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Plumfield Press is starting to revive best-loved books from the past that have moved into the public domain. They have used computer graphics to brighten up the illustrations and have otherwise kept the text and appearance the same - why try to improve upon success? Plumfield’s reprinted editions are well-bound paperbacks that use glossy white high-quality paper.
When I opened Young Atom Detective and saw the name of the author, Charles Coombs, memories came flooding back to me. I had read books by this author when in elementary and middle school, the ones he wrote about fighter jets and rockets – that was mainly what I was interested in back then (still am but with lots of additional interests). I had never read the book reviewed here but I wish that I had!
Young Atom Detective takes place in a few weeks in the lives of good friends Eddie and Christina (Teena for short), who live in a coastal town in what feels like California. Eddie’s father leads classified atomic research at a local college and Teena’s dad leads classified missile development at local aerospace company (named Acme – made me think of the Wiley Coyote and the Road Runner cartoons). A new top-secret radioisotope is stolen at the college and classified missile guidance blueprints go missing at the Acme aerospace company. This is an exciting story, with good writing, a warm innocent friendly relationship between Eddie and Teena, and kindness and respect between parents and children. Coombs presents a simplified yet mainly accurate description of the atomic science behind making radioisotopes, including Geiger counters, perfect for this level of book – upper elementary to early middle school. A child reading this book will not only be glued to the story but will learn a lot of technical information. He or she will also be exposed to the fascinating logic of detective stories and may develop a future taste for this interesting genre.
An interesting part of the book is the ordinary citizens’ reaction to things atomic as they interact with Eddie and Teena. The adults around them, outside their families, could only think of the atomic bomb from World War II. The author, through the children, emphasizes the peaceful benefits of atomic power. This is still true today. “Radiation” has been used for many years as a “scare” word, which hinders progress on the beneficial uses of atomic science, in particular atomic or nuclear power (which are synonyms). We are only starting to build new nuclear power plants after a forty-year hiatus, which will give us the additional energy we are starting to desperately need. A student could write an interesting report describing all the beneficial uses of atomic radiation – you might be surprised at just how many there are.
One of my reading pleasures through most of my life has been good spy stories (Alistair Maclean is a particular favorite). Espionage is also a part of Young Atom Detective, which was written in 1958 at the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. A Geiger counter that was accidentally left on by Eddie, running down the batteries, is key to solving the mystery and catching the spies. Adding in submarines, a lighthouse, the Coast Guard, and helicopters with depth charges results in a very exciting book.