Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763645021
PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of thirteen women who tackled the physical and mental testing of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in secret, to attempt to become astronauts. This account details all of the rigorous testing done by Jerrie Cobb and the government’s subsequent refusal to include any of the qualified women into the official astronaut program.
This is the story of thirteen women who tackled the physical and mental testing of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in secret, to attempt to become astronauts. This account details all of the rigorous testing done by Jerrie Cobb and the government’s subsequent refusal to include any of the qualified women into the official astronaut program.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book by Stone has a real life view of what the women astronauts endured not only physically and mentally, but politically to try to exist in an all male dominated astronaut program. There are amazing photographs of the women and space program on almost every page. In the Author’s Notes section, she describes the research and interviews that she obtained in addition to the noted sources in the Appendix. There are many quotes and dialogues throughout this book that give a sense of the politically fueled bias against women in the astronaut program from other astronauts to Vice President Johnson.
The book is organized in twelve chapters that progress chronologically with a clear table of contents and easy to find author notes, source notes, credits and further reading suggestions as well as a link to poems initially included in a draft of the book.
The book’s cover is very attractive and appealing with a color picture of a shuttle launch and five of the women astronauts featured in black and white photographs.
Some students would find this book too full of personal information and dialogue, but would enjoy browsing the pictures and merely reading the attached captions.
The heavy emphasis in the writing towards women’s rights would ignite the interest of readers to explore the history of the civil rights movement, as there are so many references to those volatile times throughout the book.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Book Links (ALA) 01/01/11
Publishers Weekly 05/04/09
Booklist 02/15/09
School Library Journal starred 03/01/09
Horn Book starred 03/01/09
Wilson’s Junior High School 01/09/10
Kirkus Review starred 01/01/09
Wilson’s Senior High School 02/02/11
Horn Book (March/April 2009) “There is no sugarcoating here -- Stone presents the full story of early-sixties public discourse about women's capabilities and clearly shows the personal, political, and physical risks taken by the women in pursuit of their dream.”
Library Media Connection (August/September 2009) “This is the compelling story of 13 women who set out to prove they were just as brave, strong, and smart as any man competing for the coveted role of astronaut.”
CONNECTIONS
Fisher, Aileen, and Karmen Thompson. 2001. SING OF THE EARTH AND SKY: POEMS ABOUT OUR PLANET AND THE WONDERS BEYOND. Honesdale, Pa: Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press. ISBN 1563978024
· Partner this book to connect or introduce a unit on astronomy/space using a different genre
Rooney, Frances. 2005. EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN EXPLORERS. Toronto: Second Story Press. ISBN 1896764983
· Partner this as a connection to other extraordinary women in history
Romero, Maritza. 1997. ELLEN OCHOA: THE FIRST HISPANIC WOMAN ASTRONAUT. New York: PowerKids Press. ISBN 0823950875
· Partner this as an extension of the original book
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