THE GREEN GLASS SEA by Ellen Klages

Klages, Ellen. The Green Glass Sea. 2006. New York:  Viking. ISBN 0670061344

Ellen Klages captures the Scott O’Dell Award with this poignant story of Dewey Kerrigan, daughter of a scientist working on the secret Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1943-1945.   By age 11 she is displaced physically and emotionally more times than many adults are in a lifetime.   On top of the loss of home and family is the hardship of having a physical infirmity that makes her look different, as well as unusual interests that push her to the outside of her social circle.  When her father has to take a job away from her yet again, she is forced into a family with a girl who loathes her and mistreats her.  She keeps a “stiff upper lip” through it all until a final tragedy leaves her truly alone, but also in a position to feel the acceptance she eventually finds.

This human drama is set against the back drop of the secrecy of the building of the first atomic bomb.  The scientists assembled to work on the project are consumed with making the “gadget” that will end the war.  The juxtaposition of the lack of power that Dewey has to alter her circumstances and the lack of power that the victims of the bomb have, may or may not be intended by the author.

The authenticity of the times are secured in various references to real people of the era such as Dr. Robert Oppenheimer “the head of the whole hill,” and Presidents Roosevelt and Truman.  Other markers of daily life include “Chattanooga Choo Choo” on the radio, the Chemex coffeemaker, the fountain pen, the Studebaker, the “Brylcreem he used to slick back his hair,” as well as rampant smoking of cigarettes, pipes, and cigars.  LIFE Magazine and popular comic books of the times such as Captain America and Billy Batson, also color the day to day landscape.  The style of language is also reminiscent of a former time with the use of expressions such as “swell,” “skedaddle,” and “nifty-keen.” On two occasions, however, the use of the word “lame” sounded too contemporary.  For example, Dewey thinks “the grown-up line…seemed really lame.”

Klages characters are believable and thoroughly developed.  The isolation that Dewey feels is universal to kids of her age even when they don’t have all the precipitating circumstances Dewey had to face.  A particularly telling feeling is expressed when Dewey explains about her foot that is shod in an odd corrective shoe:  “I get tired of having to explain all the time, or pretending that I don’t notice when people are staring.” 

The electronic version of this book had some added features that the library hardback copy did not have.  An interview with Ellen Klages about the novel as well as her acceptance speech for receiving the Scott O’Dell Award was included.  Additionally, a piece by Monika Schroder included several connections that could be used in the classroom including discussion questions, activity suggestions, and a selected bibliography.

With the veterans of WWII becoming fewer every year, it is important to garner as many firsthand memories as possible.  Veterans Day is a good time to invite grandfathers and great-grandfathers still available to share their experiences in WWII.  The themes of secrecy, survival, and changes that the atomic age brought, are just a few of the gems to mine from this book.  Book List notes, “the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes.”