Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream

Almost Astronauts: 13 women who dared to dream
by Tanya Lee Stone
Candlewick Press, 2009, 133 pages, YA Nonfiction

While many have heard of the Mercury 7 (original NASA astronauts), few have heard of the Mercury 13. These were the 13 women who, during the 1960s when women could not be a police officer or rent a car, dared to believe they could become astronauts. They were unwavering in their pioneer spirit subjecting themselves to brutal physical and mental tests, lobbying NASA and the government and fighting blatant prejudice.

 This Young Adult book follows the difficult road these 13 women went down for nearly 20 years before women were to become an accepted part of NASA. The author makes sure we understand all the prejudice these women faced and just how strong these women were in their fight to make their dreams a reality. Good book for anyone interested in the history of the space program and also an encouraging book, especially for girls, on following their dreams.

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