End of Women's History Month: Almost Astronauts

Women were considered to be "cheaper" to send to space - but they couldn't pass the requirements to allow them into the program. There were several women who desperately wanted to be allowed into space. NASA refused. Men underwent strenuous testing that women couldn't possibly endure. Except that they did. With one man behind the idea - he tested Jerrie Cobb in secret. She knew that she had to be tough; she never complained and furthermore she excelled at the tests. Twenty-four other women were tested - half of them passed. But they were told by NASA and the government that women would not be accepted into the space program. For one reason: they did not perform the requirements. The requirement (waived for John Glenn) consisted of flying for the army - an option only available to men. NASA did not change the rule until 20 years later. By that time, it was too late for the Mercury 13 to pursue their dreams. But they watched other women lead men into space; it was both bittersweet and a long time coming. 

My Thoughts:  I had never heard of this story before; it was a real eye opener. I devoured this book. It was amazing. I've never been so interested in space before. I loved hearing about the secret cover-ups and shocking tales from NASA. The history combined with personal tales and dreams from the Mercury 13 made for a very powerful and emotional read.

While we take March to celebrate Women, it's something that we should celebrate daily. Here's to all the women who have gone before us making it possible for us to be who we are today. We could have never been here without you!

Lisa McMann

Cabel dreams horrifying dreams from his past, but he also cares about Janie. She knows this - not because she talks with him as Cabel is a loner - but because she falls into his dreams. Janie's not normal. Somehow, she stumbles into other people's dreams. At first it scares her. She doesn't sleep much a her first slumber party and she tries to get her mother not to fall asleep on the couch. But lately, it's been worse. People are around her are falling asleep and dreaming at school and at her work. She's trying to figure how what's going on, but she doesn't have anyone she can trust. One night at work, a patient dies, but not before Janie discovers her true powers - she's a dream catcher. She has the ability to help people in their dreams - find calmness and uncover hidden truths. Using her dreams, Janie teams up with Cabel and the police dept. to help solve crimes.

It's a romantic thrilled chocked full of danger and tension. A teen at the library recommended this book to me. I took it home and once I opened it, I was hooked. It's so good if should come with a warning: Don't open it if you don't have time to finish it.


Janie and Cabel are trying to find a way for their relationship to work. It's hard keeping it a secret at school, especially when the dreams are getting worse. By now, Janie's learning to control them. She can pull herself out of most dreams, unless their too intense. She can pause and rewind them. All of the dreaming is leaving her exhausted. But there's work to do. An anonymous call to the police dept. leaves them curious about a potential student/teacher relationship. Once again, Janie goes uncover flirting with teachers trying to get a better read on what's lurking beneath the surface. While she knows she's doing something right, hanging out with these teachers makes her skin crawl. Is there something sinister happened here and if so, can Janie find it before she gets in too deep?

The sequel left me breathless. All I can think about it the next book and what it will bring. And mostly how far away Spring 2010 seems (which is when Gone appears). You know it's an addicting series when readers clamor for the next book immediately following the latest. Still...waiting is hard. I finished this book in day, almost late to work because I didn't want to put it down. It's very similar in style to the first book - but the danger is greater and the secrets revealed are much bigger.

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Sarah-Land

In celebration of Along for the Ride Sarah Dessen's latest novel, there's a new community for her readers. She's posting videos and holding contests and all sorts of stuff. Check it out and don't forget to add me as a friend!

Flair Friday

People have been chatting about the poster photos on the Leaky Cauldron and looking forward to the movie so I decided to make some flair from some of the promotional picture. There's a little hard to see because of the background, but still fun.

Shrieking Violets: 25 Butt-kicking Babes

Here's a listing of women EW claims as Women who Rock and kick butt. There are women I'm not familiar with on the list. And there are places I disagree. I love that Buffy ranks as the top choice, but I think that Jennifer Garner's Sydney Bristow ranks way higher than 11.

Take a look at the list and see what you think

Meg Cabot and Michele Jaffe

Read our LIPS
These two fun YA authors answer advice from their readers

Moonlight

Kayla thinks she's stumbled onto a great summer job - with people she connected with last summer. Right now, she's the newbie and can't wait to start pulling her weight. She's hoping to figure out some deep dark issues hidden under the surface about her past - the murder of her parents in the very woods she'll be working in this summer.
She can't help but feel Lucas's eyes on her. She knows that he's older, but she can't help crushing over him anyways. What she doesn't realize, but soon begins to unravel, is that Lucas isn't like other boys. In fact, the townspeople are exactly normal. They mate for life at the age of seventeen - Kayla's birthday marks the beginning of a trip. She has no idea what's going on around her, but with a group of scientists heading into the woods in hopes of catching a legendary werewolf, she's about to find out. What she discovers leaves her as breathless as when she discovers she's head over heels for Lucas.

Moonlight is slightly different than Rachel Hawthorne's other novels. While both have romance, this darker series plays with the supernatural. Werewolves seems to be on the verge of becoming the new vampires in YA Lit. This is not a series to miss. Hawthorne expertly weaves romance with supernatural and cloaks them with danger.

This book is the first of three, but each book centrals on a different girl in the pack. The next book, out in June, will star Lindsey:


And the last, out in August, will star Brittany: