From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9-An appealing feature of this book is its organization. There is enough history for readers interested in the background of the space program and the development of the reusable shuttle orbiter, but the focus is more on what is learned in space than on what each mission achieved. The writing is at its best in the chapters on living and working in space; without descending into "gee whiz" amazement, the authors simply explain what life in space is like and describe the oddities that a would-be astronaut needs to expect. Other sections cover the Challenger explosion; space stations; and the significant accomplishments of landmark missions, such as the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope. Sidebars feature individual astronauts, statistics, and scientific principles related to space travel; the many NASA color photos are always interesting. Two books similar in appeal and style are Sheila Wyborny's Astronauts (Lucent, 2001) and Carole S. Briggs's Women in Space (Lerner, 1998), but their topics are much broader. Adele Richardson's Space Shuttle (Smart Apple, 1999), for a younger audience, is more spectacularly illustrated.
Jeffrey A. French, Euclid Public Library, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Jeffrey A. French, Euclid Public Library, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
