Kacy and the Space Shuttle Secret

Eleven-year-old Kacy Holiday's idea about sending a houseplant on a shuttle mission into outer space has astronomical consequences.

Gr 4-6--Kacy, 11, is bright, but her constant daydreaming and inattention get her into trouble with her science teacher. He scoffs at her proposed science project of sending a houseplant up in the space shuttle in order to compare its growth with that of a control plant on Earth. A supportive school counselor helps her write a letter to female astronaut Rose "Rosie" Ruiz, and to her delight, the astronaut agrees to help with the experiment. What follows is a dream come true. Once a week the girl goes to the NASA headquarters to work with scientists preparing the experiments (including Kacy's daisies) for the upcoming mission. In an exciting turn of events, Kacy is kidnapped so her daisy can be used to sabotage the crystal experiment. Through careful listening and good thinking, she escapes and gets help for herself and the shuttle. This fast-paced adventure is a natural read-aloud at science-fair time and is likely to spark some more ambitious projects. The believable characters, including the real-life astronaut Ruiz, help ground the story when it takes off into adventure. The line drawings of space suits and equipment are adequate, but don't add much to the story. A solid choice with curricular tie-ins.

Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library

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