In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race

An
exhilarating dive into the secret history of humankind’s race to the moon, from
acclaimed author Amy Cherrix. This fascinating and immersive read is perfect for
fans of Steve Sheinkin’s Bomb and M. T. Anderson’s Symphony for the City of
the Dead.

You’ve heard of the space race, but do
you know the whole story?

The most ambitious race humankind has
ever undertaken was masterminded in the shadows by two engineers on opposite
sides of the Cold War—Wernher von Braun, a former Nazi officer living in the
US, and Sergei Korolev, a Russian rocket designer once jailed for crimes
against his country—and your textbooks probably never told you.

Von Braun became an American hero, recognized
the world over, while Korolev toiled in obscurity. These two brilliant
rocketeers never met, but together they shaped the science of spaceflight and redefined
modern warfare. From Stalin’s brutal Gulag prisons and Hitler’s concentration
camps to Cape Canaveral and beyond, their simultaneous quests pushed
science—and human ingenuity—to the breaking point.

From Amy Cherrix comes the extraordinary
hidden story of the space race and the bitter rivalry that launched humankind
to the moon.

“An explosive exposé on the scandals and lies behind the race to the moon! I learned so much I didn't know. This exciting, fact-filled page-turner will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the heroes and villains of the Soviet-American Space Race.” - Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Allies and Refugee

“This is a fascinating and complex story I knew nothing about! I learned so much, and I know readers will, too.” - Deborah Heiligman, award-winning author of Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship”

“A well-researched, detailed account of two leading engineers in the space race that raises questions about the human costs of war and propaganda…. Engrossing and painfully relevant.” - Kirkus Reviews

“The cherchez les hommes approach used so successfully by Steve Sheinkin in Bomb works just as effectively here, offering readers a brightly defined trail to follow through the morass of historical machination. YA history readers frustrated by an information gap between the race for the bomb and the race to the moon will find this the essential—and thrilling—infill they’ve missed.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“The text adds depth to the history of the space race, with thoughtful, ethical discussions of the U.S. concealing von Braun’s history to further its agenda…. An engaging, fast-paced narrative that will delight readers of history and space technology.” - School Library Journal

“A book that reads, at times, like a Cold War spy novel…. Cherrix, who uses formerly classified documents as sources, excels in placing each advancement in its historical context, from the 1930s through the Apollo program…. This account reveals important truths in a style that will captivate teen readers.”  - Booklist

“[A] suspenseful, engaging narrative.... [An] eye-opening look into a typically venerated aspect of American history.” - The Horn Book

“This comprehensive narrative nonfiction chronicle reveals the personalities and machinations behind the space race.… This rousing history testifies to both the romance and cost of technological advancement.” - Publishers Weekly