Mae Jemison

Children's Literature

Mae Jemison is a role model by any measure. A woman of diverse interests such as dance, science, travel and social work, she most notably became the first African-American woman selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1987. As a young girl, she dreamed of traveling to outer space while also participating on her school's cheerleading squad. After graduating from medical school, she served as a doctor in Sierra Leone and Liberia for the Peace Corps. By the time she applied to NASA's astronaut program, she had already established herself in the field of medicine, but her wanderlust took her to outer space and back. In this inspirational biography, we learn of Mae's journey from childhood that ultimately takes her on this space mission, as well as her experiences aboard the space shuttle, Endeavor. An easy yet informative read, this biography would work well in the classroom and also for pleasure. Eight pages of photos highlight the career of Mae Jemison. 2000, Mondo, $3.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Karen Deans