She Persisted: Kalpana Chawla

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Kalpana Chawla! Born and raised in India, Kalpana Chawla was told that she shouldn’t try to become an aeronautical engineer because it was hard for women everywhereto succeed in that field. But she persisted, getting her university degree and then immigrating to the US to keep studying. She then joined NASA and became the first Indian-born American woman to go to space. Though she was tragically killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, she continues to inspire people in India, the United States, and around the world to pursue their dreams of reaching for the stars. In this chapter book biography by acclaimed author Raakhee Mirchandani, readers learn about the amazing life of Kalpana Chawla--and how she persisted. Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Kalpana Chawla's footsteps and make a difference! And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Sally Ride, Temple Grandin, Malala Yousafzai, and more!