I think this book does a good job giving an overview. But it's not supposed to be a definitive book about the history of the first atomic bomb. From the inside of the back cover- "One hundred and fifty pages are far too few to encompass the history of the atomic bomb. There are countless stories to tell, an infinity of details that should be remembered."

This is a good starting point. ( )

This is basically what the title indicates: a short history of the making, testing, consequences, and aftermath of the first atomic bomb, in graphic novel format. It doesn't go into the science and engineering aspects of things much, although it does give a very clear layman's-level explanation of how nuclear fission and nuclear explosions work. But it does cover the beginnings of the Manhattan Project, the Trinity test, the bombing of Hiroshima and Japan, and the changes that the existence of nuclear weapons brought about in the world.

Honestly, I was more impressed with this than I expected to be. From other things I've read on the subject, I think the historical accuracy is good. The writing is also good, using an effective mixture of the matter-of-fact and the appropriately portentous in its language. The black-and-white art illustrates its subject matter well (and quite harrowingly, in the case of its depiction of the bombing of Nagasaki). And, ultimately, it leaves us to sit thoughtfully with the moral questions involved and the implications of living in this Atomic Age future. ( )

I'm not a fan of the graphic format in general (I find it distracting and kind of gimmicky), but the content of this history is excellent. It provides technical information about nuclear fission and how it is used in weapons, a history of the people involved in the Manhattan Project, and a brief discussion of the impacts and ethics of a world that has atomic weapons in it. ( )

Kudos to Jonathan Fetter-Vorm for an excellent, well-written and informative book about Little Boy and Fat Man, the atomic bombs dropped on Hirsohima and Nagasaki to end World War II. In a graphic book format, using simple but effective black and white drawings, Trinity weaves together the science, social, military and political background for the invention of this world-changing technology. Very well researched, integrating source material, the secrecy in which the bombs were constructed, it ends with the devastation inflicted and the questions that still remain over the role for weapons of mass destruction worry in modern warfare. Recommended, especially for teenagers who are not big readers, but do like history. ( )

Good enough while the story was being told, but I admit I starting skimming when it got a bit too far into the discussion of chemistry (c'mon, Lindsay, it even had pictures!). I was especially surprised to learn that the firebombings the Americans rained on Japan produced far more casualties than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined and that the first one, over Tokyo, killed more people within six hours "than in any equivalent period of time in the entire history of mankind." Overall, though, I have to say that Bomb by Steve Sheinkin still stands out to me as the most engaging book on the construction and use of the atomic bomb, though this does make a good companion. ( )