Who Was Sally Ride? (Who Was?)

Part of the Who Was series, this is a good biography of Ride for those ready for something a little more substantial than the picture-book biographies, but still at a reasonably easy reading level—I’m categorizing it as both an Early Reader and a Middle Grade title. It tells the story of Ride’s life from childhood, where she developed her interest in science, through college, her doctorate, astronaut training, her groundbreaking trip as the first American woman in space, and her dedication to science education. The book also mentions her first marriage to fellow astronaut Steve Hawley and notes that she left him so that she could be with Tam O’Shaughnessey. It matter-of-factly states, “Sally and Tam were in love with each other” and that “Sally was with Tam for the rest of her life.” The end of the book also notes that no one except close family had known she was gay, and while some people wished she had been more open about this, “that wasn’t Sally’s way. She had never liked labels. And she had never wanted a bright light shone on her private life.”