ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM

ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN  9780763645021.

 

PLOT SUMMARY

This is a true story of thirteen women who had the strength, courage, determination, intelligence, top physical fitness and experience in flying to become astronauts.  Only, they had bigger challenges with the government, because women were not allowed in the space program at that time (early 1960s). Mercury 13, as they were known, fought not only for women in the Space Program, but they were heroes fighting for justice for all women in The United States.

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This nonfiction, collective biography is easy to read and very interesting.  The photos throughout the book are fantastic and add an element to the story that helps to keep the reader's interest.  Stone's style is very straight-forward and casual.  She organizes the story well by giving us the individual backgrounds of each of the women and main influences and then tying them all together.  She includes quotes such as,"I felt it was an opportunity to try to convince them that a woman could do this type of thing and do it well," Skelton said. "And she was right."  She also gives us detailed descriptions of what the women had to endure to complete their training, including how they had to pass tests such as the Dilbert Dunker, a water survival test.

 

Stone's straight-forward style is shown when she tells of the letter that Carpenter drafted for Vice President Johnson to sign to approve the mission, in which it read, "I'm sure you agree that sex should not be a reason for disqualifying a candidate for orbital flight."  However, Johnson did not sign the letter, but rather wrote "Let's Stop This Now!"  Stone's comment regarding Johnson's response is, "therein lies one of the most troubling, and revealing, strands in this whole story, one that did not come to light until decades later."  She does a fantastic job incorporating facts and history with her easy-to-read, honest words.

 

AWARDS

Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor

Jane Addams Honor

YALSA Nonfiction Finalist

Orbis Pictus Honor

ALA Sibert Medal for the best nonfiction book for young readers of 2010

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the "Mercury 13," this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women."-John Peters, New York Public Library

 

BOOKLIST

"The chatty, immediate style (“Picture this”) and full-page photos make for a fast read, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers."-Hazel Rochman

CONNECTIONS

This is a great story to use to introduce Civil Rights and Women's Suffrage lessons in addition to teaching about the science and technology of the Space Program.