Girl's Rock: Women in Space is a swift by fair recounting of the achievements of female astronauts throughout history and the world. The book is segmented into three section: The Pioneers, U.S. Women in Space and Tragedy and Triumph. The book opens with the tale of the first woman in space, a Russian cosmonaut. After qualifying that she passed the same tests as the males, the Soviet government admitted her to the space team. Seventeen years later, the US would put their first female astronaut, Sally Ride, into space. There is mention of the Mercury 13. The refusal of the US government to accept women into the program was stated as, "the American government wasn't really ready for the idea of sending women into space." This certainly is a gentle way to word the stance taken by NASA and the government, but the issue of gender inequity will arise once more towards the end of the book. If I were using this book in class I would definitely inquire as to what 'not ready for the idea' meant and the implications of this word choice. However, Jerrie Cobb and her story are specifically noted along with a large photograph of Cobb in a flight suit.
Chapter two goes into depth about Sally Ride and Eileen Collins, reinforcing their mini-biographies with quotes from both women. The final chapter relays some of the tragedies that occurred in the space program. Towards the end of the chapter, the narrative breaks down into bulleted "firsts," then resumes normal narrative structure. The book goes on to say that only one-tenth of people in space have been women.
Ironically, the last paragraph states "For today's girls who want to explore space, the sky is no limit." The sky may not be a limit, but lack of a space program certainly is. While there may be some very small private companies developing space flight, it is almost as if the job of astronaut is no longer a possibility. This is disheartening considering that the Russians in space totally transformed education in the United States, at least in the areas of science and mathematics, for the better. These investments in education paved the way for many women to make advances in traditionally male-dominated fields of study and careers. ( )

Summary:
This book talks about the first people that went into space. Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to go into space. It talks about all the women that went into space and when they joined NASA. It also talked about the tragedy that happened on January 28,1986, when the space shuttle explored.

Personal action:
This book gives a lot of information about the women that went into space. Books like these shows other girls that girls can do everything that males can do. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Classroom Extension:
1. We can read this book when we are doing a lesson on NASA.
2. I have to students research some of the astronauts in the story.

This non-fiction book contains a narrative time-line of the historical advances women have made in the US Space projects, with brief biographies of them. There are several highlights about the "First" women throughout NASA's journey, including Sally Ride part of the Challenger crew.

I was excited when I found this book and the positive message it would send to girls becoming active in space. I was disappointed that there was not more detail and facts about the women in the space program. This book is more of an informational book that biography.

This would be a great book for encouragement of girls participating in space. This would be good for a text set on famous women, famous people, space, and NASA. Students can creat a time line and then record the different dates that spacecraft were launched, as well as historical points achieved in space history: first man in space, firt orbit around earth, first woman in space, etc.