Ilan Ramon

In this inspirational biography about Israel's first astronaut, Devra Newberger Speregen portrays the life of a national hero who brought a sense of hope to his country during the two-week, ill-fated voyage of the space shuttle Columbia. Speregen, author of the JPS young adult biography, Yoni Netanyahu: Commando at Entebbe, traces the life of this remarkable man, who as a young boy dreamed of becoming a pilot in the Israeli military, and grew up to serve his country as a heroic Air Force commander. Speregen describes in gripping detail the daring, topsecret operations Ramon participated in to defend his country, and his meteoric rise through the ranks of the military to become a decorated Air Force colonel and the first Israeli to train with NASA as a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Columbia. Young readers will be captivated by the dramatic story of this courageous combat pilot, astronaut, devoted husband, and father who came to proudly represent his country and his heritage on a space mission watched around the world. Book jacket.

Devra Newberger Speregen has written more than 100 books for children. She has also been a Jewish preschool teacher and is a contributor to BabagaNewz magazine for children