Golden Gate: Building the Mighty Bridge
by Elizabeth Partridge; illus. by Ellen Heck
Primary, Intermediate    Chronicle    56 pp.
10/24    9781452135144    $19.99

“Cold winter winds rattle your window and the blast of the foghorn weaves into your morning dreams, warning ships away from the rocky cliffs behind you.” In a second-person narrative voice, Partridge (Parks for the People, rev. 3/22) follows the 1930s construction of the Golden Gate Bridge through the eyes of two fictional siblings, the children of one of the workers. This enables her to highlight key events, simplify complex processes, and weave in compelling factual details. Double-page spreads feature the children observing the construction from up close and from afar. Inset illustrations zoom in to provide extra detail about the construction work, while the bottom of every spread provides a visual timeline of the bridge’s progress. Heck’s textured art, varied compositions, and striking color choices (blues and greens contrast with the famous reddish orange) provide the appropriate mood and gravitas for the accomplishment of such a noted architectural wonder and historical landmark. An informative afterword provides intriguing additional details such as the challenges presented by tides and currents; the expert Mohawk Indians who came west and worked as riveters; and the choice of the iconic International Orange.­­

From the "September/October 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.