Hello All!
August already. It goes faster and faster every year! Color Guard started yesterday!
Today's review is of Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars. Many of you have read Hidden Figures or seen the movie. There are many more women who worked behind the scenes as "computers" for JPL and NASA! This book explores the personal and professional lives of some of the first women to work in the field.
This took me a LONG time to get through. There is a LOT of science and math stuff that went right over my head (and I like science and math, but it's been a while since I've used Calculus!). In addition, there are many women whose lives intersect, and I had to go back a few times to keep them all straight.
A few pointed reminders:
Pregnancy was once a fireable condition. There was no maternity leave and there were no protections to keep a woman from losing her job after her pregnancy became public or visible. Many of them hid things as best they could simply to continue working at a job they loved.
It was acceptable to ask if you like Black or Latino people before being hired. In this case, JPL had Black and Latina computers, so they were asking to make sure you did or you WOULDN'T be hired, but still.
Dementia does not discriminate. It can come for any race, any gender, and any level of mathematical ability. That part was hard to read, having personal family experience with it.
Find this back on the shelves soon! And by soon, I mean Wednesday the 21st. My Color Guard Captains, Mrs. Plumey, and I will be hard at work on the 21st to get all the books back on the shelves. Anything we don't finish, Coach Viani, Ms. Mileski, and Mrs. Tremblay will help me tackle Friday the 23rd. I've seen newer pictures. It's GORGEOUS!
See you soon!
