Description: When the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the world changed forever. But the story started long before that fateful day, and here Edward T. Sullivan delves into all that led up to it: the scientific developments of the Manhattan Project, the Nazi nuclear arms program, and the massive commitment by the United States to win the nuclear arms race.

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Children's Literature Review: Middle school and high school students interested in the history surrounding the development of the first atomic bomb will certainly enjoy this book. Sullivan's research encompasses far more than the usual look at the scientists who led the Manhattan Project. Most notably, he explores the creation of three secret communities--Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico--where thousands of military and civilian workers lived with their families during the three years that they worked on the creation of the first atom bombs. The book is filled with archival photographs and is written in a conversational style. Back matter includes extensive endnotes, a bibliography, and suggestions for further reading, as well as a glossary and index.