Customer Reviews

The Gadget

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Political correctness has invaded children's literature in a big way. If you have any doubts about that, peruse the "new books" shelf in the juvenile section of your local library.

That's why it was refreshing to see that Zindel provided a reasonably balanced presentation of the pros and cons of the use of the A-bomb to end the war. The protagonist, young Stephen, was used by Zindel to give the "con" view (not completely realistically; it's unlikely that a child would immediately grasp all the implications and give all the usual suggestions about alternatives to using the bomb -- making a "demonstration drop" in the ocean, for example). But the character of Stephen's father was used to expound the reasons the bomb, horrible as it was, needed to be used.

My own view is that the use of the bomb was necessary and justifiable. But whether the young readers of this book agree with me or not, I am pleased that they are being given something to think about -- rather than being fed blatant propaganda.

I found this book a very interesting book. I liked how the author started off the story in London, showing the attack and all the information to get you caught up. Then when he moves the story to the military base in New Mexico, I found it easy to tell what was going on in the base, it was very descriptive. The author also made you wait a while until you found out what kind of project Stephens father was working on. Also when you meet Alexei you don't think anything is going on, just that he is an ordinary kid. So I like how he kind of hid things from you until he felt like he would let you know.
Also when he tells the historical events that are happening outside of the story it gave me a better sense of what time it was. And when you find out what the "Gadget" is you understand why the man in the hospital gave Stephen the sunglasses. Also, the author gave all the attacks on Japan and how effective the gadget was, which showed how many people were killed by only 4 men. The author also used foreshadowing when the maid told Stephen she thought Alexei was a spy, and he ended up trying to kill Stephen because he found out he was a spy. You also learn about the relationship the Stephen didn't have with his father so he found other people in the base that he could love.
He also she shows how the war was affecting everybody all over the world, even when the war was only going on between 3 countries. Over all I would recommend this book to people who like a good suspense or historical story. Go read this book and right a review.

After living in London for most of World War II, Stephen is finally able to join his father, an American scientist, at Los Alamos, New Mexico, in February of 1945. At first Stephen is able to simply accept the secrecy of the work going on - but after an accident, he begins to question the veil of secrecy, for things are strange at Los Alamos. An unusually warm stream nearby is filled with two-headed toads. When he questions the victim of the accident, he is told of the mysterious "gadget" - a weapon that could cause the very sky to burn. This knowledge only makes Stephen more determined to find out what is going on. This determination could cost Stephen his life. Because the weapon that is being developed at Los Alamos will change the world forever. And there are people who would kill to find out what it is. This was a faced-past, suspenseful novel that recreated the events at Los Alamos, New Mexico, in 1945, as the age of nuclear weapons began.

"I'm sorry, Steven," he said, taking out a knife." Now I have your attention. This book is called The Gadget and is a novel written by Paul Zindel.

Well, I'll fill you in a little; Steven is a 13-year-old boy who comes to Las Alamos to stay with his father. Now Steven's father is not just any father he is the lead scientist for "The Gadget". The time period in this book is 1944 -1945, and we all know that this is during World War II. Steven's best friend at the camp is Alexei Nagavatskys. But his maid Sewa thinks Alexei and his family are spies. But how could this be if Alexei saved Steven from the monks who tried to kill him while he was in town?

Steven and Alexei are trying to find out what this "Gadget" thing is, because after something goes wrong in the lab and one of the scientists is sent to the hospital in critical condition. This scares Steven because he knows that this could have easily been his dad. This book is a compelling drama that keeps you guessing till the end. Also the ending is surprising to say the least.

The Gadget is a book about a boy who lives with his mother in England during a war. His father lives and works on a military base in Los Alamos. His father is a physicist on the base. He is one of many physicists on the base that is designing and making the A-bomb. The boy meets a friend that lives neer the base and they become good friends. If you like books with action and a little mystery at the same time, this book is for you. This book will keep you guessing all the way till the end.

Stephen, his mother, and cousin were living in London when the Germans bombed their home city of London. Stephen?s father, a physicist, had been in Los Alamos on a top-secret military base. After the German bombing raid, Stephen was sent to stay on the base with his father. At the base Stephen met a boy named Alexei, and they soon became good friends. Since Stephen had arrived at the base he felt something was going on and he took many chances to find out the truth. He narrowly escaped from an attempted kidnapping with the help of his friend Alexei. They eventually follow military trucks to a bomb testing area and experience the base?s secret first hand, an atomic bomb that the base physicists were working on. When Stephen heard that the war ended, he ran to Alexei?s house, which was off base, he accidentally finds out that Alexei and his family were spies. A chase ensues between Stephen and Alexei and his father; in the end Stephen is safe, Alexei is hit by a train and killed, and his father and associates are taken away. Stephen learned more than he bargained for in his quest for answers.
I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. I found it interesting because it related to topic we were studying in school. The book, The Gadget, is a great story about a boy in search for answers and the struggles and hardships he faced along the way. The book is very descriptive and allowed me to visualize the events and settings. I felt the tension, worry, and other emotions along with the main character.
I would definitely recommend The Gadget, to anyone because it was suspenseful from the beginning to the end; I had a hard time putting it down. This book grabbed my attention and never let go. The story of Stephen and the chances and adventures he took to find the secret of the base fascinated me. The answers he found shocked me; the base secret was a hidden atomic bomb, and Alexei and his family being spies. If you are looking for adventure, suspense, and surprise in your reading, you should definitely consider reading The Gadget.

"I'm sorry, Steven," he said, taking out a knife." Now I have your attention. This book is called The Gadget and is a novel written by Paul Zindel.

Well, I'll fill you in a little; Steven is a 13-year-old boy who comes to Las Alamos to stay with his father. Now Steven's father is not just any father he is the lead scientist for "The Gadget". The time period in this book is 1944 -1945, and we all know that this is during World War II. Steven's best friend at the camp is Alexei Nagavatskys. But his maid Sewa thinks Alexei and his family are spies. But how could this be if Alexei saved Steven from the monks who tried to kill him while he was in town?

Steven and Alexei are trying to find out what this "Gadget" thing is, because after something goes wrong in the lab and one of the scientists is sent to the hospital in critical condition. This scares Steven because he knows that this could have easily been his dad. This book is a compelling drama that keeps you guessing till the end. Also the ending is surprising to say the least.

The Gadget is a great book. It takes place during the World War 2. Where the sons father is working on the atom bomb. After watching his friends death on the roof of his family's apartment due to bombing. He moves to Los Alamos, Nevada where his father lives. As soon as he gets there he is wondering what the scientists are working on at Los Alamos. He found a friend who was wanting to find out the same thing. They explore the place and snoop around trying to find out the reason of Los Alamos. If you want to find out if he discovers the reason of Los Alamos, what they are creating, and why. You should read this book.

In 5th grade, my son was required to complete a project based on historical fiction. He didn't like any of the hundred or so options presented by the teacher. When he and I started to search for a title, I was surprised to find that so many of the historical fiction works have female protagonists! I wanted to find something that he would enjoy. The Gadget has a great deal of suspense and a sense of adventure. My son also really likes science and so it was helpful that Stephen's father was a physicist. My son really enjoyed it. The book also included a list of key dates and events from WWII in the appendix. The book did include accidents and death, so it may not be appropriate for a very sensitive child. I would definitely recommend this for a 10 to 11 year old boy required to read historical fiction!

In The Gadget, by Paul Zindel, a boy named Stephen wonders what his father is working on in the mysterious town of Los Alamos. His father tells him what he is working on could end the Second World War, but never tells Stephen what it is. Always asking questions, Stephen Later finds out the big secret and regrets ever wanting to know it. Ultimately, Stephen and his father grow closer when they get to the end of their adventure.
This book is very easy reading but uses some powerful and moving language to get you attached to the book. Some of the events seamed a little unrealistic like the scene when Stephen and Alexei are being chased by the monks. The plot does have a lot of action in it which adds a little excitement to it. Suspense is also a big factor between Stephen and his unknown friend. I thought this book had some twists that are different from others. The book's meaning or moral to me is that not everything is your business to know and to stay away from certain things.