Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Katherine Johnson made significant contributions to NASA’s space program and yet, it has taken close to 50 years for that story to be shared with our youngest readers.  The final line of this book “She was now a star herself.” rings somewhat untrue to me.  She was still living in a time with extreme bias against her, doubly because she was a woman of color.  In the author’s note, it is indicated that she never liked to take credit because everyone worked as a team, but I think she has been deserving of credit for years and yet she was instead a “hidden figure.”  I’m glad that Helaine Becker and Dow Phumirik are bringing Johnson’s story to our youngest readers in such beautiful fashion.  I find her story inspiring as an adult and I hope that our young readers can appreciate the incredible ways in which Katherine Johnson worked to break down barriers in her field.

@helainebecker

@dowphumirik

Title: Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Author: Helaine Becker

Illustrator: Dow Phumirik

ISBN: 978-1-250-13752-4

Published 2018 by Christy Ottaviano Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.