posted 01-07-2013 10:22 AM               

In 1978, Sally Ride, a PhD candidate at Standford University, responded to a newspaper ad to join the US astronaut program. She was accepted and became the first American woman astronaut to fly in space! Among her other accomplishments, she played tennis like a professional, was an astrophysicist who helped develop a robotic arm for space shuttles, and later, through Sally Ride Science, worked to make science cool and accessible for girls. Sally Ride, who died on July 23, 2012, will continue to inspire young children.

Megan Stine is the author of many books for young girls, from books about TV celebrities to historical fiction and biographies.

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
  
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (May 16, 2013)
  
• ISBN-10: 0448466872
  
• ISBN-13: 978-0448466873