Counting the Stars
Books | Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology
Lesa Cline-Ransome
“A detail-rich picture book.” —Kirkus Reviews “Straightforward and inviting.” —School Library Journal From award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome and acclaimed illustrator Raúl Colón comes the sensitive, informative, and inspiring picture book biography of the remarkable mathematician Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA “human computers” whose work was critical to the first US space launch.Before John Glenn orbited the Earth or astronauts walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used their knowledge, pencils, adding machines, and writing paper to calculate the orbital mechanics needed to launch spacecraft. Katherine Johnson was one of these mathematicians who used trajectories and complex equations to chart the space program. Even as Virginia’s Jim Crow laws were in place in the early 1950s, Katherine worked analyzing data at the NACA (later NASA) Langley laboratory. In 1962, as NASA prepared for the orbital mission of John Glenn, Katherine Johnson was called upon and John Glenn said “get the girl” (Katherine Johnson) to run the numbers by hand to chart the complexity of the orbital flight. He knew that his flight couldn’t work without her unique skills. President Barack Obama awarded Katherine Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and her incredible life inspired the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures. Get to know this incredible and inspirational woman with this beautifully illustrated picture book from an award-winning duo.
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Author
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Pages
32
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published Date
2019-10-08
ISBN
1534404767 9781534404762
Community ReviewsSee all
"CW: loss of family/grief, negative family dynamics, brief violence, some spice <br/><br/>Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team! “Counting the Stars” is available now!<br/><br/>Can I interest you in a very cute friends to lovers story?<br/><br/>Jax and Aly got their love story, leaving Alex and Gabby to sort out their own situationship. For Alex, there could never be anyone else. For Gabby, a long-buried secret haunts her memories, leaving her isolated and anxious. Can the two figure out how to make things work, or will they forever be stuck as nothing more than friends?<br/><br/>In keeping with the stellar execution of “When Our Stars Aligned,” the first book in the Starboard Beach series, “Counting the Stars” has delivered another adorable, hilarious love story with just the barest hint of bittersweet undertones. You don’t need to have read book one, as these are interconnected standalones focusing on each couple. <br/><br/>The characters are delightful. Alex, our MMC, is so sweet and absolutely embodies golden retriever energy. Bonus points for fulfilling that ‘unreasonably attractive firefighter’ trope, and even more for being completely hilarious. The sheer number of proctologist euphemisms in this book had me howling. Gabby, our FMC, is the perfect fit for the MMC. Determined and intelligent, she can hold her own against Alex’s clowning around. The dynamic between the two is adorable, and it fits perfectly with the rest of the crew. //accompaniment, enhancement, complement<br/><br/>The focus here is the characters, so there’s not a ton of extra world building, but Starboard Beach still sounds like an absolutely magical place. It’s got local hangouts, hidden gem locations, and just enough size to give its residents some breathing room. Somehow, this vibe permeates the rest of the story, providing a comforting, cozy vibe to a sweet love story.<br/><br/>This story is a wonderful addition to anyone’s literary lineup— it’s just the right length to get invested in the story without becoming a massive time commitment, and the plot is entertaining and engaging without requiring a ton of extra mental load. If you’re looking for a fun, low spice contemporary love story set in a quietly magical place, this is one you should definitely check out.<br/><br/>"
Bevin West