Title: Keeper of the Flame
Author: JoAnn Petrie Carr
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1796031713
Pages: 294
Genre: Fiction/Drama
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

American restauranteur, businessman and philanthropist S. Truett Cathy once said, “We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed, and the important things will not change if we keep our priorities in proper order.” In author JoAnn Petrie Carr’s novel Keeper of the Flame, the author takes her experience as the wife of an Apollo astronaut in the 60’s and brings a feminine viewpoint to the era and life of an astronaut’s wife, examining a changing world where priorities begin to blur for those with a dream.

In this book, the author relates the conflict that brews within protagonist Jennifer, who struggles with her strong independent mindset and the expectations of being an astronaut’s wife in the 60’s. From the pressure of having her actions reflected on her husband Evan’s status on the flight crew to the constant gossip and suspicion of the astronauts “extracurricular activities.” The book explores the things most people never hear about the early days of the Space Program in the United States; more over the affect it has on the families of the astronauts as they fought with fight discrimination, politics and constant pressure.

The author does a great job of writing clear, concise chapters that break down the building tensions of the program. From witnessing the loss of pilots during training to the growing tensions during the years of the Vietnam War, to the strain the program puts on the astronauts and in turn their families, the author uses honest emotion and detailed experience to relay the story in a way that readers can not only understand but identify with.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys books on the space exploration era of our world, NASA, along with the drama and strong female protagonists fighting against an oppressive, male oriented world. As a fan of space related stories, it was interesting to see the details of how the emerging strength of women who began to fight for their independence and free-thinking society affected those characterized as the wives of astronauts, who were the rock-stars and heroes of the era at that time.

Overall this is a wonderful book that readers will thoroughly enjoy. The story reflects our growing world where women still struggle for equality; yet more and more women continue to prove how equal and powerful they are in a world growing less and less male-dominated. It was great to see Jennifer fight against these long-standing stereotypes and inequality, even when she struggled with her history of being raised to be a good housewife and mother, (at least what society at that time defined those things as). If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of Keeper of the Flame by JoAnn Petrie Carr today!