Vera the Astronaut

“Vera the Astronaut” by Susanna Isern, illustrated by Marta Moreno, tells the story of a young girl named Vera who wants to be an astronaut. She joins a class of other kids who also want this profession, but she finds that she and another student named Ana are the only girls in the group. She doesn’t let this deter her from being there, though, and she makes sure she does everything to the very best of her ability. She wants to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she belongs there and is deserving of a spot on the spaceship when they head out on an expedition to Mars.

While studying at the Great Space Academy, Vera studies astronomy, does exercises, learns to pilot spaceships, and goes through a series of tests to prove she should have one of the spots on the spaceship to Mars. Little does she know that someone is out to sabotage her chances, and things don’t work out quite like she expects them to. However, she still finds a way to save the day, proving that she was the right choice all along, and just because something got in her way doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve to be there.

The story does a nice job teaching a fine moral about persevering, no matter the circumstances, and not letting anything or anyone stop someone from being whatever they wish. Everyone has unique ideas and talents that make them who they are and bring something fresh and important to the table. If everyone could learn to work together instead of against each other, the world would be a better place, and this book does a nice job of showcasing that.