To the Moon!

January 1, 2018
In this account of the Apollo 8 flight, astronaut Frank Borman and his crewmates take the first manned trip around the moon at the height of the 1960s space race.With the assistance of Shamir, Kluger introduces readers to the central figure, Frank Borman, as a boy with dreams of flying who becomes a groundbreaking astronaut. Though there were earlier flights, the book begins with the Gemini 7 and includes all missions through Apollo 8. The pacing until the Apollo flights is slow, but the fascinating details about eating, sleeping, and taking care of business while in space will keep readers turning pages. The co-authors thoughtfully and naturally explain unfamiliar concepts such as how rockets launch and what makes them fly. The writing is best when exploring the people behind the history--the astronauts' families, friendships, and sorrow at the loss of the Apollo 1 crew--but these compelling details are too few. Similarly, the narrative paints an incomplete picture of the 1960s, with only brief mentions of the civil rights movement, anti-war protests, and the Cold War. Though the tone overall is matter-of-fact, there are a few beautiful, poetic lines. The epilogue is a romantic ode to the space race with reminders of its remarkable legacy. In an author's note, Kluger briefly describes his process and sources, but there is no formal bibliography.This detailed account of a lesser-known space flight varies in narrative quality but does just enough to draw in readers who grew up well after the space race. (photographs, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

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February 1, 2018

Gr 5-9-Kluger provides an appealing and informative account of the first mission to circle the moon. While preparing for a different mission, astronaut Frank Borman received a call wherein he was told he will be orbiting the moon. The book then delves into a detailed account of the preparation and the exciting mission itself. Readers learn of the astronauts' impression of the moon, the beautiful and significant photograph of Earth they were able to take-the famous Earthrise-and their transmitted reading from the Book of Genesis. The human angle is also presented as the personal lives of the astronauts-Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders-and the trials of their anxious families are recounted. Black-and-white photos of the astronauts and the spaceships are included. VERDICT This engaging work will appeal to those with a keen interest in America's space program who have enjoyed other books on the topic, such as Andrew Chaikin's Mission Control, This Is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon.-Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Grades 6-9 In 1968, astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders were training for their mission to orbit Earth when they learned that their planned flight had been changed. With only 16 weeks to prepare, they would be circling the moon instead. This young readers edition of Kluger's Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon (2017) briefly traces Borman's career, before focusing on those 16 weeks of specialized training and the memorable six-day journey. Full of details, this account of the astronauts' experiences gives readers the sense that they're along for the ride, keenly aware of the physical challenges of space flight, but sharing moments of awestruck wonder as well. After explaining the backdrop of the Space Race, Kluger tells the main story with a good balance of technological details and human-interest narratives, including the scenes of the astronauts' families during the long, tense days between liftoff and splashdown. Illustrations (some not seen) include photos and diagrams. An engaging, informative account of the Apollo 8 mission.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)