Earthrise

Starred review from January 1, 2025
The inspiring and dramatic story of how one of the most powerful photos of all time came to be. In his customary witty, well-informed way, Marcus offers a frank and coherent account of the space race, starting with an explanation of howSputnik and the other early achievements of the Soviet space program kicked off a frantic scramble by the U.S. to catch up. NASA "morphed almost overnight into a high-profile, super-cool New Frontier operation staffed by whip-smart rocket scientists and clean-cut, highly trained All-American space cowboys." Among the latter was Bill Anders, who snapped the iconic photo on Christmas Eve, 1968, as theApollo 8 mission rounded the moon on the fourth of its 10 orbits. That photo--turned sideways so the lunar surface would be more comfortably horizontal--created an instant sensation; the author argues persuasively that its depiction of our fragile, floating planet not only became a symbol of Earth Day and the environmental movement, but also profoundly changed (and continues to change) "the way people understand their place in the universe." Contemporary photos of astronauts, rockets, book covers, presidents, and marching protesters effectively convey senses of both the tumultuous historical context and the heady excitement of those early ventures into space. Along with overviews of the later lives of Anders and his two fellow crew members, the author closes with a moving reflection thatApollo's legacies are not only scientific and technological, but human as well. Provocative and thoughtful--rich in period details and timeless insights. (bibliography, source notes, index)(Nonfiction. 11-14)

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Starred review from January 1, 2025
Grades 7-9 *Starred Review* Earthrise, a color photograph taken on December 24, 1968, is one of the most powerful, memorable photos in human history. The photographer, Bill Anders, was one of three astronauts circling the moon during NASA's Apollo 8 mission. Anders' background was in nuclear engineering rather than the arts, but the three Apollo 8 crew members were the first people ever to see Earth while circling the moon, and the sight of the planet moved them. Today the photo continues to move people with its view of Earth rising above the moon's horizon. Many credit the photo with inspiring the environmental movement and Earth Day. Marcus leads readers through the history of space exploration, beginning with the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik satellites, America's slow response, President Kennedy's determined speech, and NASA's follow-though. America's space program began during a period of political controversy and social unrest, fear, and violence. Marcus weaves those themes into a very readable history of the era, creating a useful backdrop for twenty-first-century readers intrigued by Earthrise and America's space program through the Apollo 8 mission. A highly respected historian, writer, and speaker on children's-literature-related topics, Marcus, who grew up in the era discussed and understands its complex history, presents the Earthrise story with clarity and insight.

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March 1, 2025

Gr 6 Up-A deep dive into the history of space exploration and travel leading up to the Apollo 8 mission to orbit the moon. The book's title comes from the iconic photo of the Earth taken on that voyage in 1968. This text-heavy tome is loaded with historical facts and stories from the origins of the space race to the training, planning, and mistakes associated with space missions. The text flows well and is easy to read, though due to the density of information, only the most devoted space enthusiasts will endeavor to read the book in its entirety. Black-and-white photos are used throughout depicting important people and events in space exploration. Young readers will enjoy seeing the rudimentary space suits that now resemble modern children's costumes. Though the book indicates its primary focus is the Earthrise photo, it takes 80 pages to get to the beginning of the Apollo 8 mission where the photo was taken. The latter half touches on the effects of the photos of Earth taken from space, as well as the trajectory of space travel from Apollo 8 to the present. VERDICT This book presents compelling information about the history of space travel and the Earthrise image but may struggle to compete with highly colorful, image-rich space books.-Jessica Trafton

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