Beatrice Gormley

The first American woman astronomer

In the mid-1880s, a time when women were often thought to be unworthy of higher education, Maria Mitchell rose above the prejudices of the day to become America's first professional woman astronomer. This exciting biography tells the story of Maria Mitchell's life, her amazing achievements,and her faith that saw God's handiwork in the heavens.

"Maria Mitchell: The Soul of an Astronomer is a marvelous biography."
David Baron, author of American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World.

"This is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary woman! Maria Mitchell broke through myriad barriers of the mid-nineteenth century to become a world-renowned astronomer (discovering Comet Mitchell) and professor at the first U.S. college for women, Vassar. Her inspiring biography describes her fight for intellectual integrity and women's rights."
National Science Teachers Association, Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, 2004

"This fine biography details the life oa America's first female astronomer. . . Her story is an important contribution to women's history and offers encouragement to young women considering astronomy as a career."
Booklist

"Gormley successful paints a picture of a world that failed to mold Mitchell to its standards, focusing on the telling details that bring the story to life. Inspiring and incisive."
Kirkus Reviews

"With a smoothly flowing and lively style, this biography introduces readers to the 19th-century astronomer. Well-chosen, primary-source quotations and quality black-and-white photos add authenticity to the text."
School Library Journal