Books like Space by Jesse Lee Kercheval

Jesse Lee Kercheval’s memoir begins in 1966 when her family moves from Washington, D.C., to the burgeoning town of Cocoa, Florida. Labeled Lunar Heights, the new subdivision is built amid a swamp, its streets guarded by alligators, and its residents rely on central air and mosquito control. The Kerchevals—a father, a mother, and their two daughters, including Jesse—try to ride the optimism of the Space Race while coping with family turmoil. As the rockets lift America’s collective dreams, the family’s internal struggles deepen: the father works in silence, the mother battles depression, and the girls feel the pressure to mature early. By the time the U.S. finally lands on the moon, the Kerchevals are left grappling with the stark realities of life, illustrating how national triumph can coexist with personal tragedy.

First publish date: 1998