The Radioactive Boy Scout by Ken Silverstein

This was an absolutely delightful piece of non-fiction about a teenager who builds a nuclear reactor in his back yard during the early 1990s. I love the boy’s curiosity about science growing up, and Silverstein’s prose style really makes you build an affection for him. It also includes some interesting facts about chemistry and the history of America’s nuclear program. I highly recommend it. "Even Ken [David's father] couldn't ignore a transgression the size of a breeder reactor. He grounded David for two weeks and took away his car keys."