Genre 4 Nonfiction: ALMOST ASTRONAUTS

ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM


1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS: 13 WOMEN WHO DARED TO DREAM. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763636118

2.PLOT SUMMARY
Jerrie Cobb was the first female pilot who completed the entire series of astronaut testing just like the Mercury seven men. The author portrayed the whole procedure with demonstration letters, pictures, and other background information. The author, Tanya Stone, also gave readers some detailed information about how females were allowed to fly military aircraft during World War II and how difficult the situations were that these female pilots had to face to be successful in the aviation field. Randolph Lovelace played an essential role to promote and support the advancement of women because he believed that women were as capable as men to serve in the space program. Even though he provided a large amount of testing results to Congress, they and NASA still would not allow the thirteen women into the space program. Congress thought that if they let women into the program, blacks and other minorities would be next. It took almost 20 years before the U.S. officially allowed women into the astronaut program. This amazing book reported all of the procedures and expressed how these women fought for their rights and fulfilled their dream of going into space.



3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As a female reader, I was so impressed and admired the thirteen pioneer female astronauts. I was not interested in space and aviation until I read this enlightening book about the struggles faced by these pioneer female astronauts. I still remembered how difficult it was for me when I took my TOEFL exam listening to the part about space and astronauts. This book makes me interested in aviation and the historical nonfiction genre. I found several strengths in the book based on the four perspectives of accuracy, organization, design, and style.

Accuracy
When I read this book, I recognized a conscientious qualitative research. The author utilized information and several sources to prove what she found as triangulation techniques in a qualitative research design. Different source information, such as illustrations, photographs, letters, and newspaper reports prove the accuracy of the information in the book. For instance, the author not only stated the situation of gender discrimination in the aviation field, she also provided several incidences from newspaper reports, a formal letter from from Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson about his opinion on women in the space program on page 64; the conversation between a reporter and Jerrie Cobb about the female role on page 20; as well as the speech by the president on page 8 about the goal of this decade to land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth. All of documents indicated that there was serious discrimination in society during that time and women were not allowed to do some of the jobs men did, especially in the aviation field.


Organization
The book followed a chronological order with a logical layout, so readers could easily read and follow. It provided a clear sequence on the procedures of astronaut testing with text and photographs. Even though I am not a major in atmospheric study, I gained a lot of knowledge and understanding about space and how an astronaut assessment took place. The author also noted some historical events based on the time in history. For example, she presented the poster the government created to encourage women to join the Women’s Army Corps in World War II. Later in the book, the author introduced Randolph Lovelace who was the visionary man behind the Woman in Space program, as well as Jerrie Cobb. Then the whole testing procedure was sequentially introduced with detailed photographs and explanations. The book kept moving through the historic period of the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), so women would finally be able to become test pilots. In 1978, the first six women were admitted to the space program. The framework of the book presented the clear advancement that occurred in society for women astronauts in the U.S.

Design
The design of this book is attractive, inviting, and readable because Stone offered a great mix of illustrations and photographs for readers to better understand the complex events, including space astronaut testing. Stone told facts about women pilots' lives with lively photographs, and appalling examples of social and political discrimination. All of the graphics are clear and appropriately placed, especially the picture on page 38 which I love that presented Jerri Sloan greeting her young son. As a preschool teacher, I was so impressed with this picture. This picture represents that women were more than capable of playing the roles of mother and pilot.

Style
The book combined expressions, storylines, conversations, and poetry to introduce this historical event. On page 24, Stone provided a first person point of view about the isolation tank testing experiences. For example, “All you can hear is your heart beating, your breath as you inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.” “It is peaceful, quiet, dark. You mind drifts…You are bored. It is too quiet.” By reading these expressions, readers are able to imagine the female astronaut’s real experiences in the tank. It is one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. I learned a lot of knowledge about how to be an astronaut. Furthermore, the historical events also encourage reader’s critical thinking about debate and argument over divisive issues. I have learned from Dr. Randolph Lovelace that he did not argue with society or NASA before he received the evidence from the test results of women astronauts. Sometimes people have to have the patience to wait for the evidence to prove what one believes when people want to persuade others to change their minds.

In summary, it is a well-designed, accurate, informative book. I really enjoyed reading Almost Astronauts. This book encourages young women to cherish what we have now because our equal rights came from these female pioneers. I would recommend this book to all young readers because it provides not only U.S. history, but a respect for both genders, and minority groups as well. It would be a good teaching supplement for a research project and a social progression study.

4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2010 SIBERT MEDAL Award Winner
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor
Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award
An Outstanding Science Trade Book
CCBC Choices 2010
Kirkus Best YA Books of 2009
Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Chicago Best of the Best Books,
Smithsonian Magazine Best Books of 2009

Review in Kirkus:“fascinating, dramatic story…the author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society…this empowering, impassioned story will leave readers inspired.”
On Amazon.com, John Peters from the School Library Journal wrote in his review that "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.”

Hazel Rochman on Amazon.com indicated that the factual information and full-page photos make for a fast read for young readers, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The book possessed detailed chapter notes and a bibliography.

5.CONNECTIONS
The first connection book I found was Spectacular Women in Space. It is a collection of ten biographies featuring women who have made an essential contribution to space exploration.
Gueldenpfennig, Sonia. 2005. Spectacular Women in Space. Canada: Second Story Press. ISBN9781896764887

The second connection book I found was Amelia Earhart, a pictorial biography. Another book by author Tanya Lee Stone introduces the first female pilot who received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross Award.
Stone, Tanya Lee. 2007. Amelia Earhart. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0756625521

The final connection book I found was Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. It is also a historic mission of space.
Floca, Brian. 2009. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. New York: Atheneum Books. ISBN 141695046X