Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut

A powerful story of hope about a woman who fought against all odds to become the first Indian American female astronaut.

Kalpana Chawla set her sights on flight from an early age. She was told "no" many times in life: No, girls don't study aerospace. No, women don't become astronauts. No, you won't succeed in the United States. But Kalpana didn't listen--she was too busy forging her own path to the stars. And after a long journey of dedication, perseverance, and patience, she finally made it to space. Her inspiring story is a powerful reminder for girls all over the world to never, ever give up on their dreams.

Based on the true story of the first female Indian American astronaut, Journey to the Stars details the challenges and triumphs of Kalpana Chawla's life up through her first journey into space. Her story is sure to inspire educators and parents interested in encouraging curiosity and a passion for STEM in girls and boys. Backmatter includes an author's note and a timeline of Kalpana's life and awards.

Laurie Wallmark is an award-winning author who writes biographies of women in STEM, along with fiction. Her books have earned multiple starred trade reviews and received awards such as Best STEM Book and Parent's Choice Gold Medal. Laurie is a former software engineer and computer science professor. She has an MFA in writing and lives in New Jersey.

Raakhee Mirchandani is a journalist, children's book author, activist, and mom. Previously a feature writer and columnist for the New York Post, a managing editor at the New York Daily News, and an associate editor at the Boston Herald, Raakhee has had work in Elle, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, Redbook, and HuffPo. She was also the editor in chief of Moneyish, published by Dow Jones. The daughter of immigrants, Raakhee currently lives in New Jersey.

Maitreyi Ghosh is a multidisciplinary designer specializing in illustration. She illustrated The ABCs of Virtue, which was a Best Book Award winner at the American Book Fest in 2021. Maitreyi lives in India.