Bang!: The Art, History, and Science of Fireworks

Gr 7 Up–Covering many aspects of the subject, readers will gain a broad spectrum of introductory knowledge of fireworks in this practical guide. The first few chapters focus on history with an emphasis on Western development and brief mention of Chinese history of fireworks. The modern usage of fireworks in Europe and the United States is informative and varied, including manufacturing of commercial fireworks, celebrations, practical use of pyrotechnics such as military, and fireworks as an amateur hobby. One chapter includes brief discussions on many modern cultural usage of fireworks around the world. Emphasis is placed on safety precautions surrounding fireworks particularly in regards to current manufacturing and consumer usage. Miller closes with a concise overview of the future of fireworks, mentioning some drawbacks such as environmental concerns and includes some alternatives to fireworks. The narrative is easy to read with a straightforward writing style and features color photographs and interesting sidebars. Backmatter demonstrates Miller’s research with source notes and a bibliography and also includes a glossary, further resources, and index.