[.ca] The Gadget (ISBN 0440229510)

From Amazon.com:
It's 1945, and 13-year-old Stephen has just reached the gates of the top secret military base in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He has come to join his father, a famous physicist who is working on a covert project for the Allies. Though his father is forbidden to discuss the project in any detail, Stephen can tell by his haunted eyes and shaking hands how worried he and the other scientists are. After a few weeks, Stephen finds that he cannot control his insatiable curiosity. Enlisting the help of his new friend Tilanov, Stephen devises a plan to discover the true nature of "the gadget." But when he finally learns what it is, he also realizes another startling truth--that he has trusted the wrong person with the information and not only his life, but the lives of all Americans, could be in terrible danger. The greatest strength of The Gadget is how Paul Zindel communicates, in clear and simple prose, how terribly uncertain many of those "in the know" were about dropping the atom bomb, and the idea that no one--not even top scientists--could really predict what the outcome would be. By combining this disconcerting notion with a rapid-fire plot and an Everyman teen protagonist, young adult veteran author Zindel has created a historical fiction that reads like a thrilling action-adventure pulp novel, except, (and this is the best part)--it's all true. Curious readers will also find a World War II chronology, bibliography, and short bios of prominent figures involved in the making of the atom bomb. (Ages 11 to 14) --Jennifer Hubert

the sunglasses:
The book that I read is the gadget by: paul zindel. It all stared when stephen and his cousin where on the roof when the war was going on and the japines came and bombed london and his cousin stared to run and when all of the smoke clered he went to see where his cousin was and he said that he was on the ground like a torwn bleeding doll. Then he had to go live with his dad in new mexico so he could be procted. Then he went to go find some friends where he lived then he staterd to go to school he started to get more friends and that is where he begin to be friends with aliex. If you like to read then you would probley wantto read this book I liked this book alot maby you will like it to.

The Gadget:
This book is about a boy sent to an army with his dad, but his dad is already there. Sthepen (boy) os only sent there to keep his dad company. But wierd things start happening to Stephen while he is there. You'll just have to read thebook to find out the wierd stuff. This book has alot of action in it and a great WW II.

The Gadget:
The Gadget is a verey good book.It's adout this kid Stephen and his friend Jackson one night they were on the roof top playing around like kids do and then they heared a loud siren so harried to the door but they never made then there was this loud exelosion then there was nothing left besiades a huge dark black cloud filled with smoke.I think this book is good for peole who like adventures.

Paul Zindel dropped the bomb:
The year is 1945, WWII tears through Europe, and America fears it will spread to the US. This is wear we meet Steven, a 13 year old boy who is the son of a physicist. Steven lives with his father in a town that does not exist, Los Alamos, NM. This is wear the USA plans to stop the war, it is also wear Steven and his new found friend Alexia find out how. I thought this was a good book, especially for those who are reluctant to sit down and take the time to read. Like most of Zindel's books, the chapters in The Gadget are short, but catchy. I found that this seemed to make the book more suspenseful, and flow much better. The shorterr chapters make more sense in this book to, since each chapter is equal to a day or two in Steven's life at Los Alamos. I also discovered that the author does not spice his writing with uneeded ingritents. The writing is simple,crisp, and two the point. As you read this story, you notice how two of the main chracters change. Steven seems to drift away from his father, as Steven's father wants to become closer to his already distant son, but can't due to his work. I found this predictable because his father was never home. I found that this book was inticing, and did not contain any major flaws. The only flaw that seemed to bother me wasthat in moved extemely fast, but this may suit different readers. I also found how historicly accurate this book was even though it was historical fiction. While i was reading this book it reminded me of the movie Pearl Harbor, because of it's connection to WWII. It also reminded me of the movie starring Nicholas cage, but iI cant remember it's title. This movie is almost exactly like the book except for the abcense of Steven. Overall I thought that this was a good book for young readers who are afraid to read.

Mom's perspective:
My 4th grader chose this book for a "realistic fiction" book report. I read it as well. I was a little surprised by what I thought was a mismatch between the level at which the book is written and the content. I think my 4th grader (10 year old boy) is still too young to really appreciate the content, but that his reading level is beyond the book. I guess I am just not sure who the book is for -- it seems too easy and simply-written for the age of child who would appreciate it best. But maybe as a quick read for, say, a 7th grader, it is just right. I think if this book report wasn't due tomorrow, we should have picked a different book. Nevertheless, I thought The Gadget was a good introduction to a discussion with my son about The Bomb and about World War II history. As others have written, it is suspenseful and gives a somewhat balanced perspective on the pros and cons of having the weapon (within the limitations of the time at which the story takes place, the genre of the book, intended audience, etc.). There are also some short bios at the end of the key figures involved in the conception and design of the bomb, as well as a WWII time line. (I was disappointed by some sloppy production issues in the paperback: my son noticed at one point that Stephen was spelled 'Steven' with a 'v'. On the back cover it mentions a friend named "Tilanov" when the friend's name is Alexei Nagavatsky. Where did that come from?)