I recieved this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I’ve always been a fan of space so I was excited for this book. I really enjoyed learning about the history of women in NASA’s space program.
Synopsis
This book for young readers is an excellent adaptation of the book of the same name by Loren Grush. The Six goes into the history of women in NASA’s spaceflight. The book details the history of NASA in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Women were excluded from the flight corps because of misogyny.
People at NASA believed that only military test pilots were fit for space. Women were also not allowed to be a part of this group. Things changed at the beginning of the 1980’s. A new line of thinking allowed six highly qualified women pilots and scientists to join the flight corps.
These women, Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, Anna Lee Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon. The women became the focus of much media attention throughout their careers at NASA. People were concerned about everything. This included how women would pee in space and what their hair would look like. They also questioned whether or not women were as capable as a man.
The women however were just concerned about proving themselves and their missions in space. The road was bumpy for them. When they got a chance, they proved themselves. They shined in their positions. They became treasured colleagues of the people around them.
The book takes readers from the women’s introduction into NASA. It continues up until the Challenger disaster where one of the Six, Judy Resnik, was lost. It also has a few notes at the end about modern spaceflight and the future of the space program.
Review
The Six: Young Readers Edition, was an inspiring piece of media. It is perfect for young readers especially girls and those interested in the STEM fields. Even as a fan of space and spaceflight in general this book taught me many things I didn’t know. The book went deep into the sexism of the time and the personal histories of the women involved.
It also explored more about the space missions of the 1980’s. It taught me about some of the satellites the Six helped launch. Another cool focus was learning about how the robotic arm on the space shuttle worked and some of the medical missions that went on in space.
I also liked the interaction between the Russian and American astronauts and cosmonauts. It was a unique highlight considering The Cold War going on at the time. It was a great short read and I’d like to pick up the adult version at some point. Five stars for both the detail of the research and the personal touch of the book made it feel special. It included interviews from the still living astronauts and their families.
Amazon: The Six
Are you picking up any new non-fiction this year? Share your favorites in the comments and check out more recommendations in the coming weeks from me.
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