Reimagining the days surrounding this unforgettable event in history, readers are brought back to 1986 as the astronauts prepare for the Challenge...
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reviews
Jan 24, 2012
Kristy
rated it: 
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 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 More...
Dec 29, 2010
Abby
rated it:
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
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Mar 21, 2011
Sherry
rated it:
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 Vinc
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Feb 11, 2011
Debbie
rated it:
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 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 More...
Jan 19, 2011
Mary
rated it: 
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-- 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-- More...
Jan 19, 2011
Angela
rated it: 
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 McAuliff More...
But remembering the Challenger and her crew (especially Christa McAuliff More...
Sep 18, 2011
Ruth
rated it:
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 ev 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 ev More...
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Jan 25, 2011
Mocha ღ Latte
rated it:
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 Challenger launch, a trip that will forever change how she thinks about herself and her secret desire for her own future. Although s
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Jan 16, 2011
Penny
rated it:
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
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Jun 25, 2011
Cindi
rated it:
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-san-f... More...
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-san-f... More...
Mar 15, 2011
Hollya
rated it:
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 di
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Oct 01, 2011
Beth
rated it:
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 t 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 t More...
Apr 22, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I impatiently waited for this book, and I'm so happy that it is as compelling and gripping as I had hoped it would be. Annie is a poet among a town full of astronauts; living in Clear Lake, TX means that you are surrounded by NASA families. Annie has no interest in the space program until she meets Christa McAuliffe, the energetic and friendly high school teacher selected to be the first "Teacher in Space." Although Annie is a high school senior, she is unsure of her future, whether it
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Apr 17, 2011
MaryBookSwarm
rated it:
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 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 More...
Sep 11, 2011
Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids
rated it:
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
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Oct 31, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
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 w 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 w More...
Jan 21, 2011
Danna
rated it:
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
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Aug 28, 2011
Kathryn
rated it:
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
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Dec 08, 2010
Kate
rated it:
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 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 More...
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May 17, 2011
Debbie
rated it:
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.
Jan 23, 2011
Anne
rated it:
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.
May 06, 2011
Chelsea
rated it:
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.
Oct 04, 2011
Angela
rated it:
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.
May 24, 2011
Allison
rated it:
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.
Oct 06, 2011
Katieb (MundieMoms)
rated it:
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/2011/09/b...
May 31, 2011
Susan
rated it:
I liked this one. It's a tad formulaic, but I think it's also very real. How many times do we think we know what we want but don't ever say it out loud because we are scared of what others will think or say?
Aug 05, 2011
This book looks very good and since I have read Shadow another book by Jenny Moss I really want to read this because shadow was AMAZING!
Sep 20, 2011
Lesley
rated it: 
I found it creepy, not poignant, how fixated Annie was with Christa McAuliffe. Homegirl needed a life, not a road trip.
Jul 21, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I really liked the first half of this book but the 2nd part kind of dragged on. Still it was good.
