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45th out of 77 books
—
114 voters
Taking Off
by
Jenny Moss (Goodreads Author)
Reimagining the days surrounding this unforgettable event in history, readers are brought back to 1986 as the astronauts prepare for the Challenger mission, and Christa McAullife trains to be the first teacher in space. When a teen named Annie meets Christa, she is fascinated by Christa's courage. Truly inspired, Annie is determined to make it to Florida to see the Challen...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
January 4th 2011
by Walker Books for Young Readers
(first published January 4th 2010)
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First and foremost, I must thank my wonderful Secret Santa ARLENE for gifting me this beautiful book.
I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this at all. There were plenty of "awww" moments, a decent story and a hawt lead male :)
I would also be lying if I said I just absolutely loved this. There were plenty of cheese-tastic moments, a love triangle and an immaturity that was difficult to deal with at times. To a point it was hard to read a main character who was so undecided and committed to k...more
I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this at all. There were plenty of "awww" moments, a decent story and a hawt lead male :)
I would also be lying if I said I just absolutely loved this. There were plenty of cheese-tastic moments, a love triangle and an immaturity that was difficult to deal with at times. To a point it was hard to read a main character who was so undecided and committed to k...more
It's 1985 in Houston, Texas and high school senior Annie has a secret. She wants to be a poet. Only, she's having a hard time admitting that to anyone, even to herself. What kind of living can you make being a poet? It seems an impossible dream. So Annie's stuck. While her best friend is going off to college next year and her boyfriend Mark wants her to stay in town and marry him, Annie is frozen by indecision. And then she meets Christa McCauliffe, an ordinary high school teacher who was chosen...more
In Taking Off, Annie gets to meet the infamous Christa McAuliffe, the first teachernaut who will go into space. Annie is inspired by Christa's energy and ambition, and hopes that it will help her with her own confusion about her life. Annie lives near Houston, Texas. A city full of engineers, scientists, and astronauts. Annie's dream, however, is not to be any of these careers. She dreams of being a poet and teaching others about poetry. She dreams of traveling the world and looking at Vincent V...more
I was in 3rd grade when the Challenger disaster occurred. Like so many other kids that day, my class watched the launch live on TV. I don't remember much about it - except that the girl in my class who wanted to be an astronaut was crying, and we felt bad for her - but even after 25 years, the name Christa McAuliffe has stuck with me.
Chosen from over 11,000 applicants to be the first private citizen and school teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe is the inspiration of this story. It is her zest f...more
Chosen from over 11,000 applicants to be the first private citizen and school teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe is the inspiration of this story. It is her zest f...more
This was a truly enjoyable read, and I'm taking it to school tomorrow to pass along to a science teacher who's an avid reader (yay!). Sure, it's not strictly science-
I was a tiny bit reluctant to pick up this book at first, just because I knew what happened to Christa McAuliffe and the space shuttle and knew I would kind of dread that event until it happened in the story. I'm not going into too much detail, just in case you're unfamiliar with what happened (which is entirely possible--not many o...more
I was a tiny bit reluctant to pick up this book at first, just because I knew what happened to Christa McAuliffe and the space shuttle and knew I would kind of dread that event until it happened in the story. I'm not going into too much detail, just in case you're unfamiliar with what happened (which is entirely possible--not many o...more
Most readers will know going in, either because they've learned about it or they read the jacket copy, that one of the major events in this book will be the explosion of the Challenger shuttle. But even knowing that, Moss was able to get my heart to leap into my throat when it was actually described. I was barely a year old when Challenger happened, but through Taking Off I felt like I was right there with Annie.
But remembering the Challenger and her crew (especially Christa McAuliffe) isn't the...more
But remembering the Challenger and her crew (especially Christa McAuliffe) isn't the...more
It would have been a four-star book if only...
1) The event which this ENTIRE FREAKING STORY revolves around... falls flat. Flatter than flat. Flatter than the earth as people thought it would have been 700 years ago, when they thought the earth was flat. So flat that you are dumbstruck by how they could have made such an emotionally tragic event in American history sound so... flat.
2) The main character came straight out of a Mexican soap opera. Sobby characters who sob at every complicated turn...more
1) The event which this ENTIRE FREAKING STORY revolves around... falls flat. Flatter than flat. Flatter than the earth as people thought it would have been 700 years ago, when they thought the earth was flat. So flat that you are dumbstruck by how they could have made such an emotionally tragic event in American history sound so... flat.
2) The main character came straight out of a Mexican soap opera. Sobby characters who sob at every complicated turn...more
1 like · like · see review
I was a junior in high school when the space shuttle Challenger exploded, and I remember vividly the feeling of devastation I felt in that moment. Like so many others, I was fascinated by the space shuttle program and followed its every move. I was enraptured and inspired by Christa McAuliffe. In Taking Off, Jenny Moss has captured the essence of that period of my life with sincerity. The protagonist Annie Porter is engaging and authentic. Her story is specific to a particular time and place, ye...more
A well-written book that honors the memory of Space Shuttle Challeger teacher Christa McCauliffe and the other passengers on the doomed flight. The main character is likeable and portrayed like many teens that are nearing the end of high school and are unsure of the future. A look into the space program during the 80's without being overly technical.
Read more of my review by clicking the link below, where I write about Children's Fiction for Examiner.com.
http://www.examiner.com/fiction-in-sa...
Read more of my review by clicking the link below, where I write about Children's Fiction for Examiner.com.
http://www.examiner.com/fiction-in-sa...
The are certain events where people can always tell you where they weere the moment it happened. And the Challenger explosion is one of those moments for me. I remember being in the library science building at Kutztown Univerxity with my fellow librarinas-to-be and watching in horror. Reading this book and reeading that particular scene made me realize how doubly horrifying it must have been to be there zo close watching the launch. I love how author JennyMoss showed how Christa Mcauliffe did to...more
Taking Off revolves around the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986 which carried the first civilian on board: teacher Christa McAuliffe. High schooler Annie lives in Clear Lake, TX, home of the NASA's training center, and meets Christa at a dinner hosted by one her friend's NASA-employed parents. Annie feels immediately inspired by the teacher's enthusiasm for life. Annie herself is shy and indecisive. She doesn't have plans for college but wants to be a poet, which for some reason terrifi...more
No one labels me as an eccentric, but that's because they don't know what's in my heart.
In the late Fall of 1985, Annie is a high school senior in suburban Houston, and her comfortable life is on the verge of being completely upended. Her best friend wants her to go to college in Austin with her. Her boyfriend of two years wants her to stay in town with him. Her mother wants her to be friendlier to Donald, her mother's boyfriend. Annie isn't sure what she wants, except that she wants to be a poe...more
In the late Fall of 1985, Annie is a high school senior in suburban Houston, and her comfortable life is on the verge of being completely upended. Her best friend wants her to go to college in Austin with her. Her boyfriend of two years wants her to stay in town with him. Her mother wants her to be friendlier to Donald, her mother's boyfriend. Annie isn't sure what she wants, except that she wants to be a poe...more
This was a truly enjoyable read, and I'm taking it to school tomorrow to pass along to a science teacher who's an avid reader (yay!). Sure, it's not strictly science-
I was a tiny bit reluctant to pick up this book at first, just because I knew what happened to Christa McAuliffe and the space shuttle and knew I would kind of dread that event until it happened in the story. I'm not going into too much detail, just in case you're unfamiliar with what happened (which is entirely possible--not many o...more
I was a tiny bit reluctant to pick up this book at first, just because I knew what happened to Christa McAuliffe and the space shuttle and knew I would kind of dread that event until it happened in the story. I'm not going into too much detail, just in case you're unfamiliar with what happened (which is entirely possible--not many o...more
A wonderful read that intertwines growing up, falling in love, and finding yourself centered around the story of the Challenger. I really liked the way Jenny Moss created such a believable contemporary around such a tragic event. Jenny does a suburb job at taking her readers back to that fateful day in 1986 when a team of astronauts, including school teacher Christa McAullife where to embark on a mission of a life time. Fulfilling her dream of watching the challenger take off is Annie, a senior...more
This one's not a solid 3 star for me, but it was close enough.
I liked TAKING OFF quite a bit. Annie reminds me a lot of who I was at 18 and a senior in high school, right down to debating whether or not I wanted to go to college because I wanted to read and write poetry instead. It was a little eerie, even. Maybe what's sort of funnier is that I think a lot of what Annie's struggling with here is stuff I still think about a lot.
However, I've a few things that didn't quite work for me, includin...more
I liked TAKING OFF quite a bit. Annie reminds me a lot of who I was at 18 and a senior in high school, right down to debating whether or not I wanted to go to college because I wanted to read and write poetry instead. It was a little eerie, even. Maybe what's sort of funnier is that I think a lot of what Annie's struggling with here is stuff I still think about a lot.
However, I've a few things that didn't quite work for me, includin...more
I was born ten years after the Challenger accident, so this subject was brand new to me. It starts off with the reader learning about Annie’s life in “spacey” Texas where she has the seemingly best boyfriend and the awesome best friend. That friend, Lea, invites her to her mother’s dinner party where soon to be teachernaut Christa McCauliffe would be. She accepts and later talks to Christa at the party. I thought that Christa was magnificently portrayed in this novel. Through Annie, I got to exp...more
A coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of the space shuttle Challenger tragedy, I'm totally in love with the concept of this book. Annie is a vivid character struggling to figure out what she wants to do after senior year. She's from a small town in Texas ruled by NASA, she's been dating her boyfriend for two years and been friends with him for even longer, and her best friend seems to know exactly where she's going. In fact, everyone seems to know what Annie should do with her life exce...more
I remember sitting in my dad’s car that day in 1986, listening to the radio news of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and feeling like it was impossible, like it couldn’t really have happened.
I knew what would happen to the shuttle before I even turned a page of TAKING OFF, but somehow, I ended up gasping when it happened all the same.
TAKING OFF is about a girl named Annie, a high school senior growing up in a community of NASA engineers but worshipping words instead of numbers, colors inst...more
I knew what would happen to the shuttle before I even turned a page of TAKING OFF, but somehow, I ended up gasping when it happened all the same.
TAKING OFF is about a girl named Annie, a high school senior growing up in a community of NASA engineers but worshipping words instead of numbers, colors inst...more
1 like · like · see review
I liked this book. I didn't LOVE it, but i liked it a medium amount. Premise is a 17 year old girl who is fascinated by Chrsita McAuliffe, and with the "teacher in space" program. To her, it's more than the actual flying to space. It's symbolic of not being afraid to pursue your dreams. Not being afraid to let go of comfort, and what you know, to dare to follow dreams, and be uncomfortable.
Great message, but probably could have been written a little better in parts-got a little long winded.
Great message, but probably could have been written a little better in parts-got a little long winded.
As a senior, Annie Porter, has many decisions to make. Should she continue on the path that seems set for her or should she explore other career and educational goals? Will she have the courage to reach for her dreams? One thing is for certain. She wants to view the lunch of the Challenger as it carries Christa McAuliffe, who she has met, into space. Her journey to Florida is full of experiences,including the Challenger trajedy, that inspire Annie to reach for new dreams.
7/10
I'm kind of in mourning over the fact that a story that takes place in the year I was born is considered historical fiction. Sigh. So sad.
But the book itself? Really pretty good. The beginning didn't grab me; in fact, the dialogue was so unoriginal, I could have written it myself. (I don't care if that's the way we humans talk, I want to read more than, "Hello." "Hi." "Yeah, all right." "Uh-huh." "Okay." "Sure. Sure." Maybe if I had been listening to it, it wouldn't have been so bad.)
And no...more
I'm kind of in mourning over the fact that a story that takes place in the year I was born is considered historical fiction. Sigh. So sad.
But the book itself? Really pretty good. The beginning didn't grab me; in fact, the dialogue was so unoriginal, I could have written it myself. (I don't care if that's the way we humans talk, I want to read more than, "Hello." "Hi." "Yeah, all right." "Uh-huh." "Okay." "Sure. Sure." Maybe if I had been listening to it, it wouldn't have been so bad.)
And no...more
3 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed this better than average coming of age story, which is set during the time of the Challenger shuttle disaster.
In her hometown of Clear Lake, Texas, Annie meets Christa, the teacher who has been chosen to go into space. Annie is so impressed and influenced by Christa that she convinces her father to take her to Florida to view the shuttle launch. Along the way she learns about herself and finds herself questioning the direction her life is heading. Will she decide t...more
In her hometown of Clear Lake, Texas, Annie meets Christa, the teacher who has been chosen to go into space. Annie is so impressed and influenced by Christa that she convinces her father to take her to Florida to view the shuttle launch. Along the way she learns about herself and finds herself questioning the direction her life is heading. Will she decide t...more
I love the book's concept: a high school senior who is lost and unsure about her future meets Christa McAuliffe just before the teacher astronaut goes up in the Challenger. The amount of repetition about Annie's confusion, lack of confidence and desire to be a poet bogged the plot at times, but this might be an opening for readers to learn about McAuliffe and the Challenger explosion.
4.5 stars. A cute coming of age story based in 1985 around a NASA town. The main girl is struggling to decide her future and decides to be adventurous for once and go see the Challenger space shuttle take off. My one complaint was her disproportional grief at the tragedy of the Challenger. But fortunately she tones it down quickly enough that you aren't left thinking she's psycho. It is actually written by a former NASA engineer who worked on the Challenger...but it is just a cute book.
I liked the book. I think I expected more from the story but I liked it. It was a nice refreshing story but I felt like the romance was a little forced and not all that believable. I would have liked to see more character development in the relationship with her father. It was a good read though, just not the best book I have ever read.
This is a book that I have wanted to read as soon as I saw it advertised. I am happy that I was not disappointed with the novel at all. Readers have a chance to learn more about NASA, Christa McAuliffe, taking chances, exploring, learning who you are and thinking about poetry. This is a dynamic read.
loved it its about a girl who doesn't know if she should go to college or not. Should she stay in her little hometown? And she loves NASA when she went to go see the rocket fly she met this guy who she shouldn't have fell in love with because she loved here boyfriend also. And she loves poetry
This is an intense personal journey into the mind and heart of Annie, a Texan teen in the 1980s. Christa McAuliffe is her hero and she goes on a road trip to watch the teacher's launch into space. As a reader knowing what happened at that historic launch, it is a very emotional read. I loved the story, despite its slow pace.
I thought that this was a very inspiring book. I think that many teens go through a time when they are unsure what they want in their future and I can totally relate to this. I also have no idea what I want and I fell like I am part of this girl.
A wonderful read that intertwines growing up, falling in love, and finding yourself centered around the story of the Challenger. **reviewed for Mundie Moms** http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2011/0...
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Jenny Moss lives in Austin and writes.
She is the author of SHADOW (Scholastic Press) and WINNIE'S WAR and TAKING OFF (Walker/Bloomsbury).
More about Jenny Moss...
She is the author of SHADOW (Scholastic Press) and WINNIE'S WAR and TAKING OFF (Walker/Bloomsbury).
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“Writing poetry felt silly, not practical. It was poetry. I wasn't exploring space here. But it felt necessary to me.”
—
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Jan 23, 2012 09:57am