Sheinkin, Steve. Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown. Roaring Brook Press: New York, 2021.
This history of the Cold War reads like a novel (but you can’t make this stuff up) and focuses on the main players at various crisis points in the era. From post-WWII spy trade to prisoner swaps to the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Berlin Wall, it’s all thrilling. Includes photographs, source notes, bibliography, and index.
It’s a must-have for any school serving students Grade 7 and up. Would also recommend to adults who will appreciate the overlap with other books and movies.
Dewey: 972.9106 Interest Level: Grades 6 – 12
Awards and Reviews: ALA Notable Children’s Books; Booklist starred, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books starred; Horn Books starred; Kirkus Reviews; New York Times; Publishers Weekly starred; Sibert Award, 2022; School Library Journal starred.
Younger readers might like: Cold War Correspondent (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, Book 11) by Nathan Hale
Fiction pairing: A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen
On the web: Find details on virtual tours of the Spy Museum!
Watch: Bridge of Spies (2015) from Stephen Spielberg. Rated PG-13.