![]() Katharine Johnson was able to spell pretty hard words at age 4. The premise was sure she could do numbers but that must mean she can’t write! Clearly the person didn’t read this book carefully. I noticed another reviewer questioned whether Katherine Johnson wrote the book herself. This felt very much like Uhlberg's The Sounds of Silence: Growing Up Hearing with Deaf Parents. What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and this is far more interesting and readable than the Young Readers edition of Hidden Figures, which was very dry. Weaknesses: There are not many photographs while I understand cameras were rare for many families until the 1950s, young readers may be curious. I know Johnson is a talented woman, but math and writing are too very different fields. I'm curious as to whether there was a ghost writer involved in this, because the style is very approachably middle grade. It never let us forget how much a part of her life the math was, but it gave intriguing glimpses into the jobs and schooling available to African Americans in general, and also provided enough personal touches to make it easy to connect to the story. Strengths: This was a quick, interesting read that reminded me a bit of the Childhood of Famous Americans series. This biography gives the background of her life while showcasing her accomplishments in the fledgling space program. A talented and motivated student, Johnson studied theoretical math and French, taught and had a family, and eventually was able to move into work with the government as a computer. She is unflinching in her descriptions of the racial oppression of the time, but also points out how devoted her parents were to making sure all of their children got the best education they could find, even moving the family to a university town while her father had to find work elsewhere. Even though her family was well-to-do for the time, the treatment of African-Americans and the general privations of the Great Depression will be eye opening. She is unflinching in her descriptions of the racial oppression of the time, but also points out how devoted her parents were to making s Public Library Copyīorn in 1918 (and just celebrated her 101st birthday as this is being written), Johnson's early life growing up in West Virginia was very different from what students today experience. Public Library Copy Born in 1918 (and just celebrated her 101st birthday as this is being written), Johnson's early life growing up in West Virginia was very different from what students today experience. 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.more Katherine Johnson’s story was made famous in the bestselling book and Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. She worked on many of NASA’s biggest projects including the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon. In the early 1950s, Katherine was thrilled to join the organization that would become NASA. 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.” As an African American and a girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges. ![]() But ability and opportunity did not always go hand in hand. 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. The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.Īs a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. “Captivating, informative, and inspiring…Easy to follow and hard to put down.” - School Library Journal (starred review) In sch “This rich volume is a national treasure.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. “This rich volume is a national treasure.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Captivating, informative, and inspiring…Easy to follow and hard to put down.” - School Library Journal (starred review) The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.
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