A COMPUTER CALLED KATHERINE How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon

Jeanette Illidge exudes confidence and pride as she narrates the early life of Katherine Johnson. A pioneering African-American mathematician who entered college at age 15, Katherine recognized the inequality of educational opportunities for women of color. As part of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, she out-calculated the computers while preparing for both Alan Shepard's and John Glenn's space flights. Illidge is upbeat sharing anecdotes both light--the joy of counting ANYTHING--and somber--exclusion from an all-white high school and the meetings of fellow mathematicians. Illidge's steady pacing mirrors Katherine's own determination to be the best at what she does. Illidge underscores Katherine's belief in women's equality and the power of asking questions. A.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2019]