Sally Ride: A Space Biography (Countdown to Space)

Discusses the youth, astronaut training, space voyage, and life as a teacher and researcher after her retirement from NASA of the first American woman to journey into space.

Gr 4-8--Brief, well-written accounts of individuals who have participated in the NASA space program. Focusing primarily on astronaut training, career experience, and space flights, these easy-to-read texts are well documented and include quotes from the subjects. Black-and-white and full-color photos appear throughout. These are excellent introductory biographies that could easily be used for reports or recreational reading. While there are numerous titles available about the early U.S. space missions, there are few biographies for this audience on the original seven Mercury astronauts. Gus Grissom's achievements and tragic death make for compelling reading. Kramer's book is similar in coverage to June Behrens's Sally Ride (Children's Press, 1984; o.p.) and Carolyn Blacknall's Sally Ride (Dillon Press, 1984; o.p.). However, it has a more skillful balance of high-interest material with a scholarly objectivity consistent with its carefully cited text and list of sources.

Phyllis Graves, Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, TX

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