The Green Glass Sea

Written by Ellen Klages

Bibliographic data

Klages, Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York: Viking.

ISBN 0670061344

Plot Summary

In 1943, Dewey Kerrigan, 10, starts on her journey to New Mexico to meet up with her scientist dad. She doesn’t know what he is working on because everything is classified. When she reaches Los Alamos, New Mexico she finds out that her father and many others are working on something to help end WWII. This story continues with her life experiences on “the Hill” and how the Manhattan Project is about to change the world.

Critical Analysis

Ellen Klages does a great job in her description of the setting on “the Hill” and off. It is very easy to an experienced reader to envision what life was like for the characters, and for people who lived in the mid-1940s. Children and young adults of today however, might find it hard to actualize living in those times without a lot of prior knowledge.

Readers who are or have ever been shy or kept to themselves will probably be able to relate to the main character, Dewey. She is extremely smart, caring, and independent. She is a great character for female readers to look up to. The way her mind works with inventing gadgets is incredible. Klages writing allows the reader to feel so sorry for Dewey for everything she has to go through in life, but amazed at how she continues on. Suze Gordon is a little different story. She is a girl who wants to fit in so bad that she bullies and degrades others to stand out. It is actually the influence of Dewey that turns Suze into a more confident, caring, and artistic person.

At the end of the book, Klages provides an Author’s Note that talks about the historical references throughout the novel with additional information on the history of nuclear physics, the atomic bomb, and “the Hill.” On the copyright page there is a mention that even though the story is fictional, the historical events are very real. For readers interested in history this would be a part that might encourage them to read the novel. I appreciated the authenticity and research that Klages did for this story.

For me, the best part of the story was the end. The excitement of the testing of “the gadget” and the discovery of the green glass sea is what drew me in. I was disappointed that it didn’t happen until the end. Even though this is a good historical fiction novel, I don’t think it will be appreciated amongst all children and young adults.

Review Excerpts

• Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2007
• Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children’s Literature, 2007
• “The novel occasionally gets mired down in detail, but the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes.” Booklist
• “History and story are drawn together with confidence in this intense but accessible page-turner.” Horn Book starred review
• “Klages makes an impressive debut with an ambitious, meticulously researched novel set during WWII.” Publishers Weekly

Connections

• Geared for ages 9 and up
• Have students research more one the atomic bomb by using some of the sources the author provides at the end of the book.
• Have students learn more about life in the 1940’s during the war.
• Have the students discuss reasons why Charlie and the boys let Dewey see the secret tree house they built when there were “no girls allowed.”