I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book incredibly interesting the author really kept me hooked until the end. very well written I highly recommend.

This review will be published in the print publication Appleton Monthly Magazine in Appleton, WI in June 2021 issue under the Great Reads section. It will also be posted to the magazine’s website at https://appletonmonthlymag.com/great-reads/ following publication.

This memoir from NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson (as portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in the 2016 film Hidden Figures) finally let's Johnson tell her own story in detail. She began working on the book alongside writers Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore to chronicle her amazing life. Born in West Virginia in 1918, Johnson lived an amazing 101 years before passing away in 2020. Johnson delivers an amazing and grounding memoir about her life as a Black woman in science, but also gives us a century of racial history in the United States as well as the role of educators at segregated schools and Historically Black Colleges and Universities that gave her the tools to pursue her dreams. A fitting reminder of the importance of education, Johnson is an inspiration.

My Remarkable Journey is a wonderful memoir written by Katherine Johnson and her two surviving daughters, published posthumously. For those who didn’t read or see Hidden Figures, Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who worked at NASA and its forerunner, NACA, from 1952 through 1986. In the face of unabashed racism and sexism, she contributed to many research papers, and completed innumerable complex calculations for the space programs, including orbital trajectories for John Glenn’s historic flight and the trajectories that got the Apollo mission to the moon and safely home again.

The memoir gives more than just her scientific accomplishments - it recounts her early education, her devotion to her family, and the beliefs that propelled her life. It’s easy to tell how important her family, faith, sorority, education, and community were to Johnson. In clear, matter of fact prose, Johnson brings the reader into her life, where her daughters’ personal triumphs are just as important and prominent as the successful lunar landing. The space race played out as the Civil Rights Movement developed, and the work manages to tackle both without feeling disjointed or pedantic.

This isn’t a book for someone looking for a moment by moment account of the space race or early NASA operations, nor is it a comprehensive biography. It is a time capsule that will take you to an exciting and revolutionary period in American history.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

I loved this look into Katherine Johnson's life! I wish there was a young readers edition that I could put in my classroom with my Hidden Figures books. Katherine Johnson had seen so much and done so much in her life, I felt so inspired as I read this.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book is appropriately named for such a remarkable woman! She already had 2 strikes against her….she was a woman and she was black. With resilience, courage, fortitude and intelligence, she let no obstacle keep her from her desires. Our space program owes a lot to her and women like her in this nation’s quest to put a man on the moon.

This is an amazing read.

Wonderfully written and full of straightforward stories about Mrs. Johnson's life. The intelligence and courage to stand up and show who you are is difficult for most, but the teachings instilled in Mrs. Johnson at a young age took her very far and benefitted many people. I am very glad I read this book.

Thank you for NetGalley and publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wonderful book, a natural compliment to Hidden Figures. Anyone who enjoyed the movie will appreciate this book.

Katherine Johnson is a remarkable woman with a long life full of amazing moments, heartbreak and innovation. She is a groundbreaking woman with an amazing spirit and work ethic. The book My Remarkable Journey is less about her work at NASA and more about her early life, her family, and her unbreakable spirit. She is both humble and proud of her accomplishments, and hopeful for the future. It is very inspiring to read.

Katherine Johnson's addiction is MATH, and we are a better world for it! She has loved math since it first sunk its metaphorical claws into her little baby heart. From there her dreams sprang - and they supported her through times when it seemed sure those dreams were coming true, to the times it was obvious they never would. Many missed her gift when they looked at her beautiful face, and read her address. Starting out she had to take what came her way, such as the time her only eligibility was deemed a teaching job playing the piano, with not a math book in sight (maybe there was on her nightstand). Yet her brilliance was unrelenting. Undeniable. Her Wonder Brain was known and word got around.

My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir was an intriguing read - Katherine Johnson shows how our own history has been written by whoever holds the pencils and pens, and as people we read the media our own tribes put out. . .we need to keep striving to become that One Tribe! As a woman coming up in her life she paid attention to Ebony, and all of the news it brought to her home. She went through the moments she remembered and were impactful to her. They were all moments not in the media of the majority. I appreciated her list, having grown up during part of that time. It gave me the opportunity to see all the things I didn't hear about until well after they happened.

Not only is this the story of her life, it is a record of America's efforts to shoot for the stars and the governmental organizations that have come and gone to support that dream. The author celebrates the successes, while making sure to document the fails in who did the work, while others got the memorial.

This is a book not just about a remarkable journey. It is a book about a remarkable woman. I hear her message that many of us missed a lot in the past, and she has a whole book about the things she wants to make sure we "get" before she's gone. Katherine is a hero. One of many, and it is time we start handing out awards, better late than never.

Thank you, Katherine Johnson (and daughters), for all you've done for us, and taking the time to share your Journey with us!

A sincere thank you to Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick; Katherine Moore, Amistad, and NetGalley for providing an ARC to read and review.

#MyRemarkableJourney #NetGalley

Every American should read this book.
I was one of the kids who became interested in science as a result of the space program.
Katherine's story is remarkable. She lived though a fascinating part of history and played a critical, behind-the-scenes role. In her memoir she tells her story in an intelligent, readable manner. The narrative is entertaining as well as educational. I particularly enjoyed the focus she placed on education. Her parents valued education and made sacrifices so she and her siblings could attend university and become professionals. She passed this legacy on to her children and grandchildren.
I enjoy reading about successful, intelligent people and the events that shaped their lives. Katherine was a pioneer for rights of both women and black Americans. She is an outstanding role model for how education and hard work can improve a person's circumstances and lead to a high level of satisfaction in one's career. She loved what she did for a living, and she communicated that very effectively to readers.
She tells her story respectfully. She included enough detail about her personal life that I felt acquainted with Katherine and want to know more about her. I'd like to meet this woman and shake her hand. At no point did I feel she was disclosing too much or sharing privileged information about any individual or organization.
I would strongly recommend this memoir for book clubs. It would also be excellent reading and discussion material for high school history classes.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a joy of a book this is. It was my personal pleasure to hear the story of a life straight out of the lips of a humble but proud woman. She knew the limitations imposed on her by the American supremacy but with her own quiet self assurance and pride, she trekked a path straight to the stars and became a shining example of everything that is possible despite odds forced against African Americans in this country, it’s a must read both because of the remarkable life Katherine Johnson led and because of the barriers she broke down with her quiet dedication.

Not only was Katherine Johnson remarkable, but so was her memoir. Johnson recounts her life growing up in West Virginia, attending school, becoming a teacher, getting married, having children, and of course moving to Newport News to work at NACA, and later NASA. Throughout her memoir, she describes the current events of the time, the racial discord, and the evolution of education. Johnson has so much to share with the world—I can’t get over how humble she was. Here’s this amazing, brilliant woman, and she spends most of the book discussing the wonderful people around her who supported her. That shows class.

This memoir was written in such a way that it is very accessible to all people and very well written. This would be a fantastic book for children as young as middle school to read. If I were still teaching, I would be purchasing a class set because this book has it all—great role models, history, emphasis on hard work, love what you do, and I could go on. When Johnson explains some of the historical background, I found myself thinking, “I remember reading about that in history class, but I so appreciate a refresher, because it has been awhile.” Her grace, love, and hope permeate through the pages and her call to “ask questions” and get educated are so important. You know you’re in the presence of greatness and wisdom while reading this.

This is one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read—I only wish it were longer! Johnson and her family were/are inspiring!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperLuxe for providing me with an ARC!

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.5 Hearts I had not heard of the history of these incredible women until one day on a tv show called "Timeless" (episode Space Race which aired Nov 28, 2016). I actually went and Googled it after the episode and I think maybe a lot of people did because only a short time later the movie Hidden Figures came out. I ran to the theater to see it and was not disappointed. I then picked up the book the movie was based on and absolutely loved it.

But this book is right up there with it. I loved the things that Hidden Figures didn’t tell. First off Hidden Figures is about the three women even though a lot of it focuses on Katherine the book doesn’t really tell her life. It tells the amazing time she helped the astronauts of NASA make it to the moon and come home safe.

This book is more about Katherine Johnson herself. WOW. This woman is a force of nature. She is a brilliant mind that made a huge impact on Earth and in space.

Please go read this book! Not because of what this woman was (an African-American woman) but for WHO she is. An American Hero!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Even though this book is primarily about Katherine Johnson’s life and contributions as a female black mathematician to NASA and the Apollo space missions, it is also a wonderful window into society during WWII, the civil rights movement during the 60s and 70s, school segregation, and much more. This is quite an enjoyable and informative read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC to read and review.

I loved this book! I always enjoy reading about the lives of people behind the headlines. The title of this book is so fitting because Katherine’s journey was truly remarkable. I really liked that while the story is centered around Katherine, it shines a light on other achievers as well. I’m not surprised by this because the Katherine Johnson I got to know through this book comes off very humble and she seems to shy away from the spotlight.

I was amazed to find out that the career that led to her historic contributions in the space field, wasn’t one that she sought out on her own. It was through the subtle suggestion of one of her teachers in college that she pursued a career as a research mathematician without even really understanding what the job was. It was also by chance that she got connected to NACA, so it’s obvious to me that her steps were ordered, and she was meant to have the career she had.

I’m amazed and admire the grace that she showed when faced with direct racism. Reading about her life in relation to the racial climate during the time was so interesting. This is such a good and inspirational read for anyone, but especially young, black girls interested in STEM. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for the advanced e-ARC

This was a lovely book. It was so we'll written and such a humble account of an extraordinary life. It was great to read in the subjects voice and see her life through her own eyes. I liked how her family life was included and her work accomplishments were woven in as just another part of life.

Katherine Johnson is an icon and I am so glad that she is finally getting the recognition she deserves. This book would've meant so much for me to read as a young teen. Katherine Johnson is wonderful and I can't wait for her personal story to hit shelves.

Katherine Johnson's life is truly incredible. Her attitude towards education, along with her determination to reach higher and higher goals, guided her to NASA and the Space Program. This memoir is captivating and immensely readable. I appreciated hearing her views on the space program, civil rights and women's work in what had been a male-dominated industry. Hopefully this book will be published in a student version as Johnson's story is perfect for girls interested in STEM.

My Remarkable Journey is the posthumous memoir of Katherine Johnson the NASA mathematician who Taraji Henson portrayed a few years ago in the film Hidden Figures. In her memoir, Katherine writes about her life beginning with her upbringing in West Virginia to her behind the scenes career as a NASA computer. She writes about the film early on in the book and reveals some of its inaccuracies.

Johnson was very humble in her memoir, she never took sole credit for NASA’s space successes, and she always recognized her team members throughout the book. She recognized folks like her fellow Hidden Figure colleagues/sisters Dorothy Vaughan, Eunice Smith, and Mary Jackson and also her close work partner Ted Skopinski.

Johnson begins her memoir describing her early childhood days living in West Virginia with her family. She got her love of math from her father. Her father’s mathematical skills were so good that he could look at a tree and estimate how many logs he could make from it. Katherine started school at the age of 4, skipped a few grades and began going to college at the age of 15. It was there where a professor encouraged her to become a research mathematician. The book also covers her marriage to her first husband Jimmie Goble and her life as a working mother of three daughters, two of which coauthored this book with her. She later married James Johnson.

1953 was a big year, when her family moved to Newport News, VA in order to start her job at NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) which later becomes NASA. Johnson worked as a computer, doing mathematical calculations for the engineers and scientists. One of the good things about this book is that Johnson does a great job explaining her work without using very technical language. The rest of the book covers her tenure at NASA all the way to her retirement in 1986. The final chapter gives a glimpse of her post-retirement life where she connected with Black astronauts and spoke to young people about her job.

Overall, it was a good book. I learned a lot more about Johnson than what I remember from the Hidden Figures film. I would love to know how this book came together, when was it written, how involved were Johnson and her daughters in the writing of it, how long did it take to write, and how much was complete when Katherine passed away in 2020.

If you’ve seen the film Hidden Figures than you probably know who Katherine Johnson is. But, getting to hear about her own life in her own words is amazing. You follow her from being a young Black girl dreaming of a career in a math to a woman who spent a full century on this earth helping Americans get to the stars. You learn a lot about her life but you also learn the names of many unsung Black heroes who achieved great things at NASA, in higher education, and various other professions. She never let anything stop her from pursing her dreams from personal loss to the decades of deeply ingrained segregation in this country that was made to make Black people, especially Black women, feel inferior. This book is a great tool for people looking to get an overview of the major events of the 20th century. It will be inspirational for the next young Black girl dreaming of the stars. I would know, I’m one of them.