The Bomb (Taylor novel) facts for kids
The Bomb is a powerful novel written by Theodore Taylor in 1995. It tells the story of people living on Bikini Atoll who had to leave their home because of nuclear testing. The book mainly follows a boy named Sorry Rinamu and shows how the "Able" bomb tests affected the islanders. It's a sad but important story about what happened to these people. The novel is split into three parts. It was first published by Harcourt Children's Books in October 1995. The book won the 1996 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Theodore Taylor said the story was inspired by his own time on a ship called the USS Sumner.
Plot Summary
Book I: Life on Bikini
Sorry Rinamu is a fourteen-year-old boy living on Bikini Atoll. He and the other islanders face danger during World War II. Japanese soldiers occupy their island. One day, American forces attack the island. They defeat the Japanese soldiers and free the islanders.
The American soldiers share some items from the Japanese base. Sorry gets a magazine. He is amazed by the cities and things he sees inside. Later, he fixes a radio from the captured base. He learns about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Soon after, World War II ends.
Book II: A Big Decision
An American battleship, the USS Sumner, arrives at the lagoon. A few days later, an American commander shares important news. Bikini has been chosen for Operation Crossroads. This was a series of nuclear tests. The commander said the island was "ideal" for these tests.
He asks the islanders to move away from their home. Nine out of 11 alabs (leaders) vote to move. Sorry's uncle Abram and his grandfather Jonjen vote against it. They argue that they should not give in to the Americans. But the islanders decide to move. The Americans promise to return the atoll in a few years. Abram and Sorry do not believe this promise.
Scientists start arriving on the atoll. The island is turned into a temporary military base. Abram creates a plan to stop the nuclear tests. He plans to sail a bright red canoe into the test area. Sadly, he dies from a heart attack before he can do it.
Sorry decides he must carry out the plan instead. The other islanders think he is crazy. But Tara Malolo, a local teacher, joins him. His maternal grandfather, Jonjen, also goes with them. They paint a canoe bright red so it can be seen easily. Meanwhile, scientists prepare the aircraft Dave's Dream for the "Able" test.
Book III: The Final Act
Sorry, Tara, and Jonjen begin their plan. They sail the red canoe towards the test area. However, the crew of Dave's Dream does not see the canoe. They drop the bomb. The three brave people are killed in the blast.
