Disaster Strikes! by Jeffrey Kluger - ESSENTIAL

Disaster Strikes! The Most Dangerous Space Missions of All Time by Jeffrey Kluger, 218 pages. NON-FICTION. Philomel Books (Penquin), 2019, $19.

Language: PG (2 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Space can be beautiful and terrible, peaceful yet deadly.  This book tells the story of disasters in space during the height of the space race from both Russian and American astronauts.  Some disasters were averted and while some ended tragically. There are twelve chapters, each with a photo and the name of the craft involved. 

This book was an intense read with well-chosen details, so I learned something new even from stories I knew, but they were succinct.  The dialogue comes directly from transcripts and recordings and is well researched. The result is a fascinating look at ingenuity, courage, and what it must be like to face the most amazing yet terrifying journey of a lifetime.  This is a riveting must-read for anyone who has ever wanted to be an astronaut or been fascinated by the vastness of space.   

Michelle in the Middle, Teacher