Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and Nasa's Seamstresses

By Elise Matich

Book Overview

Did you know that the white material on the outside of space shuttles was not metal or glass but actually fabric? Specialized quilts, two inches thick, covered the space shuttles and protected the astronauts from deadly heat and radiation. Jean Wright was one of the eighteen "Sew Sisters" who crafted these thermal blankets, mostly by hand, with incredible precision and skill. Capturing both the grandeur of space flight and the intimacy of a needle and thread, Sew Sister tells the story of Jean's childhood passion for space and sewing, and her fascinating work for NASA's shuttle program.Elise Matich's elegant prose and stunning, detailed artwork harmonize with the STEAM concept at the heart of this story: the role of skilled hands and artistry in STEM fields like aeronautics. Sew Sister offers a heroine in the context of space exploration who doesn't go to college or excel at math; instead, it is her excellence in a trade--one traditionally practiced by women--that allows her to achieve her dream. NASA's space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0884489825
• ISBN13: 9780884489825
• Release Date: October 2023
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers
• Length: 36 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

Child’s Book but should be read by adults

I ordered this book based on a one-line blurb and didn’t know it was a children’s book. Wonderful story. Have passed it on to people with children as well as telling everyone the story. Wish the story was told in an adult book with more detail. So important to remember that what are considered “women’s” crafts actually have their uses in our industrial society.