The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.
As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex equations with the support of a professor who saw great promise in her. But ability and opportunity did not always go hand in hand. As an African American and a girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges. Still, she lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.”
In the early 1950s, Katherine was thrilled to join the organization that would become NASA. She worked on many of NASA’s biggest projects including the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon.
Katherine Johnson’s story was made famous in the bestselling book and Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Now in Reaching for the Moon she tells her own story for the first time, in a lively autobiography that will inspire young readers everywhere.
Reaching for the Moon Review
Because of the recent Space X and NASA launch, I’ve been wanting to read more books about space.
Reaching for the Moon is the autobiography of Katherine Johnson, a former mathematician for NASA. As a mathematician, she played an important role in landing man on the moon.
I absolutely adore Katherine. Her life is incredible but her words are just so inspiring. Her intelligence really shines through the pages and I loved the insight into her life.
Katherine’s family life is really special and I loved hearing her talk about her father. Since he clearly played an important role in her education, it’s great to see the result. I also think it’s great to see how she passes on her father’s wisdom to her own children.
One aspect of this book that is great is Katherine’s discussion of race, culture and gender stereotypes. It’s difficult to read but it’s really important for young readers to learn. I think she does a fantastic job including these aspects in an informative way.
Overall, I highly recommend reading Reaching for the Moon because it’s engaging and educational. It’s the perfect introduction to important topics such as race, stereotypes and barriers. It’s also the perfect introduction to autobiographies for young readers!
Rating: ★★★★★
Favourite Quote
You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.
About the Author
Katherine Johnson was a former NASA mathematician whose story was made famous in the bestelling book and Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Katherine coauthored many scientific papers and has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian award – from President Barack Obama.
Buy Reaching for the Moon
Pin for Later!
[…] With the recent Space X and NASA launch, I’ve been more interested in reading books about space. […]