Out of This World
A Cosmic Collection of Books About Space
Blast off! From informative histories of space exploration to mystery novels set on the moon, this collection is sure to have something in your orbit. Want to launch your word knowledge to the next level? Pair your reading with one of our stellar vocabulary lists.
AstronautsWomen on the Final FrontierUsing a graphic novel format, the authors tell the stories of the first women in space, focusing on astronaut Mary Cleave.
DuneIn this classic science fiction novel, the Atreides family attempts to retain control of the planet Arrakis.
Women in Space23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking AdventuresThis collection profiles astronauts from around the world, including Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
The MartianBotanist and mechanical engineer Mark Watney was chosen for NASA's Ares Program to explore Mars, but when a sandstorm prevents him from reaching the departing spaceship, his new solo mission is figuring out how to use the limited resources to survive on a lifeless planet.
Space CaseTwelve-year-old Dash Gibson tries to solve a murder mystery on the moon base he calls home.
First Man: The Life of Neil A. ArmstrongThis biography explores the life and legacy of the first astronaut to walk on the moon.
CosmosIn this engaging and accessible book, scientist Carl Sagan explores fourteen billion years of cosmic history and evolution.
We Dream of SpaceSet in 1986, this novel traces the ups and downs of three siblings as they wait for the launch of the Challenger space shuttle.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyWhen Earth is destroyed to make way for a freeway, Arthur Dent joins his friend Ford Prefect on a hilarious odyssey through space. Learn these words from the first book in Douglas Adams's popular science fiction series.
NyxiaDesperate for money to fund his mother's medical treatment, Emmett Atwater accepts an offer from Babel Communications to compete for the right to mine a valuable commodity on the hidden planet of Eden. This book is the first volume of the Nyxia Triad.
The Martian ChroniclesIn this collection of interrelated narratives, Ray Bradbury imagines the gradual colonization of Mars by earthlings.
The Gravity of UsWhen his father is selected to train for a NASA mission to Mars, 17-year-old Cal must move to Houston with his family and participate in a space-themed reality show called StarWatch. As he attempts to uncover secrets about the show and the space program, Cal also finds himself falling for a fellow "Astrokid."
A Wrinkle in TimeMadeleine L'Engle's classic novel details the adventures of the precocious Murry children as they travel across space and time to track down their missing father.
A Wind in the DoorIn the second book of the Wrinkle in Time quintet, Meg and Calvin must work to save the life of Meg's younger brother and to restore harmony to the universe.
A Swiftly Tilting PlanetIn the third book of the Wrinkle in Time quintet, Charles Wallace teams up with a unicorn to save the world.
Hidden FiguresThe American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space RaceA group of extraordinarily talented African-American women help NASA achieve some of its greatest successes, even as they face discrimination and oppression.
Flying to the MoonAn Astronaut's StoryAstronaut Michael Collins was part of Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing. In this autobiography, he recounts his early days as an Air Force pilot and his journey into space.
We Are the AntsIs the world worth saving? That's the question Henry Denton must answer when aliens give him the power to save—or destroy—the planet. Learn these words from the novel by Shaun David Hutchinson.
Dragon PearlMin is a fox spirit, or shapeshifter, living on the planet Jinju. When her brother is accused of deserting his military post to search for a magical artifact, she must find him and clear his name.
Charlie and the Great Glass ElevatorIn this sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket and Willa Wonka travel through space.
See You in the CosmosEleven-year-old Alex Petroski travels to a rocket festival New Mexico in the hopes of launching his recordings into space. On the way, he learns important truths about his family and himself.
A Brief History of TimeIn this groundbreaking book, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking attempts to answer some of the most formidable questions about the universe.
The Year We Fell From SpaceTwelve-year-old Liberty finds solace in a new friendship after her parents split up.
We're Not from HereAfter a disaster on Earth, the Mifune family is chosen to serve as ambassadors to Planet Choom, where they must convince the inhabitants to open their planet to other humans.
The Last CuentistaAfter Earth is destroyed by a comet, twelve-year-old Petra Peña wakes up on a new planet and discovers she is the only one who remembers Earth. She must use her stories and her wits to save humanity's legacy.
What Stars Are Made OfTwelve-year-old Libby Monroe enters a contest with hopes of winning and giving all the money to her sister, Nonny.
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