GREEN GLASS SEA by Ellen Klages

Bibliography

Klages, Ellen. 2006. THE GREEN GLASS SEA. New York: Penguin. ISBN: 978-0-14-2411490

Plot Summary

Set during World War II in the 1940s in a town that does not exist, two girls deal with the difficulties of growing up. They struggle to fit in with their peers, they have to deal with loss and tragedy, and they are often left alone while their parents work. While they are dealing with their inner struggles, the war is raging and the atomic bomb is being built in their own backyard. The perspective of the girls through this time is very interesting and shows that growing up is never easy.

Critical Analysis

-          Authenticity

There are several important scientists and researchers mentioned in the novel such as Richard Feynman, Ernest Rutherford, Marie Curie and many others. The children growing up within the city hear the names, and know the people, but they do not know the final goal they are all working towards. Also, the dialogue of the time is authentic and can sound a little funny, but just lends to the authenticity of the novel.

-          Characters

Dewy and Suze are two very different girls growing up in a difficult time. Dewy, a smart introverted girl who just wants to be with her father. Suze is a girl who just wants to be accepted by her peers. She is lonely because her parents are busy making the weapon that will end the war. Neither one of them really fits in with their friends, but they come to terms with who they are and become friends.

-          Plot

This is a story of growing up. No matter what the setting, this story is about the struggle of being accepted by peers, coming to terms with who you are, and accepting love.

-          Setting

The setting of the story is during World War II in a town in New Mexico that doesn’t truly exist at the time. There are soldiers that guard the city and rules that must be followed in order to keep the city safe and secret. This setting is very unique and the eyes it is seen through is even more so.

-          Theme

The theme of the story is about growing up and coming to terms with who you are. Suze wants to have friends and be accepted by her peers. Dewy just wants to be with her father, but she has to deal with loss. She has to learn to trust those around her and lean on others for support. Even though the two girls are growing up in a different time, both of their themes transcend time.

-          Style

Klages’s style stays true to both the setting of the story and the view point of the two young girls. There is no sugar coating, but there is a lack of understanding. Neither one of the girls know what is being built in their backyard. They don’t understand the importance except that it will end the war. They also don’t understand the consequences of the bomb being dropped. To them, the war is something far away and not very relevant to them. For example, at the end of the novel the radio starts to report on the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, but they click off the radio saying that they will hear about it later.

Review Excerpts

*Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

*Winner of the New Mexico Book Award

* A Book Sense #1 Children’s Selection, Winter 2006/2007

Connections

A connection with this novel would be to build a radio over the time period it takes to read the book. Simple models can be found on the Internet that can be put together. One example is: http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/radio/ten_minute_radio.html

Another connection would be to assign research projects to the important scienctists and researchers mentioned in the novel such as: Richard Feynman, Ernest Rutherford, Albert Einstein, and Marie Curie.