Hidden Women: The African-American Mathematicians of NASA Who Helped America Win the Space Race

by Rebecca Rissman

Overview

Tells the gripping story of four female African-American mathematicians who literally made it possible to launch US rockets—and astronauts—into space. Tells the thrilling tale of how each woman contributed, the struggles and resistance each experienced, and the amazing results. Consultants currently work for NASA.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781515799634
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Series:	Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Rissman is an award-winning children's author. She has written more than 200 books about science, history, art, and culture. Her writing has been praised by School Library Journal, Booklist, Creative Child Magazine, and Learning Magazine. She lives in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and two daughters.

Table of Contents

1 Get the Girl 5

2 The Space Race 15

3 Running Numbers 25

4 A Woman in the Wind Tunnel 35

5 Testing Rockets 43

6 Annie Easley and the Centaur 53

7 A Year of Tragedy and New Hope 61

8 The Moon Landing, A Dream Come True 69

9 "Houston, We've Had a Problem" 77

10 After the Race 83

Epilogue 93

Timeline 104

Glossary 106

Read More 107

Internet Sites 107

Critical Thinking Questions 107

Bibliography 108

Source Notes 109

Index 112

Interviews

• Narrative non-fiction tells a story that will appeal to young readers, particularly girls and African Americans • Answers need for diverse, less well-known historical figures who can be inspirational for today's youth • Consultant works for NASAAs of June 2017, the movie Hidden Figures, has grossed $169.3 million in the US and Canada

Editorial Reviews

Annie Easley and Christine Darden join the women made famous in Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures (2016), making this a worthy companion title. It also carries the time line beyond 1969 to introduce several women working for NASA today.

Core Collection: Exploring Space Booklist

Four women, African American mathematicians at NASA, made it possible for the United States to launch rockets—and astronauts—into space. This book tells the tale of how each woman contributed to this amazing accomplishment and the struggles and resistance each experienced.

Learning Magazine

At a time when segregation was still the law of the land and everyone knew girls didn't dream of science careers, African-American mathematicians performed the critical calculations that allowed America to reach for outer space. In this book from the Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction series, young readers will learn about how these women broke both racial and sex barriers to become a key part of NASA's development. . . .With its narrative tone full of existing twists and turns, this is a compelling look at the women who helped our astronauts take flight.

A Mighty Girl