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Meltdown!

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By Lauren
Meltdown! The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future
By Fred Bortz
Twenty-First Century Books, c2012. Non-fiction.

In March 2011, the fifth-largest earthquake in history hit Japan. The quake (measuring 9.0) resulted in a massive tsunami, which in turn caused major damage to a nuclear power plant. For students who remember the event, or want to learn more about it, Meltdown! is a thorough and informative selection. It begins with the science behind earthquakes and tsunamis, and then focuses on the aftermath of the nuclear disaster. There are also compelling survivor accounts and photographs. Bortz compares this disaster to others in history, like Chernobyl, and also discusses the pros and cons of nuclear energy. This book is possibly geared to a limited audience, but I think it's a nice choice for readers interested in natural disasters or advanced science.

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