Marty's Mission: An Apollo 11 Story

Tales of Young Americans

by Judy Young, David Miles (Illustrator)

It's 1969 and Marty's family lives on the U.S. island of Guam, where his father manages the NASA tracking station. It's important work and never more so than during the Apollo 11 space mission, where the tracking station relays signals back and forth between the astronauts and Mission Control in Houston, Texas. Along with the rest of the world, Marty listens to every mission update, including the historic landing on the moon and astronaut Neil Armstrong's first steps. But during Apollo 11's return to Earth, something goes wrong. There is a problem with the tracking station's antenna during the final hours of the mission. The problem must be resolved--the antenna is the only way Mission Control can communicate with the astronauts before Apollo 11 splashes down. Marty finds himself playing a key role in helping bring the craft safely back to Earth. Based on actual events, young readers get a front-row seat to this historic event in this new entry in the Tales of Young Americans series.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Historical Fiction, Stem, Childrens, American History, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2019

About the author

Judy Young is the author of 30 children's fiction, nonfiction and poetry books. Her books range for all ages of childrens, from board books, picture books as well as middle grade novels. Her books include the Digger and Daisy early reader series and The Wild World of Buck Bray middle grade novel series.
Judy's books have received numerous awards and accolades, including the Mom's Choice Gold Award for "R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet" and LaVar Burton's reading of "A Pet for Miss Wright" for Reading Rainbow Video.
When not writing, Judy is usually outdoors—hiking, camping, fishing, and snowshoeing in the mountains of Idaho where she resides with her husband and three dogs.
Judy offers exciting virtual author visits for elementary and middle schools. For more info, visit her website.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on an actual incident in which ten-year-old Greg Force greased a ball bearing on an antenna and saved the Apollo 11 lunar mission in 1969, this picture book will appeal to young readers interested in the space race. In this story, Marty and his family live on Guam where his father works for NASA, managing its Tracking Station. Marty and his friend Tomas watch the lunar landing from the station with others and marvel as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon while astronaut Michael Collins continues to orbit around it. After the observers go home, something goes wrong, and Marty is needed because of his small arm. The abrupt interruption of his sleep and his efforts to grease the antenna's bearing have an almost surreal, this-can't-be-happening feel to them, but this really did happen. Were it not for Marty--well, in reality, Greg Force--who knows what might have happened to the mission. I liked the story better than the illustrations, but they do capture one boy's determination to fix things and the sense of wonder that filled the hearts and minds of those on Earth who got to see humans finally walk on the moon and then return safely to their home planet.

[Jessica Bouchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marty’s Mission is on my favorites shelf because it is an engaging story about a young boy who helped to save a mission to the moon by having arms small enough to grease a failed bearing on the mission’s communications antenna dish. Children will be even more excited to learn that this is based on a true story (historical fiction) about a ten-year-old named Greg Force who was just such a hero during the Apollo 11 mission. Best suited for a 2nd or 3rd grade audience, this book combines elements of a child’s perspective, science, and a larger cultural experience – the space race. This book will be enjoyed by children interested in science, space, and the power of children as heroes.

In a reading classroom, I would use this in a read-aloud in lessons concerning comprehension. This would be a wonderful book to use to practice summarizing and synthesizing as it has a very linear plot as well as motivations and perspectives that are accessible to children. This story could also be used to engage readers who prefer books based in reality rather than fantasy.

[Jenee Daws · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got this book for my almost 5 yo when she was doing an astronomy unit at school and showing a lot more interest in learning about outer space. It is definitely over her head at this point, but would be a great read for a 7+ yo reader. The book teaches the reader about an aspect of the Apollo 11 mission that I had never heard of before, and is a really interesting piece of American history. The young boy, Marty, who is the main character in the story is fictional, but is based upon a real boy who was needed to help repair an antenna at a tracking station in Guam. I am excited to keep this book in our library and share it with my daughter when she is a bit older.

[Rene Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story that teaches a new generation about the Apollo 11 Mission. Based on true events, it relates the story of Marty, a young boy living in Guam, who has a special job to do to ensure the success of the mission. Judy Young weaves the story beautifully, and the detailed illustrations add so much to the story. It will bring back memories to those of us who witnessed this giant achievement back in 1969. It will be an exciting story to share with your children and grandchildren!

[Rachel O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children and I enjoyed reading this book which recounts an important historical space mission. Well-written, with vocabulary which challenges children to enrich their speech and writing but isn’t too difficult or overwhelming. We enjoyed reading about this mission from a Child’s perspective rather than the astronaut or someone in the control tower. The illustrations complemented the story; my only complaint would be that some of the text was difficult to read when set on a darker background.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good read that went from being a solidly well written and finely told story into a hero's journey through a twist at the end. The author effectively captured the wonder of a child and a country in the US' first moon mission.

The illustrations were a great match for the style and rhythm of the story. I noticed them right away.

Companion read for a much older crowd (YA lit on up): if you are in the mood for reading about kids whose parents work at NASA: "The Gravity of Us" by Phil Stamper was one of my favorite books of the last 12 months.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this book had simply been a telling of the actual child who greased the ball bearing rather than be made into a fictional story. The author did a good job of capturing American’s excitement over the Apollo 11 lunar mission and space travel in general. This would be a fun addition to a space science unit.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like this story of the moon landing from a different perspective (Guam, near a NASA tracking station, from the child of a NASA employee).

The story is based-on-a-true-story, but fictionalized, even to the boy's name. I wonder why the actual story wasn't told?

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elementary level story about a boy and his family living on the island of Guam during Man's first trip to the moon and the boy's father's job working on communication that help the mission. Great ending and up lifting.

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool, informative book. Way too wordy for a storytime though.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cool & different perspective on the Apollo 11 mission. It sets itself apart from all the other Apollo books coming out in anticipation of the 50th anniversary.

[Heather Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving all the Apollo 11 books coming out as the 50th anniversary of the moon landing approaches. Marty's Mission shows an important, but relatively unknown part of NASA's Apollo 11 mission.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations with a nice sense of time and place, and an amazing story that so few of us have heard about the Apollo 11 moon mission. This one's a lot of fun, educational and inspiring.

[DeNae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since it is based on a true story, i would have preferred it to be more factual.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fictionalized version of a real story of a boy helping at the NASA station on Guam at the end of the Apollo 11 mission.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores how a tracking station in Guam contributed to the success of Apollo 11

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never knew about all the parts of this mission. This book focuses on the communication piece. Interesting!

[Rebecca Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictional story based on a real event. I like this book because it is pleasant to read and it shows that even young children can make a difference in a world run by adults.

[Becky Carlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story of a ten year old boy in Guam who greased the ball bearings to re-establish communication between the antennae and the Apollo 11.

[Maria Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fictional story based upon a real event. Marty's father is stationed at NASA's Guam Tracking Station to monitor and operate the huge antenna dish that monitors the Apollo 11 Mission. When a problem arises, Marty must fix it. Or Houston can't communicate with the astronauts as they prepare for re-entry and splash-down. A rare story from the kid's point of view of what it was like to be listening and watching the mission. With a little rush of adrenaline tossed in.

[Y.Poston]

Great story!