Overview
ā Ā "This well-written narrative is bound to become the authority on this modern American marvel." āBooklist, starred review
"A fascinating blend of social and environmental history and engineering."Ā āKirkus Reviews
"Truly breathtaking. This is a powerful story and like the water slowly rising behind that concrete barrier, it becomes more powerful with each page turn." āDavid Macaulay, two-time recipient of the Caldecott Medal and creator of the bestselling The Way Things Work
"An exciting mix of research, storytelling, and an astounding true storyāone thatās still unfolding today." āSteve Sheinkin, three-time National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor author of Bomb
Discover the complicated history behind the construction of Hoover Damāone of the countryās most recognizable and far-reaching landmarksāand its lasting political and environmental effects on the Colorado River and the American West.Ā Ā Ā Ā
At the time of its completion in 1936, Hoover Dam was the biggest dam in the world and the largest feat of architecture and engineering in the countryāa statement of national ambition and technical achievement. It turned the wild Colorado River into a tame and securely managed water source, transforming millions of acres of desert into farmland while also providing water and power to the fast-growing population of the Southwest. The concrete monolith quickly became a symbol of American ingenuity; however, its history is laden with contradiction. It provided work for thousands, but it was a dangerous project that exploited desperate workers during the Depression. It helped secure the settlement and economies of the Southwest, but at the expense of Indigenous peoples and the environment; and it created a dependency on the Colorado Riverās water, which is under threat from overuse and climate change.
Weaving together elements of engineering, geography, and political and socioeconomic history, and drawing heavily from unpublished oral histories taken from dam workers and their families, Simon Boughtonās thoughtful and compelling debutāfeaturing historical photographs throughoutāfollows the construction and impact of Hoover Dam, and how its promise of abundance ultimately created a river in crisis today.
This book title, The Wild River and the Great Dam (The Construction of Hoover Dam and the Vanishing Colorado River), ISBN: 9780316380744, by Simon Boughton, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (March 12, 2024) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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