Making Book Connections

Owyn and Jack recently read all 236 pages of the book "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin, the story of the making of the atomic bomb.  One part of the book describes the first controlled generation of nuclear power, which happened to take place on the squash courts under the football stands at the University of Chicago.  When we left the museum and Jack realized how close we were to the University, he and Owyn became determined to locate the site.  A quick Google search helped us learn that the stands and courts no longer exist, but a monument stands on the former site to commemorate the event.  We drove around the campus armed with a photo of the monument from Google, and finally found it!

 

Owyn remembers, and really seems to understand, much of the events from this book and World War II.  I am always surprised at how much information he retains and is able to explain for a boy of his age.  Owyn is very interested in history right now, and making a connection between this book that he read to a city he loves was an incredible thing for me to witness.