The Wild River and the Great Dam - by Simon Boughton (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A nonfiction exploration of the building of the Hoover Dam, revealing the causes, effects, and lasting legacies of one of America's most recognizable and misrepresented landmarks"--

Book Synopsis

★ "In this detailed and informative work, Boughton chronicles the construction of the Hoover Dam via compellingly comprehensive text." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "This well-written narrative is bound to become the authority on this modern American marvel." --Booklist, starred review

Discover the complicated history behind the construction of Hoover Dam--one of the country's most recognizable and far-reaching landmarks--and its lasting political and environmental effects on the Colorado River and the American West.

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 country--a 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 River's 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Weaving together elements of engineering, geography, and political and socioeconomic history, and drawing heavily from unpublished oral histories taken from dam workers and their families, Simon Boughton's thoughtful and compelling debut--featuring historical photographs throughout--follows the construction and impact of Hoover Dam, and how its promise of abundance ultimately created a river in crisis today.

Review Quotes

Honors for The Wild River and the Great Dam:
Booklist Editors' Choice
An NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book
A School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Middle to High School
A Booklist Top Ten Sci-Tech Read of the Year
A CCBC Choice
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year

"In this detailed and informative work, Boughton chronicles the construction of the Hoover Dam via compellingly comprehensive text.... Personal stories from the men who built the dam feature throughout and provide context surrounding the consequences of such a drastic change on the natural environment."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This engaging history of the construction of the Hoover Dam does a very good job of recreating the political, social, geographic, and environmental scenarios that swirled around this daunting and ambitious project.... This well-written narrative is bound to become the authority on this modern American marvel--and its devastating effects on the environment."--Booklist, starred review

"A fascinating, and at times heartbreaking history of the building of the Hoover Dam.... This book discusses geographical issues of flooding and water conservation, and the human impacts of the building of the dam.... The book features period photos in black and white, and several maps to help readers understand the geography of the region.... A great addition to nonfiction collections covering dams, ecology, and history of the Southwest."--School Library Journal

"An extensively researched exploration into the people, the river, and the economics behind the creation of Hoover Dam.... Visual aids add immediacy, including maps, construction plans, advertisements, and black-and-white photos showing the vast scope of the project, the powerful white men in charge, the workers and their families, and the devastating environmental consequences. A fascinating blend of social and environmental history and engineering."--Kirkus Reviews

"An exciting mix of research, storytelling, and an astounding true story--one that's still unfolding today."--Steve Sheinkin, three-time National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor author of Bomb

"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."--David Macaulay, two-time recipient of the Caldecott Medal and creator of the bestselling The Way Things Work

"Weaving compelling facts and human stories into a cohesive narrative, Boughton explores the dam's political, economic, social, and environmental impacts on the region. He traces the need for a system of dams to control and regulate water; the engineering feats and specific labor skills that would be required to build the great dam at such a breakneck pace; and how the experience shaped the lives of those who built it. .... The book includes numerous well-chosen black-and-white photographs, maps, diagrams, and primary source quotes throughout the text."--The Horn Book

About the Author

Simon Boughton has worked as a book publisher for the last thirty years, most recently as the publishing director of Norton Young Readers. Among the books he has published are the National Book Award finalist Victory. Stand! and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry. Previously, he founded Roaring Brook Press, where books he edited and published include the Caldecott Medal winners My Friend Rabbit and The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. He divides his time between his home in Delaware County in upstate New York and New York City.