Early in his presidency, John F. Kennedy addressed Congress in a joint session and declared that it was time for the U.S. to commit to putting a man on the moon and bringing him back safely by the end of the decade. This was not a random announcement: in his career as congressman and senator, Kennedy was dedicated to the space race, even campaigning on his concern about the "missile gap" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and making a bold statement like this was the natural next step. Brinkley's well-written book, an adaptation for young adults of his book of the same name, covers not only Kennedy's determined plan for the program but many of the key players involved in the historic achievement. The text is lucid and accessible as Brinkley puts together all the components of the endeavor, culminating in the Eagle landing on the lunar surface. Black-and-white and color photographs enhance the book, and Brinkley provides source notes and a bibliography.

Brinkley weaves together the history of the space race, mid-twentieth-century geopolitics, and the career of John F. Kennedy as he ascended to the presidency, focusing on Kennedy's championing of space technologies for American political might. He illustrates the tight connections between scientific advancement and the Cold War. Historical photographs illustrate the book. Bib.