Keenly aware that her experience was not the usual one of an African-American child growing up in segregated West Virginia, Johnson credits her parents with making strategic moves and personal sacrifices to assure all their children graduated from college, and if her own talent for languages and math propelled her through school ahead of schedule, it was family determination that made the critical difference. Johnson may be best known for her contribution to the Apollo mission as a mathematician, performing pre-computer calculations of the trajectories that would guide spacecraft to the Moon and back, but she has many more stories to tell, particularly about the historical context in which she pursued her education and established a satisfying, decades-long career. –Melissa Lambert, Trenton Public Schools, MI Highly recommended for purchase in any school library. VERDICT While the chapters are a little lengthy for the intended audience, Johnson’s story is easy to follow and hard to put down. Larger ideas such as white supremacy are broken down with ease for younger readers. She neatly and accurately weaves in significant historical events that had profound effects on our country and the African American community, including the murder of Emmett Till, lunch counter sit-ins, and school integration. Johnson’s story is captivating, informative, and inspiring. This autobiography chronicles her personal life, from growing up in a tight-knit family of six to having three children of her own, as well as her professional accomplishments and her career at NASA. She went on to work at and retire from NASA as a mathematician. Her first job out of college was as a schoolteacher. She surpassed her older siblings in grade level, math courses were created for her because she was not challenged enough, and she graduated from West Virginia State at the age of 18 with a degree in mathematics and French. Despite growing up in a time of extreme racism and sexism, Johnson not only persevered-she flourished. School Library Journal, starred review, July 1, 2019įrom a very young age, Johnson excelled as a student.
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