs of cigarettes a day, but he continued to work on. I think he was afraid of what might happen to him if he did not build the bomb in time.

Hall Decides to to contact the Soviets

Sep 8, 1944

I wonder why Hall decides to help the Soviets? He states, "My decision about contacting the Soviets was a gradual one, entirely my own." It is almost like he decides to reach out to them. He seems to have a reckless personality and he is very young. Maybe this influenced his decision. He also states, "The Soviet Union is the only country that can be trusted with such a terrible thing." Why should the Soviets have the bomb? Maybe he thinks it is the only way Hitler can be defeated.

Hall and Sax meet to swap infomation on bomb

Dec 20, 1944

I did not realize that you could use milk as an invsible ink. It is interesting that you can only see the milk ink once it is heated. As a teacher this is a hands on activity that I might try in class while my students are reading this book.

President Roosevelt dies, Truman becomes President

Apr 12, 1945

Truman was told by Eleanor Roosevelt that he would now be President. I am sure that had to be a very overwhelming experience for Truman. He was so curious about the bomb and the different plants. He would now get to know all the information about the bomb, probably more than he wanted to.

The Americans break into the German Science Labs

Apr 23, 1945

I think it is interesting that all the worrying the Americans were doing about Hitler building a bomb was kind of for nothing. The Germans were two years away from building the bomb.

Harry Gold recieves the packet of information from Fuchs

Jun 2, 1945

I am sure that Gold was very nervous transporting this information. He probably did not look any different from other citizens traveling in New Mexico though. He was probably worried he was being tailed by the FBI.

Donald Horning babysits the bomb before the test

Jul 15, 1945

I would not have wanted to be Horning babysitting a bomb up in a high tower during a lightning storm. I'm unsure what they think Horning could do if something went wrong. If the bomb went off he would be dead before he could reach the phone.

The Bomb is a Success!

Jul 18, 1945

I like how the author talks about how the scientists "had used something they loved -the study of physics - to build the deadliest weapon in the world." I am sure Oppenhiemer was feeling so excited about building his bomb, but knew he was worried what would the U.S. would do with this technology.

Hiroshima Bomb

Aug 6, 1945

I cannot imagine what Pilot Tibbet was feeling as he dropped the bomb. I would not morally be able to do that knowing how many civilian lives would be lost. I also feel bad for the Japanese people, such as Yohko Kuwabara. How much pain and fear she must have felt.

Germany gets word of Bomb

Aug 10, 1945

I think it is interesting how Hahn feels ultimately responsible and contemplates suicide. Both Heisenberg and Hahn are so thankful after all their work that they are happy they did not complete the bomb.

Japan Surrenders

Aug 15, 1945

I cannot believe it took Japan two bombs to surrender. All of the civilan lives lost in the first bombing should have been enough for military leaders to surrender. I feel so bad for the people of Japan who were killed and injured during the bombings.

Fuchs is found out

Mar 2, 1949

I am surprised that the KGB was not caught earlier. Maybe the Americans were so focused on building a bomb, that they were not paying attention to the fact someone might want to steal their plans and were doing so.

Hydrogen Bomb is Tested

Nov 1, 1952

I feel sorry for Oppenhiemer. He knows and understands the danger of these bombs and is worried about how he could destroy so many lives. He does not want to build the bombs because he is aware of the destruction. All of the work he has done for the U.S. and they are treating him like a spy.