All That is Solid Melts into Air

[Amanda]

This is a hard category to find a book for. I happened across this book at my local library. It is definitely out of my reading comfort zone.
Having said that, this book is a fictionalized account of the events immediately following the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986. I was nine years old when it happened. I remember it being on the news, but I obviously didn't understand the real impact of the situation.
Some of the facts contained in the book are disturbing. The "infallible" Soviet Union had no safety protocol in place for such an event. Although you cannot stop any damages from occurring, the initial response was greatly lacking. The other reactors in the same complex continued running after the meltdown, sending even more radiation into the atmosphere. Local citizens were used for disposing livestock and tearing down houses. In an essay at the end of the book, the author said that of the people in the area who were employed in cleanup who are still alive, 99% of them suffer chronic health problems. This is an event that is still affecting the area today.
I would not have picked this book on my own. I found the events of the incident and the following months more interesting than the side stories of the secondary characters. But, overall I enjoyed it and found it to be an informative read.

[Nancy]

Amanda wrote: "This is a hard category to find a book for. I happened across this book at my local library. It is definitely out of my reading comfort zone."


This sounds right up my alley! I am having trouble sticking to my current book for this category (Various Pets Alive and Dead); you've inspired me to try this one instead.

Thanks!

[Amanda]

It's not exactly my type of book, but I can definitely see the appeal for other readers. It has lots of good reviews on Good Reads. I hope you like it!