Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone

We've heard of the Mercury 7, the brave men who trained to become the first US Astronauts. The men who put aside their fear of dying, to test out new methodologies that would propel us into space before the Russians.

These men are heroes.
But the story we don't often hear is the story of Mercury 13, as equally heroic group of people who were campaigning not only for the US to be the first in space, but for equal rights. The year was 1958 and it was very clear, from the tone set by the nation that a woman's place was in the home. Sure, during the Great Wars women had taken important roles such as flying and helping build machinery, but everyone knew that (white, middle class) women were the fairer sex and should be relegated to more genteel roles.

The Mercury 13 didn't like that portrait, so they shook things up. To begin, they took the same physical and mental tests that the men of Mercury 7 took. They competed on the exact same level...and even excelled. Next, they lobbied in Washington for recognition and for approval.
Despite fighting other women, set notions for the time period, and Washington Brass, these women pushed past barriers and paved the way for the future.

(pilot Jerrie Cobb, leader of the Mercury 13)

The story of the Mercury 13 Women could be perceived as a sad tale...despite all of the good that they did, they ultimately ran up against prejudice and discrimination that would not be changed...at least not for awhile. However, this tale could also be perceived as a victory. Because of what these brave women did, challenging all types of preconceived notions and barriers, they did change what happened next. Because of their hard work, minorities and women eventually began to pilot their own planes and, ultimately, command a spacecraft.

These women weren't ever able to pilot those military crafts themselves, but because of the work that they did, today things are different.

Tanya Lee Stone creates an easy to read biography/historical revelation with her latest non-fiction work. I was as intrigued with the text as I was with the numerous photos that were included. What these women went through was amazing. Yeah for them!!!

I love being a librarian, but it is GREAT to know that, if I wanted to, I could be the captain of a space shuttle. :)
Thank you, remarkable ladies of Mercury 13!!!