Racing the Moon

An adventurous new work from Newbery Honor-Winning author, Alan Armstrong.

In the spring of 1947, outer space was an unexplored realm. But eleven year-old Alexis (Alex) Heart and her impulsive brother, Chuck, believe that the stars are within reach. In the midst of building their own rocket, Alex befriends Captain Ebbs, and an army scientist who is working to create food for future space travelers, and who is also a descendent of Captain John Smith. Alex soon introduces Chuck to her new friend, and the trio's shared interest in space travel sets off a series of adventures that the three will never forget. From meeting pioneering German rocket scientist Dr. Wenher von Braun, and a thrilling sailing trip down the Potomac to an island on the Chesapeake where a top secret rocket launch is about to take place, Alex and Chuck are about to have their lives forever changed.

Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2012:
Inspired by the real Joan Cotton Ebbs, this chronicle of sibling aeronautical aspiration and misadventure provides a peek at the post-World War II U.S. space program. High-flying adventure grounded in reality.

Publishers Weekly, April 30, 2012:
A lively historical adventure with ready appeal to space enthusiasts and those with an appetite for adventure.

Booklist, June 1, 2012:
Armstrong (with the help of Jessell’s spot art) captures the essence of youthful pluck, and Chuck’s determination to learn at all costs is something that readers can admire.

ALAN ARMSTRONG liked to read books such as Captains Courageous, Kim, and Treasure Island. As an adult he has worked as a lawyer, a traveling bookseller, and an author of books about children who are put to the test. Moon Girl is his fourth book for children. His first, Whittington, was awarded a Newberry Honor in 2006. He live in Massachusetts with his wife, Martha, a painter.