Review for "Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Bibliography: Stone, Tanya L. 2009. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 978-0-7636-3611-1

Critical Analysis

The lift-off of any NASA space shuttle is always a huge event, but on July 1999 it was particularly emotional for a group of women dubbed the "Mercury 13." On that day, Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a space shuttle, ever. Although women had been on missions to space before, it was as scientists and specialists; July 1999 was the first time a woman actually flew a space craft. The story of the Mercury 13 is a story of thirteen women that fought for the opportunity to fly a shuttle into space, and were tested rigorously to disprove the notion that women were not fit to take part in a NASA space program.

In the pages of this book, young readers will be astounded to find a copy of an actual note from President Lyndon B. Johnson himself demanding the brakes be put on a program to send women into space, with the scrawled writing, "Let's stop this now!" More than anything, readers will feel a swell of pride in the human spirit as they read about the tenacity of these young women who endured everything from being called "astronettes," and jokes about adding a "feminine touch" to the space shuttle, to simply being blockaded altogether from the space program.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream, is a well-written, completely engrossing book, accompanied by interesting and appropriate photos. A story about women that were denied access to a program despite their superior skills and test responses, it serves as a reminder to us that prejudice hampers the progression of human ingenuity, but when met with determination, and turned into a story that is not forgotten, it can fuel and inspire human efforts for years to come.

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."

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. The long, spacious back matter is part of the story, with detailed chapter notes and a bibliography."

Awards
2010 Sibert Medal
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor
Boston Globe - Horn Book Honor
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor

Connections

In this book, readers are introduced to cartoons that parody a females ability to perform the same duties as a male astronaut in space, and are told that the females that aspired to become astronauts were called "astronettes." If students were assigned this book in a classroom, an accompanying activity could be to critically assess the media treatment of women in contemporary society. Analysis could be taken from magazine articles and advertisements online and on television. Students could then have a group discussion on their findings.