The book traces the origin and development of the first atomic bomb. It follows the development of the atomic bomb from the discovery of nuclear fission through the Nazi heavy water manufacture to the Manhattan Project and the attempts of the Soviet Union to steal the bomb design, finishing at the dropping of the bombs on the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima Japan.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) in 2013 called this the best nonfiction book of the year for young adults (YA), and said that it was a '... most distinguished informational ...' book.[2] Kirkus Review said "the book is a true spy thriller...It takes a lot of work to make a complicated subject clear and exciting, and from his prodigious research and storytelling skill, Sheinkin has created a nonfiction story young people will want to read."[3] Lisa Taylor, from School Library Journal Reviews, said that "this award-winning, meticulously sourced book deserves a spot in every library"[4] and Brian Odom noted the extensive historical information and hard facts, concluding that Bomb was a "well-documented account. It reads like an international spy thriller, and that's the beauty of it."[5]
^"2013 Newbery Medal and Honor Books". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). American Library Association (ALA). Retrieved 20 February 2018.
