Genre 4 - Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Stone, Tanya Lee & Weitekamp, Margaret A. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women who Dared to Dream. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2009.

ISBN: 978-0-7636-4502-1

PLOT SUMMARY

Almost Astronauts is a story about how women fought to be involved in NASA and fly to space. During the time these women aspired to be astronauts, men were the only people who were allowed to be involved. The 13 women were referred to as the “Mercury 13” though they were never a part of the Mercury space program they were called this nick name because they under went all the sane tests as the men involved with the Mercury program. Women who tried to “do a man’s job” like anything military related or as this story explains, go to space, there was serious opposition. This is a good non-fiction story about trying really hard and defying the odds.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Almost Astronauts is an interesting take on the 13 women who first tried to be a part of NASA. I would recommend this book as a read aloud for 2^nd or 3^rd graders or an independent read for 3^rd grade and above. The illustrations are pictures taken from the actual event being discussed. All photos’ are in black and white other than the picture on the front of the book. These photos’ offer a realistic image for students to relate to and pair with their own knowledge. The dialog is a little lengthy but normally correlated with a picture to keep students involved. In third grade we do a unit on plants so it would be very interesting to include excerpts from this book to read during our group time. Overall, this book is a great outlet for curriculum related activities, includes beautiful photography, and offers an amazing part of history often over-looked.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

School Library Journal- “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.” —John Peters

Horn Book- "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.” – Hazel Rochman

CONNECTIONS

Almost Astronauts could be a great outlet to begin a segment on women’s rights. There are several books that a teacher could pull and discuss that at one time, women are viewed as inferior to men. A few of these books include: Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Women's Rights (Ready-to-Read. Level 3) by Deborah Hopkinson and Amy June Bates or Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote by Stone and Gibbon.