Book

Stone, Tanya Lee, author.

Almost astronauts : 13 women who dared to dream / Tanya Lee Stone ; [foreword by Margaret A. Weitekamp].

1st ed.

Somerville, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2009.

133 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm

"Have you ever heard of the 'Mercury 13' women? Did you know that nearly twenty years before the first women were let into NASA's astronaut program, there were others who tried? What are the requirements for being shot into space, piloting a hunk of metal while carrying the hopes and fears of your nation? Mastery of flying, as well as courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, and fitness -- any checklist would certainly includes these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was an unspoken rule in place: astronauts must be male, and they must be white. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved not only that they were as tough as any man but also that they were brave enough to challenge the government. Their passage to space was blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and a note scrawled by one of the most powerful men in Washington. But in the end, their inspiring example empowered young women to take the rightful place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. Almost Astronauts is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age."--Jacket.

980 Lexile.

Project Mercury (U.S.) -- History -- Juvenile literature.

Women astronauts -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Women astronauts -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Juvenile literature.

Sex discrimination against women -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Juvenile literature.

Biographies.

Weitekamp, Margaret A., 1971- author of introduction, etc.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, 2010.

Beehive informational book award nominee, 2010-2011.

"The true story of the "Mercury 13" women"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 123-130) and index.

Reading Counts RC 6-8 8.3 9.0 46506.

Accelerated Reader AR MG 7.1 4.0 129067.

Accelerated Reader Grades 5-8 7.1 4 SD Quiz 129067 English non-fiction.

Accelerated Reader AR MG 7.1 4.0 129067.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2010.

Orbis Pictus Honor, 2010.

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2010.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, 2010.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist, 2010.

Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor, 2010

Foreword / Margaret A. Weitekamp -- T minus thirty-eight years -- I jumped at the offer -- Not a meaningful test! -- Mommy's going to the moon! -- Too good to be true -- Regret to advise -- Let's stop this now! -- Jerrie Cobb isn't running this program. I am! -- The men go off and fight the wars and fly the airplanes -- NASA never had any intention of putting those women in space -- We want to see a woman driving the bus, not sitting in the back -- I am living proof that dreams do come true -- Author's note -- Appendix -- Further reading -- Webliography -- Sources -- Source notes -- Photography credits -- Index -- Acknowledgments.

Table of contents

2008017487

9780763645021

0763645028

9780329700805

0329700804

9781451703764

1451703767

9780606087063

0606087060

1606867962

9781606867969

9780763636111

0763636118

225846987

2

0

2

234966

2

2

j 629.450092 Stone