NCW Libraries

"The 21st Century Junior Library Extraordinary Engineering series explains how important feats of engineering are accomplished. Dams examines the engineering concepts that make these critical structures possible. Sidebars encourage readers to engage in the material by asking deeper questions or conducting individual research. An activity, full color photos, a glossary, and a listing of additional resources all enhance the learning experience"--

Whether it's a beaver dam or the Hoover Dam, all dams rely on science to function properly. People first began damming rivers to stop flooding and provide water for irrigation. These early dams were made with simple techniques and technology. Today, dams are constructed to prevent flooding and to provide water for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and freshwater for large populations. Modern advances in dam technology would have never happened if it...

Gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the building of the Hoover Dam. Additional features include a table of contents, a Fast Facts spread, critical-thinking questions, primary source quotes and accompanying source notes, a phonetic glossary, an index, and sources for further research.

Amidst construction of a federal dam in rural Tennessee, Nathan, an engineer hiding from his past, meets Claire, a small-town housewife struggling to find her footing in the newly-electrified, job-hungry, post-Depression South. As Nathan wrestles with the burdens of a secret guilt and tangled love, Claire struggles to balance motherhood and a newfound freedom that awakens ambitions and a sexuality she hadn't known she possessed. The arrival of electricity...