George Mason University renames largest building on campus after former NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson
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Book Reviews
REACHING FOR THE MOON: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NASA MATHEMATICIAN KATHERINE JOHNSON
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“Reading Apollo 11: The Best New Books About the US Moon Landings”
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School Library Journal, starred review, July 1, 2019
From a very young age, Johnson excelled as a student. Despite growing up in a time of extreme racism and sexism, Johnson not only persevered—she flourished. 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. Her first job out of college was as a schoolteacher. She went on to work at and retire from NASA as a mathematician. 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. Johnson’s story is captivating, informative, and inspiring. 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. Larger ideas such as white supremacy are broken down with ease for younger readers. VERDICT While the chapters are a little lengthy for the intended audience, Johnson’s story is easy to follow and hard to put down. Highly recommended for purchase in any school library.
–Melissa Lambert, Trenton Public Schools, MI
BCCB, July/August 2019
Reviewed from galleys
R Gr. 4-7
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. 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. Moreover, everything from fortunate connections, proximity to the space complex at Langley, Virginia, the alignment of her mathematical skills to NACA/NASA’s critical needs, and the support of her first and second husbands played roles in her success. The double challenge of being a Black woman in a white man’s world nonetheless permeates her tale, and launching her career seems as miraculous as launching a rocket. Family and work photographs lend additional intimacy to Johnson’s narration, and her exploration of her portrayal in Hidden Figures will speak to readers who have seen the film. EB