ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763636111

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Imagine living during a time when being a woman meant staying at home, taking care of the kids, and playing cards in your free time.  Imagine being one of thirteen women who dared to want more from life, who dared to live for a different kind of dream.  Imagine the ridicule you would endure from people who simply could not understand the kind of woman who would dare to become an astronaut.  Just think about what it would be like to endure strenuous physical and psychological tests to prove that you were just as capable as a man to train to be an astronaut.  Imagine the disappointment when after passing all of the tests with flying colors, the momentum comes to a standstill and the entire operation ceases.  Imagine being just a stepping stone in the journey for women to one day train in the NASA program.  For Jerrie Cobb and the other members of the “Mercury 13,” this was reality.  But their story is not about failure; it is about what almost was as well as what happened next.  It is about “Eileen Collins, the first woman to command a space shuttle.”  It is about proving that women are every bit as capable as men, and it is about breaking down gender barriers that women still face today. 

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Stone writes passionately about the women whose dreams never fully became a reality.  She begins by describing the intensity of the mood of Jerrie Cobb as she prepares to watch the space shuttle with Eileen Collins, the first woman commander, lift off.  The book continues with the back story of Cobb and the other women who were almost astronauts, and describes in detail how worthy these women were of achieving their dreams.  Pictures are strategically placed and help to bring an understanding of the procedures and tests described in the text.  The book is categorized by chapters, and it is best read straight through, in order to receive the full impact of the story.  The story is highly readable, and well documented in the appendix and source list at the end of the book.  There is also a small section for suggested reading as well as a webliography.  The index contains many important terms and concepts addressed in the book, and would provide a useful resource for student research. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

School Library Journal Starred Review: “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.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Read Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming.