THE SIX—YOUNG READERS EDITION

A young readers’ adaptation of Grush’s 2023 title for adults, which traces the stories of the first six U.S. women astronauts to journey to space.

This compelling and inspiring account introduces readers to Shannon Lucid, Rhea Seddon, Anna Fisher, Judy Resnik, Sally Ride, and Kathy Sullivan, offering insights into their early dreams of traveling among the stars. Subsequent chapters focus on the individual obstacles that each of the astronauts faced on their career paths, including their first ventures into space. Packed with emotion and heart, the work provides powerful insights into the astronauts’ hopes and ambitions as they broke incredible barriers themselves and paved the way for other women. An account of the space shuttle Challenger disaster, which took the life of seven people, including Resnik and schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, provides poignant clarity about the cause of the explosion as well as the findings of the subsequent investigation. The Challenger disaster forever changed the way NASA approached safety and resulted in many new procedures and processes. It also helped NASA leaders finally understand that “courage and perseverance in the most pressure-filled situations are traits that don’t belong to a single gender or race.” This riveting account is an effortless and irresistible read that many young readers will find difficult to set down.

A superbly executed account of women astronauts who achieved greatness despite overwhelming challenges.