Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist

Acevedo debuts with an inspirational autobiography detailing how she bucked expectations while growing up in 1960s New Mexico.

Though born in faraway South Dakota, where her father was completing his service in the U.S. Army, Sylvia grew up in the southern New Mexico town of Las Cruces. Growing up in a tightknit community of extended family, church family, and fellow Mexican-Americans, Sylvia soon discovered that her interests did not align with many of her peers’. While the cultural expectation for young women, especially Mexican-American women, was to marry and stay home to raise a family, Sylvia longed for adventures. She found a community and home away from home with the like-minded girls within her Girl Scout troop. The skills she acquired selling cookies and earning badges gave her confidence and self-efficacy as she moved through school taking honors courses, refusing home ec, playing drums in the band, and ultimately pursuing higher education in engineering. Acevedo’s narration is frequently repetitive, and she breezes past the many instances of racism and sexism she experienced both within and outside of her home in a matter-of-fact tone. All’s well that ends well, she seems to say. Though the redundancies cause hiccups in the narrative flow, and at times it feels like a long-form advertisement for Scouting, those seeking stories of female STEM trailblazers will find much to love here.

Encouraging and uplifting. (Memoir. 8-12)

Gr 5 Up--A gem of an autobiography. As a girl growing up in New Mexico in the 1950's, Acevedo recognized and confronted bias in many forms. She fought against the notions that girls should only become wives and mothers, and she strived to be a success in all aspects in her life: a focused student, a successful Girl Scout, a talented musician, and, above all, a young woman who never believed that her future was already written by someone else. Particularly touching is Acevedo's recollection of her mother's determination and dedication to her family: she acted as an advocate for her daughter's success even as she and Sylvia faced domestic abuse. The text is accessible, and the story of Acevedo's life touches upon a number of salient points for readers including racism, gender roles, and educational inequality. The importance of the Girl Scouts and of always being prepared resonates throughout. The author's experiences working as a rocket scientist are fascinating, though these recollections come at the very end of the book. VERDICT A great addition to memoir/biography collections.--Patricia Feriano, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"This appealing page-turner helps fill the void of biographies on Latina women. Girls, boys, scouts, non- scouts—all will be inspired by Acevedo's story."—Booklist, STARRED review

"Those seeking stories of female STEM trailblazers will find much to love here. Encouraging and uplifting."—Kirkus

"A gem of an autobiography...The text is accessible, and the story of Acevedo's life touches upon a number of salient points for readers including racism, gender roles, and educational inequality."—School Library Journal

"Acevedo's moving autobiographical account shines in its honesty, personal details, and inspirational message."—The Horn Book Magazine