Almost Astronauts

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Author	Tanya Lee Stone
Language	English
Subject	Mercury 13
Genre	Nonfiction
Publisher	Candlewick Press
Publication date	2009
Publication place	USA
Media type	Print, Audio
Pages	144
ISBN	9780763636111

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream is a nonfiction children's book by Tanya Lee Stone, originally published February 24, 2009 by Candlewick Press, then republished September 27, 2011. ^[1] The book tells the story of the Mercury 13 women, who, in 1958, joined NASA and completed testing to become astronauts.

The book won the Bank Street College Flora Stieglitz Straus Award and Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal.

Reception

Almost Astronauts received a starred review from Kirkus , ^[2] as well as positive reviews from Booklist , ^[3] The New York Times Book Review , ^[4] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , ^[5] and Publishers Weekly . ^[6]

Kirkus wrote, "The author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society and its institutions. Handsomely illustrated with photographs, this empowering story will leave readers inspired." Publishers Weekly said, "Readers with an interest in history and in women's struggle for equality will undoubtedly be moved." ^[6] Speaking for The Bulletin, Elizabeth Bush said, "Readers prone to outrage over civil rights denied can plan on losing plenty of sleep over this one." ^[5]

The audiobook, narrated by Susan Ericksen, received a positive review from Booklist. ^[7]

Awards and honors for Almost Astronauts

Year	Award/Honor	Result	Ref.
2009	Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction	Honor	[8]
	Smithsonian Notable Books for Children	Selection	[9]
2010	Amelia Bloomer List	Selection	[10]
	Bank Street College Flora Stieglitz Straus Award	Winner	[11]
	Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices	Selection	[12]
	Jane Addams Children's Book Award for Older Children	Honor	[13]
	NCTE Orbis Pictus Award	Honor	[14]
	NCSS Notable Social Studies Tradebooks for Young People	Selection	[15]
	NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12	Top Choice	[16]
	Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal	Winner	[17] [18]
	RUSA Notable Children's Books for Older Readers	Selection	[19]
	YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults	Finalist	[20] [21]
	YALSA Nonfiction and Morris Book Trailer Contest	Finalist	[22]
	YALSA Best Books for Young Adults	Selection	[23]

References

1. Stone, Tanya Lee (2011-09-27). Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Candlewick Press. ISBN   978-0-7636-5609-6. Archived from the original on 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
2. "Almost Astronauts". Kirkus Reviews. 2010-05-20. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
3. Almost Astronauts. 2009-02-15. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26– via Booklist.
4. Julie (2009-07-10). "Children's Bookshelf". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
5. Bush, Elizabeth (2009). "Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream (review)" . Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 62 (8): 337. doi:10.1353/bcc.0.0815. ISSN   1558-6766. S2CID   144689838.
6. "Children's Book Review: Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone, Author, Margaret A. Weitekamp, Foreword by . Candlewick $24.99 (133p) ISBN 978-0-7636-3611-1 ISBN 978-0-7636-4502-1". PublishersWeekly.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
7. Almost Astronauts. 2010-03-01. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26– via Booklist.
8. "Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners". The Horn Book. 2022-01-10. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
9. Burke, Kathleen. "Smithsonian Notable Books for Children 2009". Smithsonian Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
10. "2010 Amelia Bloomer List". Social Responsibilities Round Table. American Library Association. 2017-01-13. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
11. Hare, Peter. "Past Winners". Bank Street College of Education. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
12. Horning, Kathleen T.; Lindgren, Merri V.; Schliesman, Megan; Michaelson, Tessa; Elias, Tana (2010). CCBC choices 2010. Madison, WI: Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. pp. 11–12, 31. ISBN   9780931641206. OCLC   1244512243.
13. "All Books | Jane Addams Children's Book Award". Jane Addams Peace Association. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
14. "2010 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children" (PDF). National Council of Teachers of English. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
15. Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2010. New York, NY: National Council for the Social Studies. 2010. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
16. "Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12: 2010 (Books published in 2009)" (PDF). National Science Teaching Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
17. "Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 2010-01-18. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
18. Morales, Macey; Petersen, Jennifer (2010-01-18). "Tanya Lee Stone wins 2010 Sibert Medal". News and Press Center. American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
19. "Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
20. "Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 2010-01-18. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
21. "2010 Nonfiction Adward". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2018-06-05. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
22. "Almost Astronauts | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 2010-03-10. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
23. "Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 2010-01-21. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.