Meltdown: Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Disaster in Fukushima

On Mar. 11, 2011, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, strong enough to sway Tokyo’s skyscrapers; then the tsunami hit. In a dramatic chain of events, powerfully narrated by author and children’s book editor Langeland, these two cataclysms combined to cause a third crisis: a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant, the world’s worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The first three chapters recount the three crises as they unfold, while the fourth chapter provides a larger context for issues of mourning, trauma, and recovery. Threading her accounts of the unfolding catastrophes with quotes from eyewitnesses, Langeland allows readers a glimpse at the ground-level experiences of the triple disaster and its aftermath. She narrates the minute-by-minute struggle of workers in the power plant struggling to contain the meltdown, worrying about their families and communities, and hamstrung by national politics. An adroit balance between explanations of scientific concepts and a spotlight on people who made difficult choices under unimaginable conditions. The book includes colorful, detailed diagrams of relevant material, including tectonic plates and radiation suits; back matter includes a timeline, glossary, bibliography, and source notes. Ages 10–14. (Feb.)