My Mother's Garden by Katherine Shonk

The name of the city is never mentioned, but it is unmistakably the story of the Chernobyl disaster. 3 generations are represented in the story: The grandmother who doesn't believe what she can't see; the Mom who goes to visit the grandmother but can't convince her to leave; and the daughter (granddaughter) who believes that her grandmother left her because she hates her (granddaughter). An American scientist helps the grandmother to see the effect of the accident. The Mom feels guilty for taking her daughter outside on the day after the accident (the girl's 1st birthday). She spends her time protecting her daughter from the dangers of the nuclear disaster. A powerfully moving story about generational gaps as well as communication gaps.