Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this work. This is so well-written. I knew quite a bit about this story but still learned much from this book. This is a tough, emotional read. Knowing the eventual outcome, it was difficult to come to get to know the characters without having to pause at times. This is a history that all Americans should know well. Well done. Highly recommended.

Kevin Cook does a remarkable job of putting the Challenger crew at the forefront of this well-researched book on their highly publicized final mission and the aftermath of the disaster. He uses a wide variety of contemporary sources and oral histories of the space program, plus interviews with contemporaneous NASA figures and of course, the families of the Challenger Seven. Cook puts these people and their relationships ahead of aerospace jargon at every opportunity, although he does manage to explain complex shuttle technology in accessible terms. I appreciated the focus on the lives and family of the crew beyond Christa McAuliffe; I was especially happy to learn more about Judy Resnick, the 2nd American woman in space and a real-deal genius. El Onizuka sounds like he was so much fun to be around, and now I deeply wish Ron McNair had been able to bring his saxophone back into orbit. I think Cook also manages to strike a balance between criticizing NASA's cultural flaws and structural biases and his deep respect for the space program and its people as a whole.

The Challenger disaster is one of those moments in our history where we ca say, “I remember when that happened.” Indelibly etched in our memories this book brings the crew alive, especially Christa McAuliffe, who was designated the first Teacher in Space.

I found this book easy to read and understand unlike some technical endeavors that leave you scratching your head at the meaning. This was more a human interest story then a scathing, finger-pointing accident cause. Even though the cause is explored there is nothing new which would shed a different light on the cause. This was just a tragic case of an accident waiting to happen.

When Christa McAuliffe was chosen as the Teacher in Space, school children around the world cheered and watched as the Challenger space shuttle exploded after takeoff. This book tells the story of Christa, the Challenger astronauts, and the aftermath of the explosion.

What a heartbreaking story! I found myself instantly drawn to Christa's charisma and charm. The book was well written and engaging and I felt like I knew each of the 7 crew members. This book did not overwhelm with technical jargon, but gave explanations that were easy to understand. Overall, highly recommended.

I remember the day of Challenger’s last flight. I was driving to work, listening to the countdown on the radio. I arrived at the library shortly before the launch, so I didn’t hear the liftoff. Later, when I went to the front desk, a clerk asked if I’d heard about Challenger, and that teacher.
Since I’ve read most books on the space shuttles, I didn’t learn much new stuff from Burning Blue, the Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA’s Challenger Disaster. The effort of Steve McAuliffe, Christa’s widower, to prevent Judy Resnik’s family from receiving an equal award in the lawsuits because they weren’t spouses or children.
From the subtitle, you know there’s an emphasis on Christa and the Teacher in Space program. There is also emphasis on the importance of teachers and their lack of appreciation. The brief bios on the other six astronauts are appreciated, but it’s almost like they were just along for the ride.
Challenger was lost thirty-five years ago. This book offers a good look at the disaster for those unfamiliar with it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Burning Blue is a book, about the tragic account, of the ill fated NASA space shuttle Challenger. Kevin Cook superbly researched the history of the space shuttle, that carried the first teacher on its mission, along with six other astronauts: This tragic event was played out to the entire Nation, and world, on national television and this book presents it filled with feeling and purpose. Everyone wanted answers to why this accident occurred? It explains the emotion and perhaps pressure, for the need, for this mission to succeed, from the astronauts and their families on up to the executives of NASA. Recommend this book to NASA enthusiasts and anyone who would appreciate an inspiring story of modern day heroes!

I think most Americans have an understanding that Christa McAuliffe was the first teacher in space and that when the Challenger blew up it was a moment of tremendous sadness and a national tragedy. Enter The Burning Blue by Kevin Cook that goes far deeper into the story then I ever knew.

Cook discusses not just McAuliffe and the Teacher in Space program in much more detail, but also the media circus that surrounded her and the raw feelings of several of her fellow astronauts towards all the attention. But it isn’t just a Christa McAuliffe book as he gives full form to the other astronauts who ultimately died in the explosion a very colorful group that included Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Gregory Jarvis. All had their own unique journeys that brought them to be on the Challenger crew. Cook did such a good job bringing these folks to life that the sense of tragedy washed over me once again.

The Burning Blue was a very fast paced and dramatic read. However, it was also a difficult read in that everyone knows the outcome in that the shuttle is going to blow up…no matter how hard Cook made me hope against all knowledge for a miracle. If anything, Burning Blue made me feel the loss even deeper than I might have before. Cook even covers the aftermath of the commissions brought on to investigate and NASA’s various failings that brought on a whole new wave of emotions.

Read if you: Want an insightful and heartbreaking look at the last Challenger crew, with an emphasis on Christa McAuliffe.

I rarely wish a book was longer--but I could have easily welcomed 100+ more pages! I was in second grade when Challenger exploded (did not watch live), so while I remember the sadness of that day, there's not much I actually knew or remembered. Cook creates a warm, winning, and admirable portrayal of McAuliffe that feels totally genuine and honest.

Librarians/booksellers: With the recent documentary on Challenger (2020), this will likely have interest, due to the lack of recent books about the disaster.

Many thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s always going to be emotionally hard reading about a real life tragedy, knowing how it ends. That’s especially so when reading a book like this, which spends the first 50% introducing the reader to Christa McAuliffe and the other six Challenger astronauts on a personal, intimate level. The author did a wonderful job of presenting Christa and her family as the real people they are, who had every reason to believe the opportunity to join a space flight would be meaningful, productive, and above all, safe.

I was young when the Challenger disaster occurred - it’s my earliest memory of a major media event, and I really didn’t understand it at the time. I learned a lot from this about the people involved, the context of the mission and the Teacher in Space program, the legacy of the disaster, but most of all, I learned about some truly brave and accomplished people.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It’s an interesting book - but I didn’t see anything in here that was “untold.” If you aren’t a close NASA follower, there may be some information you haven’t seen before, but these are all stories told previously.

18 chapters - and each chapter is no more than a few pages - is not a good breakdown. The entire book can be read in 15 minutes.