Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

by Tanya Lee Stone, Margaret A. Weitekamp (Foreword by)

Overview

They had the right stuff. They defied the prejudices of the time. And they blazed a trail for generations of women to follow.

What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top physical shape — any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. They were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of one of the most powerful men in Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. Almost Astronautsis the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age. Back matter includes an author’s note, an appendix, further reading, a bibliography, sources, source notes, and an index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763645021
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/24/2009
Pages:	133
Sales rank:	65,268
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	980L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 Years

About the Author

Tanya Lee Stone is a former editor and award-winning author who often writes about strong women. She has garnered starred reviews and other accolades for books such as Up Close: Ella Fitzgerald and the highly popular Amelia Earhart. She lives in Vermont. Attending Texas Book Festival in November 08.

Editorial Reviews

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.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

Readers with an interest in history and in women's struggle for equality will undoubtedly be moved.
—Publishers Weekly

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.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

From the Publisher

Gr 5–7—Tanya Lee Stone's exceptional story (Candlewick, 2009) explores the little known experiences of 13 brave, inspiring women who dreamed of becoming astronauts in the very early days of NASA's training program and submitted themselves to many of the tests undertaken by their male counterparts, the Mercury 7. As much a commentary on the gender prejudices of the 1960s as a biography, Stone brings together a variety of primary and secondary sources, including her interviews with some of the women involved, to provide a unique view of the challenges faced by the female pilots of the day. The focus on Jerrie Cobb, a leader among the group, who completed all of the tests that the male astronauts underwent, may leave some listeners wishing for more information on the other 12 women who dared to dream. Nevertheless, the eye-opening details presented here with such passion will inspire many students. Throughout the audio presentation, Susan Ericksen perfectly captures the exuberant personal tone of the author, maintaining an appropriately upbeat, enthusiastic tempo. Listeners will be engrossed and inspired.—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT

School Library Journal