Life Clothing - Shop now
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
Buy new:
-15% $15.29
FREE delivery Saturday, January 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$15.29 with 15 percent savings
List Price: $17.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, January 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Thursday, January 16. Order within 1 hr 8 mins.
In Stock
$$15.29 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.29
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$11.92
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Nice clean copy with no highlighting or writing. We take pride in our accurate descriptions. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Nice clean copy with no highlighting or writing. We take pride in our accurate descriptions. Satisfaction Guaranteed. See less
FREE delivery Saturday, January 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, January 17. Order within 1 hr 8 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$15.29 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.29
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson Hardcover – July 2, 2019

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,020 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$15.29","priceAmount":15.29,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"15","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"29","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"5IpmPwWns%2FhlZeCzvH5ecf0VrqNZQ5BUdLKMm0qTjScJ%2Bxmb3KntRkEilXQPoAaKn%2BxLLn5QRbV%2BV4H9YtmRY5i1CY4Eqflf%2Bos1%2Bp9hl3nbPlSw2ApqX30tOXaJ3u8qJ8AY2t9EPlt4gQwNZmW6AQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$11.92","priceAmount":11.92,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"92","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"5IpmPwWns%2FhlZeCzvH5ecf0VrqNZQ5BUYgA5WEFLaz3rqBNB1Q0BNKfQJBOgci5xionc4OkKDPfDMwqneKQ2TZCn%2FHk%2BuUt3n%2B9biq5aBrTeW%2Bqzu2dQY%2Fx%2FJqetmV3RQPCpv5Oqiv%2BqBn5qEKWHM0LGQKGy0WXyRrA6M13%2Bc8RonRO%2FCCR2HlkRBXaScaee","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019

“This rich volume is a national treasure.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Captivating, informative, and inspiring…Easy to follow and hard to put down.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.

As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex equations with the support of a professor who saw great promise in her. But ability and opportunity did not always go hand in hand. As an African American and a girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges. Still, she lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.”

In the early 1950s, Katherine was thrilled to join the organization that would become NASA. She worked on many of NASA’s biggest projects including the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the moon.

Katherine Johnson’s story was made famous in the bestselling book and Oscar-nominated film
Hidden Figures. Now in Reaching for the Moon she tells her own story for the first time, in a lively autobiography that will inspire young readers everywhere.
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Frequently bought together

This item: Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson
$15.29
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jan 18
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$15.49
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jan 18
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$14.75
Get it Jan 23 - 29
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by Niki's Variety Items.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

* “Johnson artfully weaves in the heart of how African American communities have survived and advanced—through "self-help and sacrificing" for the next generation. Her writing style is comfortable and conversational, like a visit over tea that you wish would never end. From a long-lived American legend, this rich volume is a national treasure.” -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “Johnson’s story is captivating, informative, and inspiring. She neatly and accurately weaves in significant historical events that had profound effects on our country and the African American community, including the murder of Emmett Till, lunch counter sit-ins, and school integration. Larger ideas such as white supremacy are broken down with ease for younger readers. . . . Johnson’s story is easy to follow and hard to put down. Highly recommended for purchase in any school library.” -- School Library Journal, starred review

“[Johnson’s] loose narrative style feels conversational, which will draw in readers, and an interesting afterword compares the movie
Hidden Figures to her actual experience. . . . Kids will be excited to learn more about her journey.” -- Booklist

“Alternately warmly personal and coolly observant, Johnson is always clear in her explanations. Black-and-white photos illustrate this highly accessible memoir by a groundbreaking woman.” -- Publishers Weekly

“In this most authentic, highly personal account, Katherine writes her own story at the age of 100! . . . Katherine’s intelligent, softly confident voice helps readers get to know her personally. Johnson makes her own story available for tweens, hoping to inspire the next generation to always do their best.” -- School Library Connection

“Johnson’s writing is clear, warm, and candid, and she smoothly weaves in details about Plessy v. Ferguson, the Ku Klux Klan, Emmett Till, etc., to give context for her—and her family’s—personal experiences with segregation and racism. Humble and inspiring.” -- The Horn Book

About the Author

Katherine Johnson (1918–2020) was a former NASA mathematician whose work was critical to the success of many of their initiatives, including the Apollo program and the start of the Space Shuttle program. Throughout her long career she received numerous awards, including the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Barack Obama.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atheneum Books for Young Readers (July 2, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1534440836
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1534440838
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1040L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - Kindergarten
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.98 x 5.79 x 8.54 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,020 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Katherine Johnson
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
1,020 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and inspiring. They appreciate the intelligence and insight into a brilliant mathematical mind from this biography. The writing style is well-written and easy to understand, making it suitable for young readers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

25 customers mention "Readability"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and recommend it. They say it's better than the movie and well worth purchasing.

"...Really good book" Read more

"Better than then movie. Easy read. I highly recommend it." Read more

"A great book...." Read more

"...I found it heartwarming. Books are better." Read more

17 customers mention "Intelligence"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the insight into a brilliant mathematical mind and history. The book is described as an easy read about an inspiring woman.

"Good book to learn about her." Read more

"...More than what was mentioned. A remarkable lady and US citizen!" Read more

"...I wanted to read what Mrs Johnson had to say herself. She is an inspiring woman. People of all races can learn so much from her." Read more

"...Filled with love, care, and an importance for education, this book will remain a classic till the end of time." Read more

14 customers mention "Inspiration"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and heartwarming. They describe it as a well-written story about Katherine's life journey. The book is described as interesting and informative, and readers appreciate its message of perseverance and hard work.

"...All in all, it was inspirational, sorrowful and humbling. Would Recommend" Read more

"...that works for NASA yet I was still inspired and humbled by the beautiful journey of Katherine's life...." Read more

"Lively, chatty, vivacious and swift, Mark Carroll's memoir goes by quickly and that may be its only fault – there isn't more of it...." Read more

"Touching, dreadful, and graceful, the concepts of Katherine G. Johnson's life are still as important and interesting as ever...." Read more

9 customers mention "Literacy"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book accessible for young readers. They say it's great for upper elementary and early middle school readers. Readers also mention it's inspiring for young women to read and learn a lot about history.

"I just finished Reaching for the Moon. It is a young adult book, but has rather deep subjects (racism, lynching, separate and not equal, etc) so I..." Read more

"...This book is written in a way that is approachable for young readers, but the glimpse you get is wonderful no matter what your age...." Read more

"...Not only was it inspiring for a young woman to read, but I also learned a lot about history from this book...." Read more

"...for myself,because it’s great to Celebrate women, who were Blessed with intelligence and Especially an African American woman, who Contributed to..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and easy to understand. They appreciate the author's words and how the story is told like a conversation.

"...This book is written in a way that is approachable for young readers, but the glimpse you get is wonderful no matter what your age...." Read more

"This book is in the words of the author, like talking to her in person...." Read more

"Well written! Very interesting. Informative." Read more

"A beautifully written read!" Read more

Exceptional book told in her own voice
5 out of 5 stars
Exceptional book told in her own voice
This book is excellent—a much faster read than the YA version of HIDDEN FIGURES so probably more accessible to young readers. (Although a huge shout-out to HF for bringing Katherine’s Johnson’s name the public recognition it so deserves!!) I love how Johnson’s story is set against the background of the Civil Rights movement happening over the course of her extraordinary 101 year lifetime. It gives a context for what was happening at a macro level (but in a very clear and easy-to-follow way) and how the greater struggle of Black Americans intersected with Johnson’s life, career, and that of her family members. I read through this book in a day (it is only about 200 pages and I couldn’t put it down) and learned so much from her perspective and her voice. This book feels *exceptionally* timely right now during the surging Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 and sets our current times in the context of the greater struggle. Highly recommend for readers young and old!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2019
    I just finished Reaching for the Moon. It is a young adult book, but has rather deep subjects (racism, lynching, separate and not equal, etc) so I am not sure how young a reader you would let read this. I would think it would take a lot of discussion.

    One paragraph really bothered me. It is inaccurate, but Mrs. Johnson is over 100 years old. At the time of Pearl Harbor, she was a young mother living in West Virginia. Maybe this means more (to me) because I lived in Pearl City when I was very young.

    "On December 7, 1941, Japanese kamikazi fighter planes , dive bombers, and torpedo bombers attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The Japanese destroyed or damaged three Navy cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship and a minelayer, leading our nation into World War II. One hundred eighty-eight US aircraft were destroyed.”

    1) There weren't kamikazi pilots at this point in the conflict/war.
    2) What about the 4 battleships that were sunk and the 4 that were badly damaged? (Battleships are bigger than cruisers and cruisers are bigger than destroyers)
    3) According to Wikipedia, not the best source but quick, 188 planes were destroyed and 159 were damaged. There were an additional 3 ships destroyed or damaged.
    4) I felt she should have mentioned how lucky we were that the carriers (fleet carriers are bigger than battleships) were at sea when the attack happened so we were able to fight back.

    Minor - but it took me out of the mood.

    Still a book I would recommend with the understanding that you are going to have to have a discussion with the children reading it.
    24 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
    Good book to learn about her.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2022
    Although the book did talk about Katherine working at NASA and her contributions to the launch and landing coordinates, the book mainly focused on her personal life and how racism looked during the early to late 1900s. And also showing how that discrimination affected her and her loved ones. She also spoke about her love for math and where it started.
    All in all, it was inspirational, sorrowful and humbling. Would Recommend
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
    John Glenn wanted her to do the math for his space flight even through the computer had done it, he wanted her to do it manually. She worked Gor NASA 33 years. Her life was amazing she started at NASA in the age of segregation, she was in a pool of all black women mathematicians who were called " computers " in the 1950's . she was awarded a Presidential award for her amazing work to get a man on the moon. Really good book
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2024
    A need to read book if you love the movie "Hidden Figures".
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020
    About 80% of this book talks solely about racism in the South during her lifetime, which was huge, but I would have like to have heard more details Bout her NASA work projects. More than what was mentioned. A remarkable lady and US citizen!
    15 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2024
    Bought as gift very happy recipient
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2020
    I'm a woman that works for NASA yet I was still inspired and humbled by the beautiful journey of Katherine's life. It all too easy for those of us living in the 21st century to forget the challenges of the early 20th century. This book is written in a way that is approachable for young readers, but the glimpse you get is wonderful no matter what your age. Every child should read this book because it is an example of the real American heros that make this country GREAT.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Kindle-klant
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 23, 2024
    I love the movie Hidden Figures and wanted to read more about the women that are central in the movie.
    This is a biography about Katherine Johnson and it was very interesting to learn more about her life. Her work at NASA was a much smaller part in the book then expected, but I loved learning about her personal life and the time in which she lived.
  • Jonathan McLaren
    5.0 out of 5 stars Joyful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 12, 2024
    Although targeted at a young audience, this book is just brimming with joy, it is suitable for any age.
  • Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super
    Reviewed in France on July 4, 2024
    Très bonne lecture. Je recommande
  • Viviane de Lyra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rapidez no envio
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 30, 2021
    Excelente!
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Splendido libro
    Reviewed in Italy on November 21, 2020
    Splendido libro da leggere con calma e concentrazione