In The Shadow of the Moon
| Modern Age |
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 In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race
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American History > Modern Age > Space Race
An exhilarating dive into the secret history of humankind’s race to the moon, from acclaimed author Amy Cherrix. This fascinating and immersive read is perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin’s Bomb and M. T. Anderson’s Symphony for the City of the Dead.
You’ve heard of the space race, but do you know the whole story?
The most ambitious race humankind has ever undertaken was masterminded in the shadows by two engineers on opposite sides of the Cold War—Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi officer living in the US, and Sergei Korolev, a Russian rocket designer once jailed for crimes against his country—and your textbooks probably never told you.
Von Braun became an American hero, recognized the world over, while Korolev toiled in obscurity. These two brilliant rocketeers never met, but together they shaped the science of spaceflight and redefined modern warfare. From Stalin’s brutal Gulag prisons and Hitler’s concentration camps to Cape Canaveral and beyond, their simultaneous quests pushed science—and human ingenuity—to the breaking point.
From Amy Cherrix comes the extraordinary hidden story of the space race and the bitter rivalry that launched humankind to the moon.
Emily's Review
This was a fascinating book. I love when history and science collide. I've read about the moon landing before but didn't know much about the history behind it. This book explores the two men who dominated the space race - Werner Von Braun who was a former Nazi brought to the US through Operation Paperclip, and Sergei Korolev, a Russian rocket designer who had spent time in a Gulag under Stalin's rule. The Soviets obscured Korolev's achievements for decades, while Von Braun, an actual Nazi was honored (even still today) for his contribution to space technology.
The writing was solid and I learned a lot of new information. I knew a little bit about Operation Paperclip, but I hadn't heard of Von Braun. I appreciate the questions this book raised - should we honor someone who has been complicit in terrible things?
This is definitely worth picking up and adding to your children's history studies!
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- The Race to the Moon: An Interactive History Adventure (by: Lassieur, Allison, MG)
- I Love You, Michael Collins (by: Baratz-Logsted, Lauren, MG)
- In The Shadow of the Moon (by: Cherrix, Amy, UMG, YA)