Title: On the Space Shuttle with Sally Ride
Author: Dr. Barbara ten Brink
Publisher: Dr. Barbara ten Brink
ISBN: 979-8873551972
Pages: 81
Genre: Non-Fiction / Biographies / Young Adult
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
The first thing which came to my mind when I heard “Sally Ride” is a take-off from the song, Ride Captain Ride, by the 1970 band Blues Image; with an imaginary transition of the lyrics to, “Ride, Sally, Ride / Upon your mystery ship / Be amazed at the friends / You have here on your trip.” So writes author Dr. Barbara ten Brink in the beginning of her book, On the Space Shuttle with Sally Ride.
This multi-genre biography tells the detailed accomplishments of Sally Ride. Born in 1951 Sally was told by her parents she could do anything; and everything Sally did she did with amazing tenacity. Readers are taken through a brief narrative of Sally’s early years in Southern California, and to my surprise, I read that Sally was an accomplished tennis player, ranking 20th among girls regionally. Moving on to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, she ranked Number 1 in women’s tennis in the East. In the early 1970’s Sally moved back to California, attending Stanford. She trained in places including Lake Tahoe where she was mentored by Billie Jean King, among others. Billie Jean called Sally a “shero” in tennis and science.
Sally’s biography morphs from sports to science, with the emphasis on NASA, and in 1977 her being chosen as one of the “35 New Guys” – out of over 8,000 applicants. Onto Astronaut Training when Sally exhibited the “Right Stuff.” Sally was a Mission Specialist (operating the remote arm of the Space Shuttle) on NASA’s 7th flight, STS-7, aboard the Challenger in 1983; then again on STS-41G in 1984. Yes, ride Sally ride. This book is interleaved with awards, medals, scholastic degrees, relationships with famous and influential people and much more. Sally also had a LEGO piece and even a Barbie doll – called the Barbie Astronaut Sally Ride made in her honor.
Dr. Barbara ten Brink peppers her book with many photographs and images throughout the text, which reads somewhat like a curriculum vitae (CV). Sally passed away from cancer at the age of 62.
Although On the Space Shuttle with Sally Ride is obviously a cornucopia of information about Sally Ride, Dr. Brink brings an awareness to readers which shows how anyone can be like Sally and achieve out-of-this-world accomplishments with hard work, tenacity, and a winning attitude. This falls within the author’s many published books about other scientists and amazingly accomplished individuals. Sally’s journey now is out somewhere only faith and consciousness can imagine, but her legacy lives on – here on Earth. This book is both a tribute and testament to the spirit of Sally Ride.
