In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race - Hardcover

Cherrix, Amy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062888757 ISBN 13: 9780062888754

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2021

Synopsis

An
exhilarating dive into the secret history of humankind’s race to the moon, from
acclaimed author Amy Cherrix. This fascinating and immersive read is perfect for
fans of Steve Sheinkin’s Bomb and M. T. Anderson’s Symphony for the City of
the Dead.

You’ve heard of the space race, but do
you know the whole story?

The most ambitious race humankind has
ever undertaken was masterminded in the shadows by two engineers on opposite
sides of the Cold War—Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi officer living in the
US, and Sergei Korolev, a Russian rocket designer once jailed for crimes
against his country—and your textbooks probably never told you.

Von Braun became an American hero, recognized
the world over, while Korolev toiled in obscurity. These two brilliant
rocketeers never met, but together they shaped the science of spaceflight and redefined
modern warfare. From Stalin’s brutal Gulag prisons and Hitler’s concentration
camps to Cape Canaveral and beyond, their simultaneous quests pushed
science—and human ingenuity—to the breaking point.

From Amy Cherrix comes the extraordinary
hidden story of the space race and the bitter rivalry that launched humankind
to the moon.

About this title

About the Author

Amy Cherrix writes nonfiction for young readers of all ages. Her books include In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race and two books in the award-winning Scientists in the Field series—Backyard Bears: Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife and Eye of the Storm: NASA, Drones, and the Race to Crack the Hurricane Code—a Subaru Prize for Excellence in Middle Grade Science Books finalist. You can find her online at amycherrix.com.

Reviews

Gr 7 Up-This title provides a fascinating look at the early space race and the two engineers who led the technological innovations. Wernher von Braun was a German-born high-ranking Nazi official and SS officer, who developed Germany's devastating V-2 missiles. V-2s were built at factories using forced labor; von Braun worked at Mittelwerk, a production facility where countless prisoners suffered and died. At the close of World War II, top German engineers knew the future of rocketry would involve either the Soviets or Americans. Von Braun chose the Americans and surrendered in May 1945. U.S. policy mandated that former SS officers would not be accepted into the States, but von Braun's knowledge was too extensive to dismiss. His background was quietly classified and not released for decades. Von Braun and his team later developed the Saturn rockets, which gave him celebrity status in the U.S. Meanwhile, as a young man, Sergei Korolev refused to implicate a coworker with false allegations during Stalin's Great Purge and was arrested. He barely survived a Soviet gulag and was sent to a work prison. In the 1950s, the Soviets classified his name when he developed the Sputnik rocket. The text adds depth to the history of the space race, with thoughtful, ethical discussions of the U.S. concealing von Braun's history to further its agenda. The back matter is extensive. VERDICT This book contains numerous interesting biographical and technological facts, which results in an engaging, fast-paced narrative that will delight readers of history and space technology. A worthy addition to all libraries serving teens.-Karen Bilton, Franklin Township P.L., NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062888757
• ISBN 13: 9780062888754
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336