Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

Like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl before it, Fukushima is now synonymous with nuclear disaster.On March 11, 2011, the largest earthquake ever measured in Japan occurred off the northeast coast of its largest island, Honshu. It triggered a tsunami with a wall of water 128 feet high. The tsunami damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, triggering meltdowns in its three active reactors-though the damage was far less severe than Chernobyl's, where radiation emissions were 10 times greater. Langeland's narrative is impressively concise, with accessible explanations for such complicated technical subjects as plate tectonics, seismology, the fission process of nuclear power plants, radiation and radioactivity, the chain of events that led to the meltdown of the reactors, and the aftermath. The trifecta of catastrophic death and devastation is vividly depicted with well-chosen quotes from survivors recounting their experiences. In particular, the dramatic accounts of employees at the plant desperately working to contain the meltdown and of rescue workers scouring the devastation for survivors and evacuating whole communities are riveting. In the aftermath of the disaster, Japan reconsidered using nuclear fission for generating power, but Langeland notes that alternative fuels like coal and natural gas also adversely impact human health and the environment. Ten years after the disaster, the author warns, "it remains unclear how many people will suffer long-term from radiation exposure."A well-researched, sharply written, engrossing account of natural and nuclear disaster. (diagrams, maps, photos, timeline, glossary, notes, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

ALA Booklist (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

The six chapters in this eye-opening, often tensely recounted true story map the meltdown of Japan's Fukushima nuclear reactor following the devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake and the resulting tsunami on March 11, 2011. Along with survivors' personal stories, the book reveals the science behind the deadly earthquake and tsunami, an explanation of how a nuclear power plant works, and radiation's effect on humans. It describes how the heroic power plant workers, called the Fukushima 50 by the media, risked their lives to try to prevent further meltdown. Readers learn of monuments erected to commemorate the dead, including an old nonworking phone booth on a hillside where people go to talk to their lost family members. Today, 52,000 people remain displaced by the event, and the mistakes made and the long-lasting effects of the disaster are acknowledged. This eminently readable, well-sourced book, which is supplemented by maps and color photos, offers a message of resilience and will appeal to readers interested in disasters and the science behind them.

Horn Book (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In time for the tenth anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster (March 2011), Langeland chronicles the largest nuclear disaster of the twenty-first century. This comprehensive look at the causes and consequences of the reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant captures the tension and fear that gripped the world. Eyewitness accounts from survivors woven throughout the expertly narrated text reveal the horror and devastation of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami as well as the resulting nuclear reactor meltdowns. Clear explanations of both the science behind the seismic events that precipitated the disaster and the technology that was meant to contain it provide a full picture of the events and heroic feats that prevented an even greater catastrophe. Langeland leaves room for these scientific expository asides without ever hampering the narrative momentum. A chapter discussing the long-term consequences of the disaster as well as the ongoing efforts to revitalize the surrounding towns and cities is appreciated. Color photographs, maps, and diagrams throughout, as well as substantial back matter including a detailed timeline, glossary of scientific terms, a well-organized bibliography, and extensive quotation sourcing, round out this impressive and compelling work of nonfiction. Eric Carpenter

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl before it, Fukushima is now synonymous with nuclear disaster.On March 11, 2011, the largest earthquake ever measured in Japan occurred off the northeast coast of its largest island, Honshu. It triggered a tsunami with a wall of water 128 feet high. The tsunami damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, triggering meltdowns in its three active reactors-though the damage was far less severe than Chernobyl's, where radiation emissions were 10 times greater. Langeland's narrative is impressively concise, with accessible explanations for such complicated technical subjects as plate tectonics, seismology, the fission process of nuclear power plants, radiation and radioactivity, the chain of events that led to the meltdown of the reactors, and the aftermath. The trifecta of catastrophic death and devastation is vividly depicted with well-chosen quotes from survivors recounting their experiences. In particular, the dramatic accounts of employees at the plant desperately working to contain the meltdown and of rescue workers scouring the devastation for survivors and evacuating whole communities are riveting. In the aftermath of the disaster, Japan reconsidered using nuclear fission for generating power, but Langeland notes that alternative fuels like coal and natural gas also adversely impact human health and the environment. Ten years after the disaster, the author warns, "it remains unclear how many people will suffer long-term from radiation exposure."A well-researched, sharply written, engrossing account of natural and nuclear disaster. (diagrams, maps, photos, timeline, glossary, notes, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

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.)

School Library Journal (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2021)

Gr 6-8 The mechanics and impact of nuclear power generation in Japan are explored in this chronological account of the devastation wrought by the Tohoku earthquake, resultant tsunami, and nuclear meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in March 2011. The text features information from databases, books, websites, and media reports. From geological facts to chemistry concepts to technologies, Langeland explains the days-long series of catastrophic events that sparked the nuclear power plant meltdown. Labeled diagrams and photographs enhance the thorough presentation of facts. The clear scientific information is of encyclopedic quality, and an insightful concluding chapter shares lessons learned from these disasters. The survivors' accounts add a much-needed sense of context to the enormous amount of information but appear at irregular intervals, which dilute the opportunity for a stronger emotive connection for readers. An extensive bibliography, a glossary, a time line, and an index are included. VERDICT An in-depth, scientific approach to explain the disastrous 2011 Tohoku earthquake, deadly tsunami, and tragic nuclear meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Rachel Mulligan, Pennsylvania State Univ.