Lost in Outer Space, written by Tod Olson, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Review: The book reads like a Walter Cronkite news broadcast riveting with interchanging chapters from earth side, NASA & Lovell family, to capsule crew, Lovell, Haise, and Swigert. On the 56th hour of Apollo 13s trip, while going through some routine steps, an explosion occurs in the service module in oxygen tank #3. There are three oxygen tanks onboard. There should be plenty of oxygen because one tank is a full backup tank until tank #2 also starts leaking and the batteries of the spacecraft start to drain quickly.

All of earth is watching tv or listening to the radio for reports from NASA or the astronauts. Barbara Lovell is Commander Jim Lovell's 16-year-old daughter. She was around for his other two trips into space and her father has always come back safely. This time she is not sure if he can. TV crews swarm their home and she sequesters herself inside with friends and strangers surrounding her mom and siblings. She escapes often to find solace with her best friend and her parents in their home nearby.

NASA is trying to fix this spacecraft on the fly. The landing module, which was supposed to detach and land on the moon, is where the astronauts have moved into since it is self-sustaining. It is equipped with only 2 days of provisions and smaller tanks of oxygen and fuel. To preserve supplies & resources they shut down systems and ration everything. With no electricity, little food, cramped quarters built for 2 not 3 people, no water (as it is needed for the engines), barely any oxygen or fuel left, and towing a dead ship, we learn how the astronauts make it safely back to earth. Highly recommended for all grades.