The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe

by Sandra Nickel Narrated by Zura Johnson

Overview

Before Vera Rubin discovered most of the universe, she was a girl who loved the night sky. She watched the Big Dipper circle the North Star. And when her eyelids grew heavy, she dreamed not about what she had seen, but about what she had not seen. She dreamed about the mysteries between the stars.
As Vera grew older, she tried to uncover those mysteries. At her first conference, the male astronomers said her ideas were “outlandish.” They said they were “ridiculous.” Vera didn't like their harsh words, pushing her away. So she started studying faraway galaxies no one else was interested in. The youngest
wheeled like pinwheels. The oldest spun with their arms closed tight. And every single one showed that between the stars, there is stuff we cannot see. Scientists before Vera had suspected this “dark matter” made up most of the universe. But no one had been able to show it was there. No one, until Vera.
The Stuff Between the Stars tells Vera's incredible story, celebrates her brilliance, and shows how a girl's never-ending love for the night sky changed the way we see our universe today.

Editorial Reviews

Booklist

"A truly beautiful story of perseverance and passion."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Nickel’s narrative parallels Rubin’s research focus and her scientific career—bright, high-velocity outliers that mainstream scientists stubbornly refuse to believe in—and that intertwining of themes extends interest to both history and science audiences. Sicuro’s watercolor, ink, and charcoal pencil scenes ably track decades of women-in-science history as Rubin works alone while her family sleeps in a dollhouse-like cutaway, snarkily protests men-only Palomar washrooms, and finally triumphantly floats free in among the galaxies."

The Horn Book Magazine

"Straightforward and accessible. Whether representing Rubin’s thoughts or a winter snowstorm, striking watercolors repeat concentric circles and curves, suggesting images of swirling galaxies, the very subject that prompts Rubin’s work. Sicuro solves the problem of depicting dark matter by gloriously representing it as if seen through a spectrometer, like 'glitter caught in an invisible halo.'"

From the Publisher

"A truly beautiful story of perseverance and passion."—Booklist

"Nickel’s narrative parallels Rubin’s research focus and her scientific career—bright, high-velocity outliers that mainstream scientists stubbornly refuse to believe in—and that intertwining of themes extends interest to both history and science audiences. Sicuro’s watercolor, ink, and charcoal pencil scenes ably track decades of women-in-science history as Rubin works alone while her family sleeps in a dollhouse-like cutaway, snarkily protests men-only Palomar washrooms, and finally triumphantly floats free in among the galaxies."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Straightforward and accessible. Whether representing Rubin’s thoughts or a winter snowstorm, striking watercolors repeat concentric circles and curves, suggesting images of swirling galaxies, the very subject that prompts Rubin’s work. Sicuro solves the problem of depicting dark matter by gloriously representing it as if seen through a spectrometer, like 'glitter caught in an invisible halo.'"—The Horn Book Magazine

"This engaging biography will appeal to budding scientists, particularly those with a penchant for sky searching."—Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will be inspired by the vastness of the universe as they learn about Rubin’s discoveries." —School Library Journal

School Library Journal

03/01/2021

Gr 2–6—Vera Rubin (1928–2016), an American astronomer born in Philadelphia and the daughter of Jewish immigrants, broke new ground in the topic of dark matter. Nickel's picture book chronicles Rubin's journey, showcasing her childhood fascination with the stars, her perseverance to overcome sexism in the scientific community, and her discoveries that set the stage for ongoing research today. Sicuro's watercolor, ink, and charcoal illustrations depict the characters in mid-century clothing and allow the cosmos to soar. Readers will be inspired by the vastness of the universe as they learn about Rubin's discoveries. She is portrayed as a warm and loving mother and wife who marveled at the wonders of the night sky. As with many picture book biographies, the text emphasizes Rubin's strength of character rather than relaying in-depth details about every aspect of her life. An author's note and a time line provide more clarity. Further explanation about dark matter in the main text could have helped readers' comprehension. This title would work well in classroom lessons focused on astronomy topics, and it provides an excellent representation of women in science. VERDICT A strong addition to youth biography collections, especially where STEM fields are emphasized.—Kelly Jahng, South Park Elem. Sch., IL

Kirkus Reviews

2020-12-15
A star-struck girl becomes a renowned astronomer.

From childhood, Vera Rubin loved the stars, noting their movements from her bedroom window. Fascinated by the galaxies’ rotations, she was determined to become a scientist and became the only female astronomy major at Vassar College. Marriage and motherhood didn’t deter her from developing a solid career in teaching and research. Rubin earned her doctorate and, doing painstaking calculations, made major astronomical breakthroughs—that were dismissed at first due to the sexist assumptions of the male scientific community (depicted by Sicuro as almost uniformly White as well). Eventually, her ideas were accepted and respected. Working at the Palomar Observatory, Rubin made her seminal discovery that “dark matter” explains the phenomenon that stars at the edges of galaxies move as quickly as those at the center—and that it makes up most of the universe. This engaging biography will appeal to budding scientists, particularly those with a penchant for sky searching. Some of it may go over some students’ heads, though the author does a good job conveying concepts in a compact, uncomplicated manner. Rubin is White and portrayed as appealing, dedicated, and determined to make her way in a men’s-only world; she shows it’s cool being a highly intelligent, science-loving female. Several Rubin quotes are included, and a lovely Rubin epigraph concludes the book. Numerous delicate illustrations aptly feature dark blue, star-spangled, galactic backgrounds. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 48.6% of actual size.)

A creditable, earnest biography of a famed woman scientist. (author's note, timeline, notes, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191365695
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	03/19/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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