Children of the Atom

Rating:
Summary: Great if you are smart kid and yet feel you must "fit in"...
Review: I read this book when I was in 6th-8th grade-- which must have been around 1955. I lost my copy somewhere along the way but have always remembered the story and the title.

It is hard to explain the way the story takes hold of you and pulls you into the world which is that of the "children of the atom". The resonance and relating is very strong if you are a child who, for whatever reason, has concluded that the intelluctual dimension is the valid one for you and if, around you, that direction is held in disdain.

I am afraid I can not tell you how it ends (because I have forgotten) but I remember it was my favorite book for a very long time...so, for me, at least, it must have been quite satisfactory...

Rating:
Summary: I have read this book every year since 1950, wonderful book
Review: I was 10 years old in 1950 when I first read this book. The author was my neighbor in Oakland, CA and she shared her chapters with me as she wrote them. A wonderful pre-teen, teen Science Fiction book that was current in its time and for today.The author takes us on an adventure of genius children who are the result of the first nuclear power plant accident. Her sharing with us the difficulties that gifted children have convincing adults of their special abilities allows us to enter a world not often thought about. Children who hide their talents from unbelievers or those who would take advantage of them. My children loved this story and have grown to adulthood carrying its memory with them. I have looked for other works by this author but have been unable to find them. If you have children who like to dream of expanding their abilities don't miss this book as timely today as it was in 1950.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book for a child who doesn't quite fit in
Review: While the science is sometimes outdated, the themes of this book (alienation from other children because of a higher intelligence, interconnections with others are more important than genius) ring true and are universal. Much more uplifting than Odd John by Olaf Stapledon. However, it was difficult to find; I searched for 4 years for my copy.