Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
In 1945, having joined his father at Los Alamos, where he and other scientists are working on a secret project to end World War II, thirteen-year-old Stephen becomes caught in a web of secrecy and intrigue.
Is The Gadget appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 11 and up.
A historical thriller set during the Manhattan Project with themes of wartime secrecy, espionage, and moral complexity. Contains moderate wartime tension and the historical context of nuclear weapons development, appropriate for mature middle grade readers interested in WWII history.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, war, and political violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
A suspenseful spy story where a 13-year-old gets caught up in secret WWII spy games at Los Alamos.