THE GREEN GLASS SEA
Bibliography:
Klages,Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York: Viking. ISBN: 0670061344
Plot Summary:
The Green Glass Sea is set in the year 1943 and Dewey Kerrigan is headed to Los Almos, New Mexico to be reunited with her scientist father. Dewey knows her father is one of a hand full of scientist who are working on what is referred to as the "gadget." The "gadget" is a military project that Dewey knows little about except that it's suppose to help the Americans win World War II. After Dewey arrives at the military base, she decides to spend most of her free time working on projects and "gadgets" of her own. Dewey even makes an artist friend all awhile not knowing that the Manhattan Project is about to change the world.
Critical Analysis
Ellen Klages provides the reader with a strong characterization of both the protagonist, Dewey, and the antagonist Suze. Dewey is the character that the reader grows and learns with as the plot moves along. Dewey and Suze alike, are typical teenage girls dealing with changes and internal emotional turmoil trying to figure out how to be a young adult; they are easy for any girl to identify with. Like Dewey, Suze is also easy to identify but in the total opposite way of Dewey. Suze is more interested in being liked and accepted rather than showing her true self; while, Dewey comes across awkward and bookish. The friendship between Dewey and Suze is one of the most relatable qualities of this historial fiction novel; every young girl has a friendship like Dewey and Suze at some point in their young adult life, and Klages does a splendid job displaying that aspect of young adult-hood.
The plot and setting of THE GREEN GLASS SEA are intertwined so eloquently by Klages. The setting begins 1943 and moves along till the end of World War II. Los Almos, New Mexico is the historical location of the creating and completion of the Manhattan Project; therefore, is the best choice of setting to tell this story. In other words, the plot centers around the location creating an accurate description of this historical fiction novel. Klages uses just enough descriptions of the setting to engage the reader into what the world was like at that time. The setting and plot alike were both explicit in their detail and stay true to the time period.
In THE GREEN GLASS SEA two themes take center stage for me as I read the novel. First, was the theme of family and their role in a young child's life. Dewey moves to Los Almos in the first place because he is the only family she has left, and when he dies Dewey feels lost and alone. However, Suze has a supportive and accepting family with both parents loving and caring for her. Dewey's desire for family and support is reached once again when the Gordon's accept her into their family as their own. The theme of family and their love for each other proves to be a strong lesson of this novel. Secondly, the novel gives a platform to discuss themes of war, and ethical use of power. The entire novel is centered about perfecting the "gadget" and the scientist including Dewey's father work endless on the "gadget" in order to win the war. However, the true effects of the "gadget" are not seen until the end. The novels theme could easily be applied to many different time periods throughout history.
Ellen Klages style is true to the time period of the novel. She alternates between telling Dewey's story and Suze's story. The back in forth between Dewey and Suze helps build the characterization of these two young girls. Through the characters she is able to capture the worry, enthusiasm, and dedication that existed during World War II. Klages takes a unique perspective on this particular time period by creating a story that tells both the history and the story of a family during war time. In the author's note Klages acknowledges all of her nonfiction sources she used in writing an accurate telling of the historical story.
Review Excerpts:
“Klages makes an impressive debut with an ambitious, meticulously researched novel set during WWII. Writing from the points of view of two displaced children, she successfully recreates life at Los Alamos Camp, where scientists and mathematicians converge with their families to construct and test the first nuclear bomb.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes. John Green- Booklist
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.–Steven Engelfried- School Library Journal
Scott O'Dell Award (2007),
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2009),
The Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Medalist (2007)
Connections:
Use this book as an extension to a World War II unit
Use this book as an extension in a Science class
Use this book in English as a genre study
Have students research the Manhattan Project and its influence on World War II to determine the accuracy of the novel.
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