docshards 's review for:

Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars by Nathalia Holt

3.0

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I enjoyed this book, but was distracted by the narrative style, which seemed to bounce around a lot, and not always in a logical way. While I certainly appreciated learning about the personal and professional challenges these women faced, the writing surrounding the women's family lives and bodies was sometimes awkward. There were a lot of descriptions of dresses clinging to curves and fingers running along pantyhose, for example. I think this was done to highlight the fact they were still feminine (a common stereotype about women in the sciences is that we aren't feminine and don't take care of our looks), which I appreciate in theory. In execution, however, it just came across as unnecessary. I would have rather read more about the science, their friendships, or how they actually navigated what we now call "work life balance" than what lipstick color someone wore or how their diet made them gain weight.

All in all, worth the read, but don't expect it to be life changing. Consider it an introduction to the lives of the women who changed our universe and the way we see it for the better.