Bomb: the race to build - and steal - the world's most dangerous weapon / Steve Sheinkin / 242 pages

Sheinkin is the man!  He masterfully writes the story of the rush to create the world's first atomic bomb by the amazingly brilliant scientists in the Manhattan Project, the story of the Russian spies and how they stole the research to create a bomb of their own, and the emotional impact of the bomb on all the players.  I don't like non-fiction much but this book reads like a thriller.  Sheinkin takes the pieces of the story, pieces of our history, and shows how they all fit together.  The book includes b&w photos of most of the people involved.  Sheinkin's last paragraph is chilling and makes this epic event in history meaningful to all readers:  "In the end, this is a difficult story to sum up.  The making of the atomic bomb is one of history's most amazing examples of teamwork and genius and poise under pressure.  But it's also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping out our species off the planet.  It's a story with no end in sight.  And, like it or not, you're in it."  Recommended for all ages. Documented with quote sources, extensive bibliography, and source notes.