Shining Star

Written by Suzanne Slade · Illustrated by Susan Reagan

A determined astronomer uncovers dark matter, challenging the universe and societal norms.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 52 ratings

40 pages

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Bookroo's summary

Vera Rubin gazes at the stars, driven by cosmic questions and a passion for discovery. Facing skepticism and barriers, she builds her own telescope and earns degrees in astronomy. Her relentless pursuit leads to the groundbreaking discovery of dark matter, reshaping our understanding of the universe. As she battles sexism, Vera's journey inspires future generations of women scientists. What mysteries will her legacy unravel next?

From the publisher

Pioneering astronomer Vera Rubin discovers dark matter–the mysterious substance that makes up most of the universe–while confronting sexism, and paves the way for future women scientists in this engaging STEM/STEAM picture book biography. From the moment she first looked out her window at the night sky, future astronomer Vera Rubin was star-struck. Her cosmic questions about stars, galaxies, and the universe gave Vera the drive to build her own telescope and earn multiple degrees in astronomy, despite an army of naysayers who thought women shouldn’t reach for the stars. But Vera did reach for the stars. Studying spiral galaxies, she searched the skies all through the night, using telescopes in unheated observatories, some of which barred women until Vera insisted they let her in. And her studies revealed something stellar: evidence for the existence of dark matter, the most mysterious substance in the universe. Today, scientists continue to build off of Vera’s groundbreaking work as they strive to better understand dark matter. A trailblazing scientist, Vera Rubin changed people’s understanding of both the universe and what a woman can do.

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