The Gadget

Customer Reviews:

Reasonably balanced -- which is saying a lot these days.

By A Customer - May 16, 2001

Political correctness has invaded children's literature in a big way. If you have any doubts about that, peruse the "new books" shelf in the juvenile section of your local library.That's why it was refreshing to see that Zindel provided a reasonably balanced presentation of the pros and cons of the use of the A-bomb to end the war. The protagonist, young Stephen, was used by Zindel to give the "con" view (not completely realistically; it's unlikely that a child would immediately grasp all the implications and give all the usual suggestions about alternatives to using the bomb -- making a "demonstration drop" in the ocean, for example). But the character of Stephen's father was used to expound the reasons the bomb, horrible as it was, needed to be used.My own view is that the use of the bomb was necessary and justifiable. But whether the young readers of this book agree with me or not, I am pleased that they are being given something to think about... read more

Gadget Review by Evan

By A Kid's Review - November 3, 2002

I found this book a very interesting book. I liked how the author started off the story in London, showing the attack and all the information to get you caught up. Then when he moves the story to the military base in New Mexico, I found it easy to tell what was going on in the base, it was very descriptive. The author also made you wait a while until you found out what kind of project Stephens father was working on. Also when you meet Alexei you don't think anything is going on, just that he is an ordinary kid. So I like how he kind of hid things from you until he felt like he would let you know.
Also when he tells the historical events that are happening outside of the story it gave me a better sense of what time it was. And when you find out what the "Gadget" is you understand why the man in the hospital gave Stephen the sunglasses. Also, the author gave all the attacks on Japan and how effective the gadget was, which showed how many people were killed by only 4 men. The... read more

An exciting recreation of the events at Los Alamos in 1945.

By Rebecca Herman - January 16, 2001

After living in London for most of World War II, Stephen is finally able to join his father, an American scientist, at Los Alamos, New Mexico, in February of 1945. At first Stephen is able to simply accept the secrecy of the work going on - but after an accident, he begins to question the veil of secrecy, for things are strange at Los Alamos. An unusually warm stream nearby is filled with two-headed toads. When he questions the victim of the accident, he is told of the mysterious "gadget" - a weapon that could cause the very sky to burn. This knowledge only makes Stephen more determined to find out what is going on. This determination could cost Stephen his life. Because the weapon that is being developed at Los Alamos will change the world forever. And there are people who would kill to find out what it is. This was a faced-past, suspenseful novel that recreated the events at Los Alamos, New Mexico, in 1945, as the age of nuclear weapons began.