Genre 5 - THE GREEN GLASS SEA by Ellen Klages

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Klages, Ellen. 2006. THE GREEN GLASS SEA. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670061344

2. PLOT SUMMARY
THE GREEN GLASS SEA tells the story of life in Los Alamos, New Mexico, a town that, at the time, did not “technically” exist. However, it was in this town that readers come to know Dewey Kerrigan, a smart, young misfit that finds friends and family amidst the science and secrecy of daily life. Klages first introduces us to Dewey whose father is a scientist working out of the state, mother is long gone, and grandmother has suffered a stroke and can no longer care for her. Her father is one of the many esteemed scientists whose expertise is a commodity in high demand for developing the “gadget” that will surely end WWII. Dewey travels halfway across the country to join her father and settle into life on “the hill.” It is here that she would experience rejection, friendship, love, and loss, and it is here that she would find her second family. THE GREEN GLASS SEA paints a detailed portrayal, through the eyes of a young girl, of life in the top secret location of the Manhattan Project and a unique view of one of the darker periods in our world and nation’s history.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Klages does an excellent job of creating highly identifiable characters and settings in her book THE GREEN GLASS SEA. Both Dewey Kerrigan and Suze Gordon are representative of children and people that nearly any reader has come into contact with during their lifetime. Specifically, Klages developed characters that readers could relate to on many levels—emotional, physical, academic, etc. She depicts two young girls that are accurate portrayals of human nature. Throughout the events of the novel, Dewey and Suze experience their own individual conflicts, joys, and sorrow, and they also experience many of the daily struggles and battles that are timeless occurrences in many readers lives—the “only child” having to learn to accommodate another guest/family member, forging a friendship, and the loss of a parent, just to name a few.

The setting itself is vivid in each chapter. By the end of the book, readers may feel as if they, themselves, have been present on “the hill,” passing the motor pool or stopping by the PX for a burger. Even the smallest of details create an authentic setting for the story that takes place. From the green glass bottles of Coke to the comic books and clothing, the story teleports readers into the 1940’s with each detailed description. The final chapter and primary inspiration for the story and title, is one of the most descriptive in the book with its beautiful literary illustration which describes what the tested atomic bomb left behind in the desert sands.

The book tells of a time that truly changed our world and the way that we handle international relations. Though the book focuses solely on the creation of this massive weapon, children and adults today understand the serious repercussions of this “gadget” on many different levels. Through her novel, Klages sheds light on the scientists that developed the atomic bomb, the serious pressures they were under, the lack of control they had over their ultimate product, and the children and family life that occurred amidst it all.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Clear prose brings readers right into the unusual atmosphere of the secretive scientific community, seen through the eyes of kids and their families… Many readers will know as little about the true nature of the project as the girls do, so the gradual revelation of facts is especially effective, while those who already know about Los Alamos’s historical significance will experience the story in a different, but equally powerful way.”

From BOOKLIST: “The mystery and tension surrounding ‘war work’ and what Dewey knows only as ‘the gadget’ trickles down to the kids living in the Los Alamos compound, who often do without adult supervision… the characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes.”
Starred review in BOOKLIST: Throughout, terrific design dramatizes the conflict between conformity and creative freedom..."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Follow up THE GREEN GLASS SEA with WHITE SANDS, RED MENACE—Klages’ sequel to the book.
*Use as supplemental study of the Manhattan Project and WWII with younger students that are just being introduced to the concepts.
*Discuss the implications of the bomb and how Mrs. Gordon’s concern is foreshadowing of many of the events that would occur as a result of atomic weapons (i.e. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Cold War, etc.).