Author: Tanya Lee Stone
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (February 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763645028
ASIN: B004AYCXCK
Synopsis: When male pilots began training for the fledgling NASA in 1958 in the hopes of becoming the nation's first men to orbit the earth, the nation could not fathom the idea of women ever becoming astronauts. But Randy Lovelace, chairman of NASA's Life Sciences Committee, felt that women were just as (if not more) capable as men to be astronauts. Without approval, Lovelace began testing women pilots to see if they could withstand the rigors of the astronaut training. In fact, he put them through tests even more intensive than those the men faced, just to prove the women were resilient enough to handle the demands of being astronauts. In many cases, the women did better than the men, with 13 women making "the cut." Sadly, the attitude of sexism in America at the time doomed the womens' dreams to failure, leaving them as only a footnote in the history of America's space program.
Review: This book is very well written and presents the story of the "Mercury 13" in an entertaining narrative that will appeal to readers. The book is highly accurrate, well designed and organized to flow well and tell the story succinctly, and the author's distinct voice is clearly heard while one reads the story. The author's sense of outrage at the blatant sexism of the time can be clearly felt by the reader. My only caution to the reader is that they not see all the character's in history in this book through the lenses of modern policy, and instead view their actions in light of the times in which they occurred. This does not make what happened any easier to stomach, but it does serve to help one see their actions in the broader framework of the times in which they lived.
Awards/Reviews:
2010 Robert F. Sibert Medal Award
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award
An Outstanding Science Trade Book
CCBC Choices 2010
Kirkus Best YA Books of 2009
Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Horn Book Fanfare
Amelia Bloomer List
Richie's Picks
Chicago Best of the Best Books
Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of 2009
ALA Notable
Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA)
National Science Teachers Association Recommended Book
"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
"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." - Booklist
"(A) fascinating, dramatic story...the author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society...this empowering, impassioned story will leave readers inspired." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Connections:
Before even showing the students the book, the teacher should conduct the pre-reading exercise outlined in http://www.tanyastone.com/assets/files/AA%20Reading%20Guide.pdf. Ask the students in the class to draw or write a description of what they think an astronaut looks like. When the students are done, go around the room and look at all their drawings/descriptions. Make a chart of how many showed/described astronauts as women and how many as men. Introduce the book.
Teachers should pass out graphic organizer worksheets to the students before they begin reading the book to help them chart the obstacles to women in space during the 1950s and 1960s.
After reading the book, have students write a letter to then-Vice-President Johnson expressing their opinion of what happened to the "Mercury 13."
1 comment:
Wow! I am definitely going to look into this for Brynna. Sounds like a really great book.
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