The Bomb

by Theodore Taylor

It is 1946, a year after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and World War II is over. But the U.S. government has decided that further tests of atomic bombs must be conducted. When Bikini Atoll is chosen for the testing site, the inhabitants of the tiny island are told they must relocate for just two years. But sixteen-year-old Sorry Rinamu believes the Americans are lying and that it will never be safe to return. He must find a way to stop the first bomb before it is dropped . . . even if it means risking his own destruction.
Includes a reader's guide and an author's note.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, War, Historical, World War II, Middle Grade

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 1995

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the A Bomb testing on the Bikini Atoll told from the perspective of a young man who grew up on the island. I have a on-going interest in reading about the social side of the atomic bomb in Japan and its effect on the people of Japan and the US. I was drawn to this book because of that interest and also because a friend spent 2 years in the Marshall Island (Bikini is one of the Marshalls) in the 1990s; her husband was part of a team testing the conditions on Bikini. She told us much about the effect of the US culture on the Marshallese people.

The story is interesting and compelling. I was hovering between a 4 and 5 when I read the epilogue. The author was at Bikini for the bomb testing. He saw the island's inhabitants being evacuated. He knows what happened. The book is an apology for his part in his country's atrocity written when he was about 75 years old. He says "This book was terribly hard to write." Clearly a 5-star book.

[John H]

I thought this was a good book. I wanted the big doinker to go off. The tiger shark needed to be a different shade

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Bomb” follows Sorry in his journey to prevent the newly constructed atomic bomb from destroying his hometown. Sorry and his family live on a small Island called Bikini, which is a part of the Marshall Islands. It takes place during the end of World War 2. He is a shy 14-year old kid to begin with, who does not have much courage, and turns into a bold daring man by the end of the book. Abram, however, is the best character. He was daring, skilled, kind and determined to save his home from the nuclear weapons texts. Overall this book is a fairly easy to read book. People who like to read historical fiction about nuclear weapons tests and a pretty well written story will enjoy this book.

[Danielle Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a big Theodore Taylor fan ever since my 4th grade teacher read 'The Cay' to my class. I had no idea about this book until I found it in a Goodwill several years ago. I'm working through books on my shelf at home that I haven't read yet and this made my 2023 list. It was well written and made me so angry! I had no idea about the atomic bomb testing done in the Bikini Atoll and the people who were displaced. Theodore Taylor saw this firsthand and was so upset by it, he decided to write a book about it. It was very eye opening and a great read.

[Stella Aversa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting! Ending was expected but also unexpected in a way.

[P.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to enjoy these end of the world books - especially those about atomic bombs. What makes this frightening is that this is based on real life - the poor Bikini Islanders who were evacuated and still haven't been allowed to go home.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An 8th grader recommended this book, and I'm so glad she did. Here is another piece of history I knew nothing about: Bikini Atoll and atomic weapons testing. I didn't expect to be moved by this story, but Taylor does a good job of telling the story through a 14-year-old boy's experience.

[Zora · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1945, the author was part of the U.S. Naval force that went to prepare Bikini Atoll for a series of nuclear bomb tests. His job was to blow the holy hell out of coral reefs with conventional explosives to prepare for the bomb. Others relocated the indigenous Polynesian people from a place they were able to survive comfortably on fish and coconuts and minimal farming of taro, from their home for hundred of years. Problem is (you can read about this in the afterword to this book or over at Wikipedia), they were relocated to an atoll that couldn't support them. Two years later, a different naval group came by and found 200 starving people there. And they had been lied to about when they'd be able to return to Bikini. So the starving survivors were relocated again, and again. Some returned to the atoll in the 70's, having been told by the U.S. everything was just dandy now, and (you're not going to be surprised at this, are you?) it wasn't, and they had radiation-based illnesses, including miscarriages and birth defects and radioactive food and water; moreover, the culture that had thrived there before we saw fit to poison the atoll had been effectively destroyed anyway. Geez, just an awful story, the sort that makes me hang my head in shame. Even without the story of the abuse of native people, it's an awful tale of wanton ecological destruction of island paradises.

Filled with horror and guilt of his own, the author finally, years later, wrote about the events in this novel, which follows an imaginary teen boy who in the first half of the book lives his island life with some awareness of the war going on but whose main worry is sharks in the lagoon, and in the second half, is not getting on board with the relocation program. (The island chief and some other characters are historical.) Without spoiling it, I can tell you that the last 1/5 of the book is not for the faint of heart. While it's a YA book because of the protagonist, it'd give sensitive adults nightmares.

[P.D.R. Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not an easy book to read, although it is meant for teenagers. Taylor was present at Bikini Atoll for the first atomic bomb test and he says he found it really difficult to write about even after fifty years. You can see why as you follow the story of Sorry Rinamu, and his family, forced, with their whole village, off their home island, Bikini Atoll. Their attempts to stop being moved and then to prevent the bomb being dropped are heart wrenching.

The book is simply written, no sermons or raging speeches by the author, the reader is allowed to see and understand as Sorry sees and understands. This makes their uprooting, and the lying promise about a return in two years, all the more poignant. As a history lesson the book is superb. As a demonstration of the racism. lying and bullying by large nations of smaller ones in the 1950s, it is shamefully truthful. Whilst it would be a good history text, and is excellent YA reading, this novel should be recommended to anyone who is not old enough to remember the first atomic bomb test and all the people who suffered as a result of it.

[Brian Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in junior high and the story stuck with me. After seeing Oppenheimer I wanted to check this book out. I was able to get a copy to revisit and I'm glad I did.

[Joseph Fedoronko · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Bomb by Theodore Taylor, the readers learn all about the life and culture surrounding the island of Bikini Atoll. The story takes place during WWII and the island is currently under Japanese control. The Japanese soldiers are very strict but also take a hands off approach to governing the natives. The soldiers take portions of the food that the natives collect and also patrol the island while carrying rifles. The natives are not fond of the Japanese soldiers and they hope for American troops to defeat the Japanese soldiers. The book opens with the sound of American planes and the natives rejoicing. Not soon after this, American troops invaded the island and took over control of the island. The Japanese food and possessions are divided among the families and Sorry, the main character receives a Japanese magazine. This magazine allows the natives to see Japanese culture and new technologies that they cannot even imagine. Another Japanese possession that sorry got was a radio. Once this was fixed, sorry heard news of upcoming nuclear testing that was to take place on the Bikini Atoll island. The island had been selected for an operation called “Operation Crossroads”, a series of nuclear weapon testing for the United States. Soon after, an American warship, The USS Sumner arrives on the island and the natives are faced with a decision. What will the council decide to do, evacuate the island or protest the testing to try to save their island.

This book was a interesting read and was an interesting topic to base a story around. Overall, I would give this book a 7/10. Like I said before, many parts of this book were interesting to me. I enjoyed learning about the native’s culture and I felt like I was pulled into the story with the descriptions and detail that were provided. Although some parts of the book were interesting and engaging, I personally felt that the book took to long to get to the main plot of the story. The exposition and set up make up a large portion of the book and this led to me losing interest at some points during the book. I also felt that the plot throughout the book was rather dull. Besides from a couple key events and twists, a good portion of the book really just focuses on normal life activities such as gather food and Sorry becoming more involved in the community. Another part of the book that I feel could have been changed to create a better experience for the reader. The ending is quite predictable and overall pretty dull. I think that more plot developments throughout the book and especially during the end of the book would have made the book more enjoyable to read. One thing that i really liked about this book is that the author actually witnessed the nuclear tests on the atoll island. After doing some research, I found out that the the author, Theodore Taylor was actually part of the U.S. crew who prepared the island and other areas for testing during Operation Crossroads. Theodore Taylor wrote this book as sort of an apology to the people who were forced off their land for these tests. Knowing that the book was written from someone with first hand experience is really cool and it makes me look at the book from an entirely different perspective.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate The Bomb by Theodore Taylor as a 3 out of 5 stars. This book is split into 3 sections how I would describe it as life in Bikini, preparation to the bomb, and the bomb. Some general knowledge about the book is that it is narrated about a 14 year old boy Sorry, who is experiencing the transition into being an Adult in the island in Bikini. Bikini is an island located a few hundred miles from Hawaii. They are people that are minding their own business in the chaoticness that is the ending of World War 2. After just being free from the Japanese over the island the Americans want to take over the island. The Americans tell Sorry and his village that Bikini is needed to test their atom bombs. The people of Bikini have lived there their whole lives and don't know what they need to do.
One of the negatives about the book is that the first section is made up half the book and it is devoted only towards character development and describing the island. Reading the book gave me the general impression of being rushed. All the build up of character development over the majority would expect a good story to read but it just wasn’t. There was too much character development the actual storyline was crammed in towards the end of the book leaving me wanting more. Some good things about the book is how it portrays the life of the people of Bikini during this time period. It showed the emotion and feelings the people of Bikini were thinking during these events. I enjoyed when I was reading was that I was learning something I hadn’t already known. An interesting thing I liked what the author did was that he would put some information at the end of the chapter that seemed to be a timeline that was concurrent to the events that was happening in the story. Another piece the author implemented was a story of how he was actually there at the events he wrote about in his book as one of the Americans. He gave information on what he saw, experienced, and did with his time in Bikini.

[Aaron Picard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bomb was a book unlike any I have ever read. The simple plot focused on a native people and their removal for a “greater good” of the world. The main character, Sorry, is a teenage Bikinian resident fascinated by the outside world and is mesmerized by the American might that shows up to liberate his people from Japanese occupation. All seemed well until they were informed by their saviors that their land held a special interest with the Americans. A vote leads to the Bikinians willingly leaving the island, but not in unanimity. The nuclear juggernaut of the world wanted to test their might in the place that hundreds of natives called home. They promise a safe return home in 2 years, but having heard that radiation causes lifelong effects, Sorry knows the truth. Sorry is forced to watch his lifelong home turn into an Americanized experiment. Opposed to this and inspired by the actions of another, Sorry decides that he can no longer sit around and watch this happen and decides to action. Will his heroics be enough to stop this catastrophic event?

I give this book an 8/10 rating. This isn't an overly sophisticated book nor is it a profound piece that will stand the test of time, but it does accomplish its primary goal. It tells the story of those who rarely have their story told. From a modern American perspective, I never considered how our advancement and supremacy had adversely affected others. This story appeals primarily to our emotions of pity, sympathy, and sadness. The characters are understandable and realistic, but underdeveloped. The story is too short to develop characters and to complicate the plot beyond the main conflict. The plot is centered on a unique concept, and takes twists that I hadn't expected. I truly enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh perspective on history and a desire for an easy read.

[Alfonso D'agostino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le Isole Marshall sono una repubblica presidenziale con una popolazione complessiva di poco superiore a quella di Rovigo, un inno nazionale composto dal primo presidente della repubblica nel 1979 (sì, era anche musicista), un totale di 33 municipalità (di cui 9 disabitate) e ben 64 km complessivi di strade. Era prevedibile non mi offrissero una ricca selezione di autori locali per il mio giro del mondo letterario, e anche i testi ambientati in questo paradiso (anche fiscale) sembrano essere limitati a… uno: “La bomba”, romanzo di Theodore Taylor, edito in Italia da Mondadori nella sua collana SuperJunior (aka testi per ragazzi nell’intorno dei 12 anni). Volume non reperibilissimo, peraltro, e sia lode a Libreria Dante Alighieri di Casarano (spedizione rapida, ottimo imballaggio. Ancora grazie!).

Come è d’uso per i romanzi dedicati a quel tipo di target, “La bomba” non supererebbe le due stelle di valutazione: si avvia come romanzo di formazione (protagonista un 14enne locale alle prese con una micro-società composta da 11 famiglie, qualche avventura di pesca, una parodia di occupazione giapponese nel 1941 e il sogno di viaggiare) e – paradossalmente – decolla quando diventa romanzo più storico, nella narrazione degli esperimenti nucleari USA nell’atollo che costringono i locali alla migrazione. Gli approfondimenti psicologici possiamo lasciarli alla fantasia del lettore, la struttura narrativa non fa gridare al miracolo e i punti esclamativi si sprecano con abbondanza (“mai in vita sua avrebbe pensato che si sarebbe seduto in un aereo!”).

La terza stella arriva dalla tenerezza: sono tornato al me-dodicenne-occhialuto, pantaloni macchiati di erba dopo le infinite partite al campetto, rintanato a leggere sul mio letto macchiando le pagine di “Io Robot” con il Piedone Eldorado. E’ quel tipo di letteratura lì, che oggi mi dice inevitabilmente poco, ma che ha la commuovente semplicità di una fetta di pane con la Nutella.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I would rate this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The topic was intriguing and the author did an exceptional job at developing the characters in the story; however, the plot felt a bit rushed with little time to let key events sink in. I found it difficult to fully appreciate this book due to the, sometimes, awkward sentence structure and grammar usage. Spelling errors were evident as well, although these were not as important to me. The reason I still give the book high ratings is because the perspective of the atom bomb, portrayed through Sorry’s eyes, provokes feelings of resentment towards the U.S. and its forces. Theodore Taylor does a good job of inspiring the reader to want to help the people of Bikini and attempt to save the island by explaining what it means to Sorry and his people. This key component, I believe, is what makes the book worth reading. Another factor that plays into why I would recommend this book is because of the important theme. Empathy plays a large role in the conflict between the world powers and Bikini. Japan and the U.S. abuse their military power to achieve their own selfish goals without considering the true opinions of Sorry and his people. The thought of fighting against both powers repeats in Sorry’s mind throughout the book, which reflects his negative feelings towards the insensitive America and Japan. The lack of empathy frustrated me greatly and I believe the author chose to incorporate this message in this way as to be more meaningful to the audience when Sorry finally tries to make a stand with his red canoe. Theodore Taylor’s book to teaches others to pay attention to how your actions are affecting others by trying to put yourself in their shoes. I fully support this theme which is why I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Matt M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning: may contain some Spoiler Alerts
The atomic bomb was a very powerful and dangerous weapon. After the US dropped the bomb on Hiroshima scientist wanted to experiment with the bomb. In order to do experiments they had to find a test location. They located a place called Bikini Island which is in the Western Pacific Ocean. Bikini had great terrain, weather, and was the perfect size. The only problem was that people inhabited Bikini Island. The US troops lied and cheated the Bikinians out of their lands by promising fake promises and to be retuned back on the island in two years. This wasn’t actually realistic but the Islanders had no way of knowing this since they didn’t speak English and couldn’t listen to the radio and understand it. The tests were run using animals and old ships that would be tested for durability and survivability. The animals were compared to humans and how well they would survive.

I would give The Bomb a 2 star rating. The first 9 chapters were very bland and just had background. Basically they just had some fishing trips and explained the island life. The book doesn’t get much better from then on but it is somewhat interesting. The ending of The Bomb is not a happy ending which was very unfortunate. This is not a book to expect a great adventure and a great plot. In conclusion, The Bomb is definitely not the bomb.

[Brooklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during the 1940’s, Theodore Taylor’s novel is about a man, Sorry Rinamu, during the time of atomic bomb testing. He lives with his tribe on the island of Bikini Atoll which is taken over by the American government to be used for the experimentation of nuclear weapons. After being told to evacuate the island, Sorry refuses to leave because of the love he feels for it. So, in protest he decides to make his own plans to defy the new government. This means taking any risk necessary.
Passion is a driving force in life. You can see throughout the book that Sorry is driven by his passion for the island. This book wouldn’t be so influential if it weren’t for the fact that he feels so obligated to the island. No matter what the risk is, the love for his home is what drives him to rebel. His passion is what keeps him going even during trials.
This is a very intriguing book that puts a really good perspective on the testing of Bikini Atoll. I like the way that the author wrote it as if he was still there and experiencing it. The book can be kind of confusing because of the way that it is written. If you pay attention to what is happening and have a little bit of background information, it will really help.

[Rafid Farjo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate The Bomb to be 3 out of 5 stars. The story was very well written and the wording was extremely thoughtful and precise, which combined with the historical background as well of the plot made it very interesting to read. I enjoyed the historical facts surrounding the atomic bomb that were constantly provided throughout the book as well as the references to the culture and language of the people on Bikini atoll which I found to be fascinating. While the topic and plot of the book were very intriguing, a very large portion of the book was unnecessary detail that did not add to the story and caused the book to seem somewhat dull at times. The Bomb really showed a different viewpoint I had not really considered before. It showed how drastically life was affected by the atomic bomb outside of Japan. The author really created sympathy for the people in the mind of the reader by telling their story and their peacefulness, with their desire to protect their life. While I was disappointed by the unhappy ending, the fact that it was not a positive ending made it more meaningful and showed the reality of what some people endured during World War II.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And the island held its breath. The palms stood silent. The waves stilled, as if the ocean itself recoiled from what was to come.

As if the whole world knew what Sorry did not: there was no outrunning the light.

In that suspended heartbeat before the detonation, there was no sound, no movement—only the terrible, unspoken understanding that this was not just an explosion. It was an ending. A theft. A door slammed shut on a future that might have been.

And then—the light came"

I'd say this review might be a spoiler, but the book is clear from the beginning as to where the story is going, and of course, historically, the ending is kind of inevitable.
The Bomb is centered around a piece of 20th century Micronesia history that has been unjustly swept away under the rug. While it was not an easy read, I'm glad to have read it. It's short, hard-hitting and to the point.

I was recommended this book by one of my hosts while traveling in New Zealand. Josh works in film, and for a while he was given rights to turn this book into a movie. And while it never happened, I'll never forget the image he painted of how he wanted the ending scene to look like. It was chilling.

[Bran Codlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book a 3/5 mostly because this story was not what I thought it would be based on the synopses that were provided. I thought there would be more science and history involved, but the book was about emotional development within the characters. Taylor uses this to make his ending more powerful and compelling. What Taylor did was really good and he did it really well, I just wasn’t looking for that kind of story which is why I didn’t enjoy the book. The character development was great and Taylor uses so much detail to really get you to feel for the characters. It’s just disappointing that there wasn’t as much science or action involved with the book as I thought there would be. I would recommend this book to someone who loves history and also is looking for a more emotional read. Don’t read this if you’re looking for a book involving science and action cause you will be disappointed.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give the book 4 out of 5 stars. The book focused well on the situation that Sorry was facing and the sorrow at being forced to move from the life he had known on Bikini Atoll. The true brutality of the atomic bomb was brought to the light in the book and the effects it had on those who lived on Bikini too. It made the idea of atomic weaponry a present reality and a lot scarier. Especially since many don’t specifically understand the aftermath effects of the atomic bomb or the story behind it. Also, the fact that Theodore Taylor was part of the testing on Bikini Atoll brought a more personal reflection of the whole situation. The plot went a bit quickly and there wasn’t as much push back from Sorry as I thought there would be which was disappointing though. The story quickly went from Sorry and his community living normally to moving, but I guess that was also the reality of what did happen on Bikini Atoll.

[Natalie Ghezzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I enjoyed how it was fictional but it also related to the real-world by providing actual facts about the history of the atomic bomb and the bombing on Bikini Atoll. I also enjoyed learning about the Bikini islander's way of life. The only problem I had with the book is the abrupt writing of the author. For example, Sorry's uncle talks of having a heart condition to Sorry while they are in a canoe and that when he takes medicine, he is fine. But once he gets out of the canoe after the conversation, he falls dead. Another example, is that when Sorry and his family cannot find his grandmother after an hour of searching, they presume that she is dead. Therefore, I give this book an overall rating of 4 because I believed that some parts were written very abruptly for tension, but it seemed to me to be poor writing, but I thought the story was interesting and I enjoyed the connection of the story to the real world by actual fact at the end of each chapter.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bomb all takes place on a little island called Bikini Atoll. All around the year, Bikini Atoll has warm sunny weather, calm winds, and the island is surrounded by blue water. It’s small so everyone knows each other there. One day military arrive on a boat and say to leave because they want to test the new atom bomb on their island. Some are okay with moving, some want to stay to protest. Will the navy call off the bomb test for a couple of lives?

I really like this book because it's something different from what I usually read. It took a while to get going, but once it did, it was interesting. I don't think I could imagine leaving my home so it could just be destroyed. I would recommend this book to someone that enjoys suspense. I would not recommend this to people who don't like bombs.

[Ted Ziolkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4 stars are awarded because the story was well written, contains precise details aligned with the historical context and was gripping. Also, this book engages the reader into a heart wrenching plot, as it focuses on a minority people who are removed from their homes then eventually killed by the atomic bomb. By allowing the reader to view the effects of the end of WWII/atomic explosions through the perspective of a fourteen year old boy, "The Bomb" emphasizes the pain and damage caused. Since the plot of the book ties in greatly with history, some of the outcome could be predicted, which could make the reader less interested. Overall, the book does a great job of highlighting the negative outcomes of the atomic bomb and makes one wish the bomb was never invented.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The inevitability of this book is really quite something, and the heroic sadness of the main character's arc and mission are not to be missed. This is a YA book in name only, though - it could easily be a kid's book for the level at which it is written; it's only the themes of displacement, war, the bomb of the title and the intimations of rape (the Japanese taking "comfort women") at the beginning that keep this from being an informative book for 4th and 5th graders. Well done but slowly paced.

[Ashley Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gave you a whole new look as to what was happening on bikini atoll and how “the white men” take what they want at any cost. You talk in scripture to make people who don’t know any better to feel more comfortable and agree to what is happening. You talk in”saved them” so you took their island… then you destroy it for “scientific purposes” you poison the land just to see what will happen then eat them go back to a dangerous place…. History will repeat itself as long as everyone ignores it…

[Henry Cansler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was definitely a hard read. The writing was clear and the imagery was amazing, but it made me very angry. It uncovers lots of injustices done by the US and the Poor treatment of Bikini Atoll Citizens. I would not recommend this as a relaxing read for these reasons. But if these kinds of historical events interest you, I would suggest preparing yourself by looking into the Nuclear Testing at Bikini Atoll before reading.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was OK, but the names were confusing. For example, one of the names is "Sorry". I kind of liked the book because it presented actual facts. One thing I learned is that Atom Bombs are made from Nuclear Fission. Overall, I would give the book a 3 star because of the action and because of the interesting facts.

[Tracy Dishman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in Bikini Atoll - a small stretch of land in the western Pacific Ocean - is about as close to paradise as you can get.
But in 1946, the US government has chosen Bikini Atoll as its testing site for atomic bombs.

This book is based on a true story. The US government really did take the island and destroyed it.

[Aspen Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t know about any of this. It’s not told I’m history class or shared by grandparents. It makes my heart hurt knowing that the government uprooted an entire civilization so they could test an evil creation. Taylor did an excellent job bringing a historic event into the homes of his readers. As Taylor wrote, “It did create a modern Trail of Tears.”