Blast Off!

By Suzanne Slade, Sally Wern Comport (Illustrator)

A pioneering woman defies odds to fuel America's space race success.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 197 ratings

48 pages· 1,326 words· Est. 11 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In the 1920s, young Mary Sherman discovers her passion for science on a North Dakota farm. As World War II unfolds, she seizes a rare opportunity to design rocket fuels. When the space race begins, Mary is chosen to develop the fuel for America's first satellite, surpassing her male peers. Her journey of courage and determination breaks barriers and opens new frontiers. Will her groundbreaking work change the course of history?

From the publisher

A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids The inspirational story of Mary Sherman, the world’s first female rocket scientist, who overcame gender barriers and many failures to succeed. Growing up in the 1920s on a dirt-poor farm in North Dakota, Mary Sherman’s life was filled with chores–until she finally began school and discovered she loved to learn. Mary excelled at science, especially chemistry, and leaped at the chance to work in a laboratory during World War II designing rocket fuels. And when the US decided to enter the space race, Mary was chosen over her male colleagues to create the fuel to launch a rocket carrying America’s first satellite. With courage and perseverance, Mary’s hard work and calculations paid off, opening up a brand-new frontier for exploration. This STEM biography of an unsung and courageous woman in science will inspire and motivate young readers.

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