The Space Race: How the Cold War Put Humans on the Moon

Gr 6–8—The author of The Science of Science Fiction is back with another fun-filled, interactive nonfiction title, this time about how the Cold War led the United States to put a man on the moon. Broken up into six chapters, Wood takes readers on a journey from the rise of Communism and the beginning of postwar East/West tensions, until the United States "crosses the finish line" and lands on the moon. This book does an excellent job of making a topic engaging by infusing technology into its pages; there are QR codes that link readers to YouTube and other online media that enhance the information being presented. The text is easy to follow and features comics, photos, "Blast Facts," vocabulary, and summaries that help readers gain a better picture of the historical advances and events leading up to the U.S. missions in space. Each chapter also offers an "Inquire & Investigate" sidebar that would help guide educators to incorporate the book into history or science lessons.