Highly informative and well written. A fascinating story of one of the less widely known space missions.

I think sometimes that younger generations (my own included) are at a disadvantage. We don't fully grasp how much of a feat the space program was. We don't really understand the dangers they faced or the political climate it all happened in. Having begun in the Cold War, the eventual accomplishment of Mir is all the more interesting. Without any of that background, this book is a solid choice for a middle grade reader. Sandler presents a wide variety of information without overwhelming the reader with details. The tone is nearly conversational, making very readable. I learned a great deal from this book and it left me excited to learn more.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy. I had no idea that there were so many books about Apollo 8. Fortunately, I remember it very well, but was still surprised at the number of things this book brought out. We were visiting relatives in California that Christmas Eve, and I was so appreciative that Sandler went in to detail about that part in particular. It will help younger readers that he gives a lot of context to historical events that set the backdrop, although there were a few times that I thought the details went a bit far in a tangent (like the history of photography and the Civil War). This was a quick read sure to interest students, and gives enough detail about the complexity of the mission without overdoing it.

What a fantastic children's book on the Apollo 8 mission! Well-written, informative, and well-planned. I deeply enjoyed the full page photo spreads that broke up the text for younger readers and how frequently Sandler referenced interviews and transcripts for source material. The mission happened almost 50 years ago but this book feels timely and relevant. Schools, libraries, and even casual space-enthusiasts should purchase this book, for sure.

This was interesting. I had forgotten how shocked people in the US were when the Soviets actually made it into space before them! I was a very little girl, but remember the fear it caused in otherwise rational adults around me. Strange days... Anyway,this well written and well researched book delves into those dark days and how it really jump started our space program to put man on the moon before the Russians.. It's an amazing story anyone unfamiliar with should read. The photos in the book were really great! I,loved the shots of the moon and it was nice to see all the astronauts and ships.

Using many quotes from the astronauts, photographs, and informative sidebars, Martin Sandler explains the historical context of the 1960s and evokes the emotions surrounding the Apollo 8 mission to fly around the moon. Readers will feel the drama of the events unfolding, while learning more about time and place. An excellent choice for readers interested in US history, and specifically the US space program—informative and compelling.