Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

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 Astronauts is 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.

Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
Published: 02/24/2009
Pages: 144
Weight: 1.42lbs
Size: 10.30h x 8.86w x 0.53d
ISBN: 9780763636111
Age: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 7.1
Point Value: 4
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 129067 / Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream


Award: Orbis Pictus Award - Honor Book
Award: Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards - Honor Book
Award: Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award - Winner
Award: Children's Book Committee Award - Winner
Award: Jane Addams Children's Book Award - Honor Book
Award: Beehive Awards - Nominee
Award: Land of Enchantment Book Award - Nominee
Award: Grand Canyon Reader Award - Recommended


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2009
Kirkus Review - Children 01/01/2009 pg. 44
Voice of Youth Advocates 02/01/2009 - Recommended - Better Than Most
Booklist 02/15/2009 pg. 77
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2009 pg. 214
School Library Journal 03/01/2009 pg. 169
Publishers Weekly 05/04/2009 pg. 49
New York Times Book Review 07/12/2009 pg. 13
ALA Best Books Young Adults 03/01/2010 pg. 12
ALA Notable Children's Books 03/01/2010 pg. 26
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2009 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style
Foreword 02/13/2009

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.