Man on a Mission

July 1, 2013

Gr 4-7-The title of this autobiographical profile is a triple entendre, as Hilmers not only relates experiences both as a crew member on four space-shuttle flights and a post-NASA career as a pediatrician in multiple poverty-stricken and war-torn countries, but also promotes the central role his Christian faith has played in guiding him through doubts, dangers, and significant life decisions. Interspersing frequent ruminations on his "faith journey," but only rarely even mentioning his family, he takes readers from his Iowa upbringing through his military and astronaut training, flights before and after the Columbia disaster (two of which he coyly notes were classified, but curious readers can consult Wikipedia for details), medical school, and overseas relief missions to, among other locales, Botswana, Haiti, Pakistan, and even North Korea. The stingy assortment of small, murky black-and-white photos depicts Hilmers in a wide variety of settings, and though his steadfastly positive outlook gives the narrative a bland cast, his eventful life and his watchwords-"Did I make a difference?"-make worthy models.-John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2013
Grades 5-8 The story of an astronaut who dreamed of becoming a doctor, this book doesn't advertise its religious content on its front cover. Instead the photo features a smiling Hilmers in the orange launch and entry suit that was designed to protect astronauts after the Challenger explosion. But Hilmers' Christian faith is apparent from the first chapter, as he remembers (via author Houston) that an awe-inspiring view from the shuttle made him aware of how small I really am, and how big God was, is, and always will be. Writing in an accessible, often conversational style, Houston emphasizes Hilmers' hard work and humility. After college, he became an aviator in the Marine Corps and a NASA astronaut before tackling the flat-out grind of medical school. The book doesn't paint Hilmers as a sainthe blames himself for the end of his 30-year marriage, for instancebut as someone who felt the need to be useful to other people. Occasional photos from his life and career finish off this fine package of an extraordinary life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)