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    The Green Glass Sea
    The Green Glass Sea
    The Green Glass Sea
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Green Glass Sea

    Written by Ellen Klages

    Narrated by Julie Dretzin

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    This first novel from Nebula Award-winning short story writer Ellen Klages was picked as a Junior Library Guild selection and named a Book Sense #1 Children's Pick. It follows a young girl named Dewey, whose father is part of a super-secret project in 1943 Los Alamos. Dewey, a gifted scientist herself, slowly realizes the implications of "the gadget" her father is working on. She and Suze, another Los Alamos child, find comfort in each other's friendship. "An intense but accessible page-turner ... history and story are drawn together with confidence."-Horn Book Magazine, starred review
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateFeb 21, 2008
    ISBN9781440797415
    The Green Glass Sea

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    Reviews for The Green Glass Sea

    4.5/5

    34 ratings25 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The Green Glass Sea is set in Los Alamos during the development of the hydrogen bomb, but Klages strikes a delicate balance in combining the a focus on the bomb with the fictionalized personal stories and travails of the children of the scientists working at Los Alamos. This unique perspective makes the book less of a discussion of the bomb itself and more of an exploration of how its development impacted families and the general concerns of kids whose parents are focused on their work. Klages' writing brings to life the practical and mundane but fascinating details of kids living on a secret facility with minimal supervision. This book sat on my nightstand for over a year before I finally picked it up one day, having run out of other options that suited me. I expected it to be sad and depressing, and it did have those elements but the characters and plot complications were so fascinating to me that I enjoyed the book immensely.
    • 4/5
      I loved how Klages works in all the details of life on "The Hill" that made it all seem more real and secret.
    • 5/5
      Awesome story. Klages gives a detailed child's perspective into life at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. I come away with compassion for the dedicated scientists and mathematicians who sacrificed a lot for their country, unknowingly creating the greatest horror in history.
    • 4/5
      Dewey Kerrigan and Suze Gordon don't have a lot in common. But they do share one thing: they're both children whose parents work at a secret New Mexico facility know as Los Alamos, not that they can tell anyone. The whole base, and everything their parents are working on is a secret. Known only as the "gadget" the device may help defeat the Nazis. Covering around two years during the later part of World War II, Klages captures a bit of what it would have been like to grow up with a war on. For engineering-minded Dewey, life on the base isn't so bad. She gets to stay with her father, and access to lot of scientists and gear-heads who are happy to answer her questions. For Suze, it's less appealing. She feels like a prisoner, and wishes she saw more of her usually working, mostly-distracted parents. Not as much fun as a riveting action-adventure story, but interesting for all that. It would provide a gentler counterpoint to Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit or the Diary of Anne Frank.
    • 4/5
      Dewey and Suze are two unusual girls who have been plucked from their regular lives and plunked down in Los Alamos - a place that doesn't appear on maps because it doesn't officially exist. Dewey's father and both of Suze's parents are involved in a project revolving around something only called "the gadget." What Klages has done here is give the reader a very specific window through the eyes of the two girls on to this period of history. Mostly told in the typical third person past-tense narration alternating between Dewey's and Suze's points of view, a few of Dewey's sections are told in the present tense which gives them a powerful feeling of immediacy. The tone of the entire book is somewhat contemplative and melancholy, particularly towards the end as it becomes apparent that the gadget is viable but will only bring about the end of the war with great cost. The Green Glass Sea would work well both for units on World War II and for book discussion groups.
    • 4/5
      Dewey gets to live with her father on The Hill in Los Alamos during World War II. Her father is a scientist working on the invention of what is referred to in the book as the gadget. Her mother abandoned the family when Dewey was an infant. When Dewey's dad, Jimmy, has to go to Washington DC, Dewey stays with the Gordon family. The Gordon's daughter, Suze, and Dewey don't get along so well at first. I was pleasantly surprised and absorbed by this historical book that gives insight into the lives of the people working on developing the atomic bomb during World War II and living in the secret Los Alamos. The Green Glass Sea refers to the mineral that is created as a result of the test of the gadget. A lot of people and events are simply alluded to in the story, which is great because it doesn't slow the story down, but I wonder how much middle school students will connect events and people in the story with historical events and people.
    • 5/5
      This book intertwines the stories of Dewey (called "Screwy Dewey" by her meaner classmates) and Suze (called "Truck" by her meaner classmates) who are thrust together while their parents are working on a top-secret "gadget" at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Dewey has come to live with her father. She's a brilliant inventor, more interesting in tinkering with metal parts than being in Girl Scouts and trying to get the other girls to like her. Suze hangs on the edge of the cool crowd, trying to impress them by making fun of Dewey, but she's never really accepted either. When Dewey's father is sent to Washington, D.C., Dewey is sent to stay with Suze's family. Will the two ever get along? Will they ever find out what sort of top secret stuff their parents are working on? Will the war ever be over? This book gives a look at a life seldom seen in other books. The characters are really strong, though imperfect, and there is plenty to learn. Great historical fiction.
    • 5/5
      Excellent YA historical fiction about two girls growing up in Los Alamos at the end of WWII. (Longer review on Barnes & Noble's web site.)
    • 4/5
      The source of the title for Ellen Klages' book, The Green Glass Sea, is a mystery to the end. So too, is everything about life on "The Hill," to the story's protagonist, 11-year-old Dewey Kerrigan. Since her mother's disappearance, Dewey has been living with her Nana while her father works in Boston. When Nana suffers a stroke and has to enter a Home, an Army car comes to pick up Dewey. She is surprised, not only because her father has not come for her himself, but also because her destination is not Boston, but New Mexico. There, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, she finds that her father and many of the world's brightest scientists are at work on a top-secret "gadget" to help end the war. Officially, their neighborhood, called "The Hill," their town, and even they themselves, do not exist in this mysterious desert community. They are allowed no phones or regular communication with the outside world.The four girls walked down the middle of the road, with Betty and Joyce a little behind, giggling to each other. They headed south, the pine-studded canyon far over on their right. The road didn't have a name, none of them did. Suze thought this made it really hard to give anyone directions, but the army didn't want people knowing much about the Hill. Even if you lived there. Dewey, a bright and inquisitive inventor herself, loves this strange new life. She has her father all to herself and hours of time to spend on her inventions. The only thing she does not like is the treatment that she receives at the hands of the other scientists' children, who call her Screwy Dewey and mock her handicap - a leg, shortened by an injury. Another young girl, Suze, becomes an unlikely friend due to circumstances beyond either of their control.Suze and Dewey's life, and life itself, are about to change as two cataclysmic events unfold - the successful test of the atomic bomb and Dewey's own personal tragedy.The Green Glass Sea, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction, is the story of what life was like for scientists and their families working on the atomic bomb at Los Alamos, New Mexico. In addition to the story of the young girls, Dewey and Suze, and their families, The Green Glass Sea poses the age-old questions of scientific ethics and "greater good, " as in this exchange between two of the scientists:"Well, yes. We started for a good reason, and we've been working so hard. It was pleasure. It was excitement," he said. "But you stop thinking about - you know? You just stop. And now..."" And now that we've seen what it can do. My god," Terry Gordon said, her voice raised, sounding angry. "They can't use it. Not on civilians. Not on anyone, for that matter. I mean, maybe as a demonstration, but -""That's not realistic, Terry, said Dr. Teller in his Hungarian accent. "It's no longer an experiment to be demonstrated. It's a weapon, to end this terrible war once and for all."This is moving and slowly paced novel - giving the reader time to absorb the hot New Mexico summer, the single-mindedness of the pursuit, the dreary and secretive life on "the Hill," and the enormity of the "gadget's" importance. The book is told alternately from the viewpoints of Dewey and her new friend, Suze, and contains supplementary information from and an interview with the author, Ellen Klages. The book's only distraction was the author's peculiar choice to write one chapter in a present-tense voice. Highly recommended for ages 11 and up.
    • 4/5
      If you've guessed by the setting that this is about the development of the Hydrogen Bomb, then you are almost right. It is about that, but that is set in the background. The bomb and all the secrecy involved in its development color the whole book, and give it its title, but the main part of the story touches on that only peripherally. The story is about Dewey, and her dad, who is a mathematician, and Suze, whose parents are both scientists.Dewey is a rather serious, self-contained girl who likes to build things and then take them apart. Her favorite book is The Boy Scientist. Suze is also an only child, with a rather forceful personality and desire to fit in. The two do not get along at all. But when Dewey's father has to go away on war business, she moves in with the Gordons. The two form an unlikely friendship set against the backdrop of the war. And the war literally mushrooms around them, changing their lives forever.Very well written story. I'm also counting it for the 50 states challenge. I'm glad I discovered this book. 4 stars
    • 5/5
      This book takes place during WWII and goes back and forth between two girls who live in Los Alamos while their parents work on the Manhattan Project. Their quirks bring them together and I liked the historical references discussed within the novel.
    • 5/5
      Delightful book! Los Alamos through the eyes of Dewey, a young girl. Walk-ons by all my favorite scientists are a bonus. Strong writing, warmly realistic characters, and a unique story. Of course there were kids at Los Alamos- this is their story. Highly recommended.

      *re-read 10/14/08. I stand by the original review.
    • 3/5
      I listened to this book on CD, the reader was great. The book was a typical sad Jr/YA story about how a child is separated from her mom very young and then her father has to leave her with her Grandma who gets very sick and goes into the hospital. She gets to reunite with her dad only to have him die also. The stories setting was good as it was different but, many things in this story felt to disjointed.
    • 4/5
      This book is about the friendship between Dewey and Suze. They are both 11 and in to puzzles. The puzzles are different though, Suze is an artist so she likes puzzles that deal with art. Dewey is more like an engineer she likes math and science puzzles. This book is set in World War 2 and both the girl’s parents are scientist and they are working on the Manhattan project. I like this book because it explains is very easy language how the atomic bomb works and what it looked like when it exploded in to its mushroom cloud. I would use it in a class room for a book report, 5th grade preferably maybe 6th. I like my students to pick books from a list for the report not be assigned books. This book would be on the top ten best books for the list!
    • 4/5
      This book is good for girls who don't want a girly girl book, but who want a book with a little punch! I recomend this book for anyone who likes an easy read with a lot of meaning because its about World war II and what it does to the lives of these two girls
    • 4/5
      Interesting look into the first experiments with nuclear technology.
    • 5/5
      Dewey, a young girl who loves to dig around in junk piles to build contraptions (including an early clock radio) moves to Los Alamos to be with her father while he works on the "gadget," a top secret project. Dewey butts heads with Suze, a girl who has no use for weird girls who limp (one of Dewey's legs is shorter than the other and she wears a special shoe). When tragedy draws the girls together they find what they need in each other against the backdrop of the atomic bomb project.Lovely story about WWII that doesn't deal directly with the holocaust in Germany.
    • 5/5
      This is a historical fiction book about the secretive building of the bomb in New Mexico during World War II. Dewey is a young girl who's father is involved in the making of the bomb, although the matter is top secret and Dewey does not know what he is really working on. Dewey's mother left them when she was a baby and her grandma is in a nursing home. Dewey travels across the country to New Mexico to live in a high security top secret community up on a hill where a large group of scientists and their families live. When Dewey's father has to leave on a business matter, Dewey moves in with Suze, a school rival, and her parents. Suze and Dewey form a friendship after discovering their similar interests in inventions (Dewey's is mechanical while Suze's is artistic). When tragedy strikes and Dewey's father is killed, Suze's family takes Dewey in warmly and they form a family of four. This is a bittersweet story about the heartache of war and two girls growing up and facing the challenges of adolescence. I would highly recommend this book to others. I learned about the building of the bomb from reading this book. This novel would be a great book for a class to read while studying World War II. The characters face terrible struggles and heartache, but still maintain a fairly normal life considering the circumstances.
    • 3/5
      The Green Glass Sea is a wonderful story about friendship. It takes place when World War II was happening. Every chapter trades off telling about Dewey and Suze, the two main characters. When something happens to a character, like when Dewey’s father dies, and when Dewey ends up living with Suze. The author writes the book in a way where you really begin to care for the characters.This book could be an extension on World War ll lessons. Although, it is fiction, it gives cool facts about the war. Did you know that when they set of the Atomic Bomb- it was so HOT it turned the sand into glass? Interesting facts like this make this an even more enjoyable read.
    • 5/5
      In the middle of World War II, after her grandmother becomes ill, Dewey Kerrigan is shipped off to a secret location in New Mexico to live with her father. The town is filled with the best and brightest scientists, who are working on a top-secret "gadget", and their families. During the next few years, Dewey gets to know the scientists and makes friends and enemies among the children, while working on her own inventions. Nobody knows just how much this "gadget" will change their world. The characters are engaging and sympathetic, and the book draws the reader in. This would be a great book for anyone who is interested in science or World War II. Ages 9-13. Recommended purchase.
    • 5/5
      The Green Glass Sea, by Ellen Klages, is an historical fiction book set during WWII. The story centers around eleven-year-old Dewey Kerrigan, who lives with her scientist father at Los Alamos New Mexico. Dewey's father is working on the Manhattan Project--the nuclear bomb. While the war is going on in the outside world, inside the gates of Los Alamos, Dewey is struggling to find her place inside her own world. While he father is called away to Washington, Dewey is forced to live with the family of Suze Gordon--a classmate, but not a friend.As the girls adjust to each other, their world is about to change dramatically. Dewey is a lovable character, and the reader sympathizes with her struggles to fit in and find stability. Against the backdrop of this world-altering event in history, The Green Glass Sea is a marvelously enjoyable book and a quick read that teens and adults alike will have a difficult time putting down.
    • 5/5
      One of the best children's stories I've ever read. I felt the two female protaganists were really well drawn and believable. I also felt that the author did a great job evoking a social history of what it might have been like to live at Los Alamos during World War II. The bits of history and scientific information blends seamlessly into an elegantly told, truly interesting story.

      I really loved it.

      Also, I should mention that the audio book narrator for this particular title was great. I highly recommend getting this as an audio book if you are so inclined.
    • 4/5
      Klages weaves in the history of secrets in Los Alamos, New Mexico near the end of WWII with the troubles of several characters dealing with family and being in middle school. Multiple references to smoking (I didn't re-start) Coke (I did have one for lunch) and other everyday activities that make the story more real - great on audio
    • 4/5
      Transporting, character driven historical YA fiction. WWII, the atomic age, the Trinity project seen through the eyes of smart, brave 11 year old Dewey. I loved that this book contained smart female characters and that it renewed my interest in this period of US history. I look forward to reading the sequel.
    • 5/5
      I would use this book in 5th thru 7th grade classes. I think this book portrays the secrecy around making of the atom bomb during WWII. Los Alamos and the scientist and famalies who lived on the heavily guarded hill. Many children lived with their scientist parents and knew nothing of what was really happening on the hill. Interesting book that would open students eyes to war and what happens behind the scenes.