Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Picture book intro to important, inspirational story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
HIDDEN FIGURES: THE TRUE STORY OF FOUR BLACK WOMEN AND THE SPACE RACE tells the story of four African American women -- Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden -- who all worked at NASA in impressive STEM careers against a backdrop of racial discrimination. Vaughn was hired in 1943 as a human "computer," to do complicated calculations before computers were invented. Her work advanced the development of faster airplanes for World War II. She later learned how to program the earliest computers and taught other women of color to program. Mary Jackson also worked as a computer, testing airplanes in wind tunnels. She fought for the right to attend an all-white school to take the courses she needed to become the first African American female engineer at the lab. Katherine Johnson analyzed turbulence and calculated the course rockets traveled through space. Her work was essential for the first manned space flight. Christine Darden worked on NASA's mission to the moon and designed supersonic airplanes.
Is It Any Good?
This wildly inspirational story of four African American women who excelled in STEM careers deserves to be shouted from the rooftops, and this picture book brings it to young readers. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race covers a lot of ground, packing a lot into its few pages. Author Margot Lee Shetterly worked with Winifred Conkling, author of numerous nonfiction picture books, to present simple explanations of complicated historical events and scientific concepts. For instance, to explain segregation, the book says, "She lived in Virginia, a southern state, where laws segregated, or kept apart, black people and white people." It then lists concrete examples: "They could not eat in the same restaurants. They could not drink from the same water fountains." With similar clear and simple language, one woman becomes an engineer designing "supersonic airplanes -- planes flying faster than the speed of sound." And threading the women's stories together is the refrain that each one "was good at math. Really good."
The colorful illustrations by Laura Freeman make the compelling, human story come to life. The women look real in a way that will help kids relate. The art is evocative and emotionally exciting, playing on the inherent drama of the civil rights marches and the excitement of sending humans into space.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the segregation described in Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race. Did you know it was once against the law in the American South for blacks and whites to use the same restroom, go to the same school, or sit at the same table in the lunchroom? How have things changed since then? Are blacks and whites still treated differently?
Do you face discrimination in your own life because of your race or because you're a girl? In what ways did these women challenge discrimination? What could you try?
Are you interested in work that involves science, technology, engineering, or math? What sorts of jobs are available in those fields today?
Book Details
- Authors: Margot Lee Shetterly , Winifred Conkling
- Illustrator: Laura Freeman
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: STEM , Great Girl Role Models , History , Science and Nature
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Harper
- Publication date: January 16, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback
- Award: Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors
- Last updated: January 28, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Read Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate