Award-winning author of ‘Bomb’ to visit Oak Ridge, stop at AMSE

By Scot Smith

The American Museum of Science and Energy will host award-winning author Steve Sheinkin on Tuesday, October 7. Among other books, Sheinkin has written “Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon.”

Sheinkin’s presentation at AMSE is scheduled for 6 p.m. October 7. His other public presentation will be for the University of Tennessee’s Center for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. That lecture will take place on Monday, October 6, at 7 p.m. in the Hodges Library Auditorium on the UT campus, a press release said. Books will be available for purchase and signing at both events.

During his stay in East Tennessee, Sheinkin will also present programs for students at Oak Ridge School and Jefferson and Robertsville Middle Schools, the Webb School, and the Episcopal School of Knoxville.

The press release said Sheinkin has published several books for children and teens. His titles include “King George: What Was His Problem?” “The Notorious Benedict Arnold,” “Lincoln’s Grave Robbers,” “The Port Chicago 50,” and “Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon.”

During his presentations in Oak Ridge and Knoxville, Sheinkin will primarily discuss his narrative non-fiction book “Bomb.” Published in 2012, this book about World War II and the atomic bomb received numerous awards. Included in that list of honors are a Newbery Honor, a Sibert Medal, and a YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-fiction—all given by the American Library Association. Bomb was also recognized as a National Book Award finalist and received starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Kirkus, the press release said.

“Bomb” details how the United States, Germany, and the Soviet Union were attempting to build the atomic bomb during World War II. Full of historical and scientific details, the book outlines how the U.S. was able to succeed in building the ultimate weapon while the Nazis and the Soviets failed. In his book, Sheinkin writes not only about the history of the Manhattan Project but also the science behind it.

Oak Ridge played a key role in the Manhattan Project, enriching uranium for the first atomic bomb used in wartime.

In many ways, “Bomb” reads like a great spy novel or an “on-the-edge-of-your-seat” historical thriller, complete with tales of espionage, double agents, and saboteurs, the press release said.

“Unlike a spy novel, these events are not fictional; they actually happened during and shortly after WWII,” the release said.

Steve Sheinkin lives in New York with his family. You can learn more about him and his books from his website at: http://stevesheinkin.com/.

Scot Smith is a librarian at Robertsville Middle School.