Description: What does it truly take to leave Earth? This illustrated guide reveals the bone-shaking reality, intense training, and deep science behind the dream of becoming a real-life astronaut. The honest story for every kid who looks at the stars and wonders.
Brief description: Linda Soules is the author and creator of the So You Want To Be A... series, a growing collection of career-exploration books for readers ages 8-14. The series covers everything from astronauts and marine biologists to magicians, stunt performers, and roller coaster designers. Her philosophy is straightforward: never talk down to kids. Young readers are smarter, more curious, and more capable than the publishing world often gives them credit for, and they deserve books that respect their intelligence while genuinely sparking their enthusiasm. Each title is written to pull back the curtain on a real career - its joys, its challenges, the path to get there - and to leave readers with the sense that the world is wider, more interesting, and more reachable than they imagined. Before turning to children's publishing, Linda spent twenty-five years in law and finance, advising hedge funds and sophisticated financial institutions on complex regulatory matters - a career that taught her precision, discipline, and how to translate intricate subjects into language anyone can use. She brings that same clarity and care to every book she writes, paired with a deep belief that curiosity is the engine of a meaningful life. Linda lives in Seattle with her husband and two children, where the steady rhythm of family life, the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and the questions her own kids ask every day continue to fuel her work. Additional information can be found on her website at http: //lindasoules.com.
Review Quotes:
"An inspiring yet balanced guide for children contemplating their dream career in space.... Her conversational tone fosters a connection with individual readers while still exuding enthusiasm, understanding, and belief."
- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The scope of information Soules provides is extensive but not overwhelming, covering nuts-and-bolts concerns like the mechanics of spacesuits, the fascinating novelty of weightlessness, and the emotional hardship of leaving loved ones behind for months at a time."
- BookLife Reviews (Publishers Weekly)
"Exceptionally informative, deftly crafted, nicely illustrated, thoroughly 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation... an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for family, elementary school, middle school, and community library Jobs/Careers collections."
- Children's Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review
"Author Linda Soules has clearly researched her subject fully, but never allows that research to weigh down the content, illustrating she knows the attention span of her audience well. A highly recommended introduction to a world of possibilities beyond our own."
- C.R. Hurst, Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars
"Linda Soules writes as if she is beside a kid at the window: the dream is real, the work is hard, the sky still calls. For a child who already looks up at night, this is a grounded companion."
- BookBelow
"The illustrations throughout the book are exceptional, as they are throughout every book in Linda Soules' So You Want To Be A... series."
- Thomas Anderson, Editor in Chief, Literary Titan, 5 Stars