Moon Mission: The Epic 400-Year Journey to Apollo 11

Writing from a compelling second-person perspective that places readers in the Apollo 11 spacecraft (“Rocket engines ignite beneath you”), Brouwer describes the journey from liftoff to moon landing and splashdown. As events unfold aboard the spacecraft, the text engages readers with problem solving: “The side of your capsule that faces the sun will get hot enough to boil your fuel tanks. On the other side, it will get cold enough to freeze the radiators solid.” Throughout, Brouwer discusses the scientific and technological advancements that made the moon landing possible, while photographs show key moments. The immediacy of Brouwer’s prose allows readers to step into Armstrong’s boots: “When your legs are used to a far higher gravity, it feels like no work at all to walk on the moon. And you discover it’s easier to use a bouncing gait, like a kangaroo hop.” Ages 10–14. (May)