Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race (2016) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
The #1 New York Times bestseller The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner. Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would… Sign up for the full guide
Young Adult • 2016 • 368 pages • Lexile 1200L (high school or more advanced reading difficulty)
This nonfiction book tells the true story of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, Black women mathematicians who worked as 'human computers' for NACA and NASA from World War II through the Space Race. It follows their groundbreaking contributions to aeronautics and space flight while navigating segregation, sexism, and racism in Jim Crow-era Virginia.
Is Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race appropriate for kids?
This nonfiction book tells the true story of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, Black women mathematicians who worked as 'human computers' for NACA and NASA from World War II through the Space Race. It follows their groundbreaking… Read more — free account
Content severity in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
What happens in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, moment by moment
- p. 12 🔥 Mature Themes 2/10
- p. 28 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
- p. 45 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
Sex and nudity in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
This nonfiction account of the women at Langley contains no sexual content, romance-focused subplots, or explicit imagery. The narrative focuses strictly on the professional careers and community lives of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden. Occasional mentions are made of marriages, childbirth, and family life, but these are handled with clinical and historical distance. The book is suitable for all readers in terms of sexual modesty. Its focus remains on the intellectual and…
Read more — free accountViolence and gore in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Violence is discussed as a systemic and historical reality rather than as a source of graphic entertainment. The text references the looming threat of the Cold War and the potential for nuclear destruction, which shaped the urgency of the space race. It also details the real-world hostility of the Jim Crow South, including the broader context of lynchings and physical intimidation used to maintain segregation. While these events occur off-page or are discussed in the context of news reports, the psychological…
Read more — free accountLanguage in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
The book contains period-accurate terminology that reflects the derogatory social structures of the 1940s through the 1960s. Words such as 'colored' and 'negro' are used throughout to describe segregated facilities, signage, and the demographic groupings of the time. While there is no use of modern profanity or gratuitous vulgarity, the historical racial slurs used in quoted documents or reported dialogue serve to illustrate the harsh reality of discrimination. These terms are presented within a scholarly and…
Read more — free accountDrugs, alcohol, and smoking in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
There is no meaningful depiction of substance abuse, illegal drug use, or problematic drinking within the narrative. As a biography of professional mathematicians and engineers, the focus remains on their work in the laboratory and their roles within the church and family. Mention might be made of social events or formal dinners where alcohol may have been present, but it is never a point of emphasis or concern. Smoking, which was common in office environments during the mid-20th century, may be implied by the…
Read more — free accountMature themes in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
The central themes involve the pervasive and dehumanizing effects of institutional racism and gender discrimination in the United States. Readers will encounter frequent instances of the 'West Computers' being denied access to the same bathrooms, cafeterias, and promotional tracks as their white counterparts. The text explores the emotional toll of being treated as second-class citizens while contributing to high-stakes national achievements. It also examines the intersectionality of being both Black and female in…
Read more — free accountFrequently Asked Questions
Is Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race is best for ages 13+. This nonfiction book tells the true story of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, Black women mathematicians who worked as 'human computers' for NACA and NASA from World War II through…
What age rating does Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race have?
Books don't carry official age ratings. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race is published for a Young Adult audience, and Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What reading level is Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race?
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race is 368 pages and its reading level is Lexile 1200L (high school or more advanced reading difficulty). Bontent recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race about?
This nonfiction book tells the true story of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, Black women mathematicians who worked as 'human computers' for NACA and NASA from World War II through the Space Race. It follows their groundbreaking contributions to aeronautics and space flight while…
Is there sex or nudity in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race?
This nonfiction account of the women at Langley contains no sexual content, romance-focused subplots, or explicit imagery. The narrative focuses strictly on the professional careers and community lives of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and…
How violent is Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race?
Violence is discussed as a systemic and historical reality rather than as a source of graphic entertainment. The text references the looming threat of the Cold War and the potential for nuclear destruction, which shaped the urgency of the space race. It also…
Is the language in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race appropriate for kids?
The book contains period-accurate terminology that reflects the derogatory social structures of the 1940s through the 1960s. Words such as 'colored' and 'negro' are used throughout to describe segregated facilities, signage, and the demographic groupings of…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking depicted in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race?
There is no meaningful depiction of substance abuse, illegal drug use, or problematic drinking within the narrative. As a biography of professional mathematicians and engineers, the focus remains on their work in the laboratory and their roles within the…
What mature themes appear in Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race?
The central themes involve the pervasive and dehumanizing effects of institutional racism and gender discrimination in the United States. Readers will encounter frequent instances of the 'West Computers' being denied access to the same bathrooms, cafeterias…
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