Atia Abawi - She Persisted: Sally Ride

PHILOMEL BOOKS

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York

First published in the United States of America by Philomel,

an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021.

Text copyright 2021 by Chelsea Clinton.

Illustrations copyright 2021 by Alexandra Boiger.

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library of congress cataloging-in-publication data:

Names: Abawi, Atia, author. | Flint, Gillian, illustrator. Title: Sally Ride / written by Atia Abawi ; interior illustrations by Gillian Flint. Description: New York : Philomel Books, 2021. | Series: She persisted | Includes bibliographical references. | Audience: Ages 69 | Audience: Grades 23 | Summary: A biography of Sally Ride in the She Persisted series" Provided by publisher. Identifiers: LCCN 2020047610 | ISBN 9780593115923 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780593115930 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780593115947 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Ride, SallyJuvenile literature. | United States. National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationBiographyJuvenile literature. | Women astronautsUnited StatesBiographyJuvenile literature. | AstronautsUnited StatesBiographyJuvenile literature. | Women physicistsUnited StatesBiographyJuvenile literature. Classification: LCC TL789.85.R53 A235 2021 | DDC 629.450092 [B]dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020047610

HC ISBN 9780593115923

PB ISBN 9780593115930

Ebook ISBN 9780593115947

Edited by Jill Santopolo.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

pid_prh_5.6.1_139291231_c0_r0

For

my daughter, Elin, and my son, Arian:

there are no limits to your dreams as long as you keep persisting.

She Persisted: HARRIET TUBMAN

She Persisted: CLAUDETTE COLVIN

She Persisted: SALLY RIDE

She Persisted: VIRGINIA APGAR

She Persisted: NELLIE BLY

She Persisted: SONIA SOTOMAYOR

She Persisted: FLORENCE GRIFFITH JOYNER

She Persisted: RUBY BRIDGES

She Persisted: CLARA LEMLICH

She Persisted: MARGARET CHASE SMITH

She Persisted: MARIA TALLCHIEF

She Persisted: HELEN KELLER

She Persisted: OPRAH WINFREY

Dear Reader,

As Sally Ride and Marian Wright Edelman both powerfully said, You cant be what you cant see. When Sally Ride said that, she meant that it was hard to dream of being an astronaut, like she was, or a doctor or an athlete or anything at all if you didnt see someone like you who already had lived that dream. She especially was talking about seeing women in jobs that historically were held by men.

I wrote the first She Persisted and the books that came after it because I wanted young girlsand children of all gendersto see women who worked hard to live their dreams. And I wanted all of us to see examples of persistence in the face of different challenges to help inspire us in our own lives.

Im so thrilled now to partner with a sisterhood of writers to bring longer, more in-depth versions of these stories of womens persistence and achievement to readers. I hope you enjoy these chapter books as much as I do and find them inspiring and empowering.

And remember: If anyone ever tells you no, if anyone ever says your voice isnt important or your dreams are too big, remember these women. They persisted and so should you.

Warmly,

Chelsea Clinton

CHAPTER 1

California Girl

Sally Kristen Ride was born a California girl. She loved the taste of the sun on her face and wind in her hair. She was smart and sassy. She was energetic and strong. She was a diehard Los Angeles Dodgers fan, dreaming of one day playing shortstop for them. Sally did not grow up wanting to be an astronaut, but life would lead her down a path of hard work, luck and privilege that would eventually make her the first American woman in space.

Sally Ride was born on May 26, 1951, on a sunny yet cool Saturday in Southern California. Her parents, Dale and Joyce Ride, said she was an active toddler who knew what she wanted and would stop at nothing to get it. This was a trait that would follow her throughout her life. Her first word was no, giving little Sally a powerful tool to let those around her understand what she wantedand didnt wantbefore she could even form full sentences. Letting the people around her know what she wanted was something Sally did her whole life. And since her little toddler tongue had trouble pronouncing Sally, she referred to herself as Sassy, a nickname that fit her personality. She was two years old when her younger sister Karen was born. But because little Sassy couldnt pronounce her sisters name, she ended up calling her Pear, which led to Beara name that would stick through adulthood.

Although there was not a lot of hugging, kissing or whispered I love yous in the Ride household while Sally was growing up, there was stability, encouragement and tons of love. Dale and Joyce were open-minded people who raised their daughters without worrying about what people said girls or boys should do in that time. In the 1950s and the 1960s, most girls were taught that they werent as strong, smart or tough as boys. But Sallys parents wanted their daughters to believe they could do anything boys could do, and they encouraged their girls in everything that they tried. Not everyone felt this way back then; many felt boys and girls should do different things from each other and that they had their designated roles.

We wanted our daughters to excel, not conform, Joyce once explained.

Dale said that he always encouraged his daughters to go after their passions, and always allowed them to explore.

There was absolutely no sensethrough all the years growing upthat there was any limit to what I could do or what I could pursue, Sally later said.