Before reading this book I didn't know all that much about Katherine Johnson, but what I did know, I was incredibly impressed by. Having read this book, I now know a lot more about her - like how she loved numbers and would often count the steps her siblings took to walk to and from school and would count anything else she could as well. She ended up skipping to 2nd grade, skipped 5th grade and was ready for High School when she was just 10 years old! Wow! Unfortunately, growing up when everything was segregated by race, there was no high school for African-Americans at the time where they lived. Katherine's Dad stayed to work on the farm while her Mom and siblings moved elsewhere so they all could go to high school and would not be forced to drop out. She graduated high school and started college at 15. Once she finished college the odds were against her in finding a job doing something fun with math - since she was not only a woman but also African-American. It is crazy to think that all this segregation and separation was not all that long ago - but Katherine was in the right place at the right time as she was able to further her education as one of only 3 African-American students in a previously white college. And then discrimination in the work place laws were being placed - so many companies were now hiring women for jobs previously only had by men.

Katherine said it is important to do what you love and always do your best. She also advanced in her career by asking questions and going against rules that were in place and becoming a trailblazer.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated. This book was released January 8, 2019 from DK Children.

"Hidden Figures" only covered a fraction of Katherine Johnson's life and career.

DK Life Stories continues to provide information about the lives and the careers of fascinating people. Katherine Johnson is the latest in this book series written by Ebony Joy Wilkens. "DK Life Stories: Katherine Johnson" includes both the social and the career challenges Katherine Johnson faced throughout her life as an African-American woman, and her career as a "human computer" for NASA. Her education and career path are familiar to those who watched "Hidden Figures," but more of Katherine Johnson's career and achievements are mentioned in this book including her roles in the missions involving Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 .

This book is for fans and readers of history, mathematics, NASA, and Black American and/or Female Trailblazers. Both children and adults alike will enjoy the framework (illustrations done by Charlotte Ager) and the information found within the pages. Fans of "Hidden Figures" will enjoy this book as much as the movie.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a remarkable woman! This is a 123 page book that traces the life of Katherine Johnson who many of us have come to know through the movie Hidden Figures. The book, which I think would be good for any student third-twelfth grade, traces her life beginning with the marriage of her parents to where she receive the Medal of Freedom at age 97. It shows her early curiosity of numbers and counting and how her parents encouraged that, how she skipped many early grades, started High School at age 10, and headed to College at age 15. Katherine broke segregation barriers at West Virginia State College and got a job at Langley Research Center as a “Human Computer”. She spent the next 33 years involved in the space race with Project Mercury, astronauts Alan Shepard and John Glen and Apollo 11. She encouraged students to follow STEM careers and took time to mentor young mathematicians. Langley has even dedicated a building to her. This book is well written and organized with a timeline at the end, a glossary, a list of Who’s Who, and even a Quiz. This book would be a great resource for any teacher or library.