Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Bibliography

Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763636111

Plot Summary

Almost Astronauts is the dramatic, true story of the “Mercury 13” women pioneers from the Lovelace Women in Space Program. Beginning in 1960, these female pilots were the first women to be accepted and trained as astronauts. Although never sent to space, they  started to break down the barrier against women training to be astronauts. This book honors their courage and sheds light on this largely unknown endeavor. The final chapter is devoted to the continued accomplishments of women in space today, who rest on the shoulders of these brave women.

Critical Analysis

Stone weaves together images and personal stories of the compelling events and cutting politics surrounding the Lovelace Women in Space Program. The author did extensive research, speaking to the experts involved in this project. Increasing her credibility, she not only flew a plane, but observed the training conditions of jet fighters today. This increased the resonance of her narrative.

The table of contents is more than a listing of chapters. It displays the extensive sources of the book clearly, so readers can quickly navigate to further reading, webliography, photography credits, index, and acknowledgements. This establishes the research-based credibility of the information. It is further laid out in a user-friendly chronology, from 1960-1962, and then again two decades later in 1978.

This book draws the reader in, so they want to learn about the women of this lesser-known program. Stone also avoids stereotyping the women by keeping to the facts. The images, with subtitles, are helpful in setting the scene. This book would be fun to read cover to cover, or to skim through the images. The writing is clear, although bold fonts, or pull-outs, listing important dates and milestones would have improved its readability. There is a lot of good information, but it is sometimes hard to isolate key information among the text. 

Personally, having just spent time at the NASA Space Center in Houston, it would have been nice to see an area devoted to this program and its contributions to women in space. I have written the Director of Education to make her aware of this book and this program. 

Review Excerpts

This book is a:

  -  Sibert Medal Award

  -  YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor

  -  Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor

  -  NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor 

  -  Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

  -  Jane Addams Honor  

  -  Kirkus Best YA Books of 2009

  -  Notable Social Studies Trade Book

  -  Outstanding Science Trade Book

  -  Horn Book Fanfare

  -  ALA Notable Book

Kirkus Review

"Fascinating, dramatic story...The author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society and its institutions. Handsomely illustrated with photographs, this empowering, impassioned story will leave readers inspired.”

Booklist

“Space gals. Astronettes. Astrodolls . . . Who do these women think they are?” The media mocked them. Male astronauts did not want them, and neither did then vice-president Lyndon Johnson. If they were to let women into the space program, blacks and other minorities would be next. Nearly 20 years before the U.S. officially admitted women into the astronaut program, 13 women, known as the Mercury 13, fought for the right to soar into space. This dramatic, large-size photo-essay covers their stories, along with the exciting politics of the women’s liberation struggle in the 1950s and ’60s (“What is a woman’s place?”) and the breakthrough science and technology surrounding space exploration, including details of the would-be astronauts’ tests and training.”

Connections

-  After reading this book, students can research women in space today on the International Space   

   Station and operations at NASA.

-  Social Studies classes can study the laws in place then, versus now, and discuss the effects of the 

    implementation of these laws. 

-  Other books about prominent women in space:
          -  Atkins, Jeannine. Wings and Rockets: The Story of Women in Air and Space. ISBN  

             9780374384500

          -  Ride, Sally, and Susan Okie. To Space & Back. ISBN 9780688091125

          -  Thimmesh, Catherine. Team Moon: how 400,000 people landed Apollo 11 on the moon. ISBN 

             9780618507573

A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt

Bibliography

Adler, David A. 1991. A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt. Ill. by Robert Casilla. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823411573

Plot Summary

This is a picture book biography about the life and accomplishments of Eleanor Roosevelt. It succinctly highlights the important parts of her life, from birth to death, through short paragraphs and detailed, usually multi-page, illustrations. 

Critical Analysis

Adler concisely presents the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. This book is a potpourri of fact mixed with veneration. For example, the date of her death is listed next to a reference of Eleanor Roosevelt as “the most important, most loved woman of her time.” There is no bibliography, or author note, so it is unclear how Adler developed his insight. Declarations, such as Eleanor Roosevelt’s reaction to Franklin’s mother, is unsubstantiated: “Eleanor didn’t complain, but later she refused to be bossed around.” How does Adler draw this conclusion? The reader doesn’t know, which compromises this book’s credibility.

On the plus side, there is the logical sequence expected in a biography. Adler starts with her birth and ends with her death. He presents an interesting look at her life, but it’s the illustrator who really shines in this book. Casilla’s painted illustrations fill the pages and bring a strength to the text. The images are attractive and inviting. 

Since she is a modern, historical figure, it would have added value to include photos of the first lady, perhaps in the back. There is no additional information beyond the text, except for the back page listing nine key dates in her life. It felt overly simplified for the reader.  There were no follow up questions, or supporting documents, to inspire critical thinking or further study. 

Review Excerpts

This book has not received any awards.

School Library Journal

“The few flaws are worth noting. The sentence, "Eleanor's mother was beautiful, but Eleanor was not a pretty child," is contradicted by the illustration. The text also states, "In 1921 Franklin was stricken with polio. He couldn't walk after that." More accurately, he couldn't stand or walk unassisted (without braces, cane, or help from another person). The summary table of important dates is more about Franklin than Eleanor until 1945. 

Kirkus Reviews

“Adler presents the essential facts here in a style so succinct that it can verge on parody (``Franklin's mother Sara often told Franklin and Eleanor what to do...Eleanor didn't complain, but later she refused to be bossed around''). Casilla's skillfully composed watercolors capture the pathos in many of the situations, though his figures are sometimes wooden and he emphasizes Eleanor's tendency to appear unprepossessing. Adequate but, of necessity, superficial.”

Connections

-  Students have other books to chose from to learn more about first ladies or women in politics. 

-  Other First Lady books:
          -  Ideals Editors. First Ladies of the White House: Their Lives and Stories (2012 Edition). ISBN    

             9780824959173

          -  Harris, Bill. The First Ladies Fact Book: The Stories of the Women of the White House from    

             Martha Washington to Laura Bush. ISBN 9781579124687

          -  Pastan, Amy. First Ladies (Eyewitness Books). ISBN 9780756649425.

Global Warming

Bibliography

Simon, Seymour. 2010. Global Warming. New York: Collins. ISBN 9780061142505

Plot Summary

Simon, through a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, describes the complex factors involved in global warming and climate change. In thirty-two pages, he describes the cause and effect of human interaction and the natural levels found in nature. Simon also points out the long-term effect of global warming and climate change on animals in both land and water ecosystems. He also delves into the effect on people, such as water levels rising, the food supply and economic stability. However, he also presents ideas to help slow down the human impact of climate change. 

Critical Analysis

This book features many large photographs, and large black text, about global warming and climate change. Although written for younger students, Simon does not speak down to the reader.  He presents many facts and trends in the environment but does not include a bibliography or an authors note about where he gathered his facts. The end pages include a limited glossary of sixteen words, an index, and three websites for more information. Unfortunately, the glossary terms are not presented in bold font within the text, so the reader stumbles upon them after the reading.

The images in Global Warming are interesting and appropriate for the supporting text, and while the scope of information is comprehensive, it is not very engaging. I would recommend this book to a young student for beginning a research project, but not to take home and read over a weekend. The sequencing of the book is ambiguous, because there are no section headings, nor a table of contents to guide the reader. Pull out bubbles with key facts and terms could have improved the readability and reduced the textbook-like nature of the book.

With more than 250 nonfiction books for young readers, and multiple awards from writing and science organizations, Simon clearly possesses science expertise. However, Global Warming does not demonstrate this. There is a lost opportunity to pique curiosity through questions, leaving us instead with a basic book, in a simplified layout, about a complicated topic. 

Review Excerpts

This book has not received any awards.

School Library Journal

“Outstanding full-page, full-color photographs are the highlight of this introduction to the theories and concerns regarding global warming and climate change. Simon offers much basic information on the subjects of rising sea levels, ocean temperatures, and greenhouse gases. In addition, he explores the resulting problems of animal survival as well as the standard solutions outlined for both governments and families. While he strongly suggests that global warming is due to man-made causes, he does include the possibility of cyclical warming trends. Although comprehensive for the intended audience, the text is somewhat flat. A short glossary and index may help with more complicated ideas. A useful addition for collections needing well-illustrated introductory material.”

Connections

-  Global Warming could be used with other books to compare and contrast informative 

   works.

-  Students could edit this book by adding a layer onto this book by finding additional 

    images, writing “Did you know?” pull-outs and creating titles for each section.