The story of four African-American womenKatherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Christine Dardenwho worked as mathematicians and engineers at NASA during a time of racial segregation and gender discrimination. The book is set against the backdrop of World War II, the Cold War, and the Space Race, as the U.S. competed with the Soviet Union to be the first to send humans into space. These women, known as "human computers," played a crucial role in the development of the technology and calculations that helped launch astronauts into orbit and ultimately to the moon. Despite facing significant obstacles, including segregation laws, limited professional opportunities, and the challenges of working in a male-dominated field, the women persevered and made groundbreaking contributions to science and engineering. Katherine Johnson, for instance, calculated the trajectory for John Glenns orbit around the Earth in 1962, while Dorothy Vaughan became NASAs first African-American supervisor, and Mary Jackson overcame barriers to become NASAs first black female engineer. The book highlights not only their achievements but also the broader struggles of African-Americans and women during this period in history, showing how these brilliant women shattered stereotypes and contributed to one of the most significant achievements in human historythe success of the U.S. space program. The story is one of perseverance, courage, and the pursuit of excellence, emphasizing the importance of diversity and the power of intellect in the face of adversity.

 

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book is aimed at children in preschool-3rd grade.

This book has been graded for interest at 4-8 years.

There are 368 pages in this book. This book was published in 2018 by HarperCollins .

Laura Freeman has illustrated many books, including ten about the kids of Carver Elementary. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia. www. freemanart. com Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in her book Hidden Figures. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Laura Freeman received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and began her career illustrating for various editorial clients. Laura has illustrated many fine children's books over the years, including Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe, written by Deborah Blumenthal, and the Coretta Scott King Honor book Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, by Margot Lee Shetterly. Laura now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and their two children. Find out more about Laura at www. lfreemanart. com.