By Michelle Blaylock and Patricia Poe

For the Enquirer

Title: “Rise of the Rocket Girls”

Author: Nathalia Holt

Age Group: Adult

In “Rise of the Rocket Girls, author Nathalia Holt takes us back in time.  

This book carefully depicts the lives and history of the human computers who worked for Jet Propulsion Labs and later NASA. It takes us into the time when “working mothers” were a rarity; most women gave up their jobs to stay at home shortly after marriage and most definitely after the birth of a child.

Ms. Holt has an awesome grasp of what was expected of women in the 1940s and 1950s and does an excellent job of pulling the reader into their lives. 

It is amazing the contribution these women make as computers. As computer machines were just being introduced, most people did not trust them. It was up to the human computers, pencils in their hands, to decipher the data to tell if the fuel was going to work, if the rockets were on target or if the lunar lander was going in the right direction. 

It was demanding work and often required late nights and weekends, but they did not give up – even when the men were boasting of their accomplishments and not giving credit to the women.  

Their stories are amazing.  

This book is well-researched and well-written, making it a fun read! We also have it on our e-book service! 

Hope to see you soon!

Title: “Forgotten Alabama” 

Author: Glenn Wills

Age Group: Adult

Recently at a program at the William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle, we got to meet and listen to author Glenn Wills. Mr. Wills was speaking on lost and forgotten places in Alabama. 

He has three books that have been published. The first is “Forgotten Alabama.” “More Forgotten” is the second book, and his newest book is titled “200 Years of Forgotten Alabama.” 

All of his books are full of fascinating, charming and beautiful pictures. Most of the pictures are in black and white, but a number of them are in color. I found all three of these books helped me value the great state I live in. They make you want to learn more and more about Alabama – especially since we are celebrating our 200th year.