Radioactive! (eBook)

Stephen Wood (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
188 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-9893992-4-6 (ISBN)

Infos

Join two high school kids in a thrilling adventure to stop a ruthless group of terrorists from contaminating New York City with radiation during the New Year's Eve celebration. Dive into the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as Diane and Bronwyn use what they have learned in earlier adventures to help save the world while overcoming hardships young adults should not have to endure.

Dr. Stephen Wood, a distinguished professional engineer and head of the Ocean Engineering program at the Florida Institute of Technology, infuses 'Radioactive!' with authenticity, especially with various instruments in retrieving radioactive waste from the sea bottom. With over two and a half decades of experience teaching Ocean Engineering, Dr. Wood's expertise forms the bedrock of this thought-provoking tale while including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as a primary focus of the story. Holding degrees from renowned institutions, including the University of Rhode Island, the University of Miami, and Oregon State University, Dr. Wood's passion for oceanic exploration and engineering excellence shines through his storytelling. His extensive academic repertoire spans Ocean Engineering Design, Underwater Robotics, Underwater Archaeology Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, and more. Dr. Wood's dedication to education and environmental awareness permeates every page of 'Radioactive!', offering readers an engaging and informative experience that resonates with the realities of our world.

---

Diane and Bronwyn are just two ordinary teenage girls spending New Year's Eve in New York City, ready to ring in the new year with glittering lights, cheering crowds, and the magic of Times Square. But when a chance encounter puts them in the path of a chilling discovery-a dirty bomb planted by a ruthless group of terrorists-everything changes. With the clock ticking down and the freezing winter wind threatening to carry radioactive devastation across the heart of Manhattan, Diane's sharp instincts and Bronwyn's quick wit become the city's only hope. Thrust into a world of danger, deception, and impossible stakes, the two girls must outsmart, outmaneuver, and outlast three ruthless men determined to unleash chaos. As the iconic ball begins its descent and a million voices count down the seconds to midnight, Diane and Bronwyn race against time to prevent disaster. Armed with nothing but their courage, determination, and trust in each other, they learn that heroes aren't born they're made in the moments that matter most. Radiation is a heart-pounding thriller about friendship, bravery, and the power of ordinary people to change the world when everything is on the line. Will they stop the bomb before the clock strikes twelve? Or will this be the final New Year's Eve for Times Square?The countdown begins now

Textauszug

NEW YORK NEW YORK

The weeks went by. Suzanne and Sam saw Diane, Bronwyn, Thomas, and Dean getting together every few nights to discuss whichever project they were working on. They heard terms like LIDAR, SONAR, DVL, ADCP, and other interesting acronyms. Diane often Zoomed with three Florida Tech students: Braiden, Parker, and Suzie. It was fantastic that Diane had such a close relationship with others passionate about underwater ocean technology. Braiden was already developing computer boards as a first-year student and, now a senior at the university, was developing advanced data acquisition systems for surface and underwater vehicles. Parker and Suzie, phenomenal at everything they did, learned everything Braiden knew in a couple of months, so by the time Braiden was a Junior and Suzie and Parker were Sophomores, they had formed a team second to none. As Dr. Wood was often quoted to say, “I’ll match my team with the best MIT can offer, and my team would beat them with their eyes closed and their hands tied behind their backs!”

While Diane, Dean, Thomas, and Bronwyn had one of their virtual meetings, Suzanne searched online for places that taught ballroom dance in the next room. Ultimately, there were only two locations: where Diane and Bronwyn took their first lesson at the Cool Shoes Dance Studio and a health club called Joy-of-Movement. Both had classes at all levels beginning in January. Suzanne waited until the Zoom meeting ended and then consulted with the kids.

“Dean, do you think your girlfriend Laticia would like to join?” Bronwyn asked.

Dean grinned. “Are you kidding! She hasn’t stopped talking about how she wants to go dancing.”

“Sorry, Thomas. You are stuck with Bronwyn and me. I know that will be hard on you,” laughed Diane. They all joined in a few seconds later.

“Perfect,” Suzanne said. “I will let the Cool Shoes Dance Studio know you will attend their class in January.” She left smiling, thinking that finally, her daughter would be doing girl things.

In the room, Tomas said, “I know of someone who will be rather jealous that we are dancing with you.”

“Who?” Diane asked, totally confused. “I don't know anyone who would be jealous.”

“I do, but he is in the Florida Keys and has a crush on you,” grinned Bronwyn.

“Zack, I don’t think he has a crush on me. He likes a good adventure. I think of him as a mix between Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He’s a bit too much of a rascal,” said Diane.

“He is the smartest guy I know,” Bronwyn continued. “We spend time together with Thomas and Dean, but they can be real blockheads. Thomas, Dean, no offense, but it is true.”

“Us blockheads? Hey Dean, what is a Blockhead?” Thomas asked Dean with a big grin.

“I don’t know. Perhaps it is something nautical,” Dean replied sarcastically.

“Zack is awfully cute and charming,” continued Bronwyn slyly. “Diane, what about these two undergraduate guys you always talk to, Braiden and Parker? Dean has noticed that you flirt a bit with them.”

“Oh, Dean is a fuddy-dud. No, Braiden and Parker both have girlfriends, which makes them safe. So I can be myself. They are fun and brilliant, as is Suzie, who is also in our meetings.” said Diane.

“Hey, don’t you go fuddy-dudding me!” exclaimed Dean.

“Okay, okay, just be careful,” finished Bronwyn, paying no heed to Dean and Thomas as they made faces at them.

Switching the topic to ballroom dancing, they talked for an hour about which dances they should focus on waltz, swing, tango, foxtrot cha-cha, or rhumba. In the end, they agreed that swing was the most fun, but the rhumba and the cha-cha allowed them to really express themselves.

Later that evening, the family discussed their trip to New York City at the dinner table.

“Diane, didn’t you tell me a while back that Dr. Wood recommended buying ballroom dance shoes at the Worldtone Dancesport & Theatrical Shoes on 8th Avenue between 38th and 39th Street and that there were a couple of dress stores on 48 West 20th Street?” Suzanne asked.

“Yes. He also recommended B&B Couture on the 3rd Floor,” said Diane.

Suzanne checked the internet for Christmas dance opportunities in New York and found that the Manhattan Ballroom Dance on 545 Eighth Avenue would have a Christmas dance on Saturday night!

Of course, they had to visit the Strand bookstore, the Mathematic Museum, the High-Line walkway, and the Barge Music in Brooklyn, and then they had to see the Statue of Liberty.

“We can catch an early ferry to the Statue of Liberty for a tour before the crowds arrive and then experience how immigrants to America were processed on Ellis Island; of course, we can check out the space shuttle Enterprise on the aircraft carrier Intrepid, then there is the National Museum of Science, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” said Suzanne.

They all agreed that they would walk around Central Park, ice skate at Rockefeller Center, go to Tiffanies, walk around Times Square, climb the Empire State Building, and go to the library. Of course, they would have to go to a show or two, especially the Rockettes, perhaps the Phantom of the Opera, or a few lesser-known comedies.

Finally, Sam spoke up: “Hey, this is too much for this trip. How about we make two trips? One this Christmas and another in early summer. We can enjoy the inside things right now and the outside things in the summer.”

Suzanne piped in with a smile: “That is a wonderful idea! Shopping in New York City in the spring is what every woman in the world wants to do.”

By the time everyone went to bed that night, each family member was dreaming about all the fun things they could do in the Big Apple. Ben dreamed about the toys in the shop windows and how he could convince Mom and Dad that it would be in their best interest if they gave him a BB gun for Christmas.

The next day, during school, Diane told Bronwyn what her family would do during Christmas. When Bronwyn looked away, Diane knew something was up. Did Bronwyn have tears in her eyes? Yes, she did, but why?

“Bronwyn, what’s up? Why are you crying?” Diane asked.

“I’m not crying. I wish I could come with you. I must go to my Aunt Klea’s house that week while my parents are on a business trip in Calgary, Canada,” said Bronwyn sadly.

Diane thought for 30 seconds until she finally said: “Let me ask Mom and Dad if you can come with us. I am quite sure they will say yes.” Diane smiled and then giggled: “It would be so cool if you could come along!”

Two days later, Bronwyn’s parents said she could come along if she got ‘A’s for grades. Of course, since she rarely got anything but ‘A’s, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge.

Halloween came and went. Everyone had a wonderful time trick-or-treating around the neighborhood and at the Halloween party at Thomas’ house. Diane had gone as a mad scientist, Bronwyn as Joan of Arc, Dean as Maverick from the old western movie, and Thomas as Sir Lancelot from King Author’s Court. The O’Connors always had the best parties!

Next came Thanksgiving, where they all watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, ate a lot of turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, and planned the trip to New York City while they watched the University of Miami Hurricanes football team beat the University of Florida Gators.

ψ

At the same time the game was playing, an interesting conversation was going on in New York City.

“OK,” said Fadi, irritated that he often had to clean up his colleagues’ messes. “Where did you find the rental company for the remotely operated vehicle?”

“On the web,” said Saddah as he brought up a picture of it on the computer screen. “Here is the website. It says this ROV has two grippers and can reach 3,000 meters. Here is a picture of it.”

“How much?” Fadi asked as he looked over Saddah’s shoulder at the monitor.

“I don’t know. It says right here,” as Saddah pointed to the screen, “To call for prices.”

“Give them a call. Tell them we would like to rent it for a couple of weeks. Now, what about the boat?”

Yasser began slowly; he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. “I found a workboat called the Thunderforce. I may not be very bright, but these guys make me seem like a genius; we...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 29.1.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kinder- / Jugendbuch
• ISBN-13: 979-8-9893992-4-6 / 9798989399246