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Middle Grade Non-Fiction
Lost in Outer Space: The Incredible Journey of Apollo 13 (Lost #2)

Lost in Outer Space: The Incredible Journey of Apollo 13 (Lost #2)

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Lost in Outer Space: The Incredible Journey of Apollo 13 (Lost #2)

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Author(s)

Tod Olson

Publisher

Scholastic

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

January 31, 2017

ISBN

9780545928144

April 13, 1970: Two hundred thousand miles from Earth and counting, an explosion rips through Jim Lovell's spacecraft. The crippled ship hurtles toward the moon at three times the speed of sound, losing power and leaking oxygen into space. Lovell and his crew were two days from the dream of a lifetime - walking on the surface of moon. Now, they will count themselves lucky to set foot on Earth again. From "Houston, we've had a problem" to the final tense moments at Mission Control, Lost in Outer Space takes readers on the unbelievable journey of Apollo 13 and inside the minds of its famous and heroic astronauts. Complete with photographs of the crew and diagrams of the spacecraft, this is an up-close-and-personal look at one of the most thrilling survival stories of all time.

Lovell and his crew were two days from the dream of a lifetime - walking on the surface of moon. Now, they will count themselves lucky to set foot on Earth again.

From "Houston, we've had a problem" to the final tense moments at Mission Control, Lost in Outer Space takes readers on the unbelievable journey of Apollo 13 and inside the minds of its famous and heroic astronauts. Complete with photographs of the crew and diagrams of the spacecraft, this is an up-close-and-personal look at one of the most thrilling survival stories of all time.

Editor review

1 review

thrilling and engaging story, bringing history to life

June 13, 2019 (Updated: June 24, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Learning Value

5.0

Thrilling and epic, LOST IN OUTER SPACE tells the harrowing story of the Apollo 13 mission as they learn that their ship is damaged and that they will not make it to the moon- and maybe won't be able to make it home through to when they overcome the odds and make it back. This mission is infamous- a true tale of humanity and survival with a fantastic conclusion. This book tells the true story of the mission- which is often not far from the Hollywood version.

Complete with information both about the mission and the people on Earth who were helping and/or their families worrying, this book captures the danger and the amazing resilience of the human spirit. Quite a bit of the book follows Barbara, the daughter of one of the astronauts on the mission who was 16 at the time. This adds an element of relatability to the young reader and a new perspective from what we usually hear. This mission is truly incredible, full of ingenuity and hope.

What I loved: The narrative style of the writing brings history to life for young readers who will easily devour this book. The mission and the devastation and hope around the journey back to Earth are beautifully captured in this book, making it an engaging and thrilling read. With images of the shuttle, Earth, and the individuals described, the book is composed perfectly to bring the story to life for the reader.

Final verdict: Absolutely thrilling and enthralling, this is a fascinating read that will capture young readers' hearts and minds in the telling. With thoughtfully chosen images and narrative text, the Apollo 13 mission and its trials and triumphs are captured for a new generation.