Most readers will just enjoy the book as an adventure story with a poignant ending. Nevertheless Moonwind contains several potentially troublesome elements that teachers and parents should be aware of.

First, the American moonbase seems to be staffed entirely by white Anglo-Saxon males. Lawrence has not included even a minor character who is black, or an adult female, or anyone whose name might show an ancestry other than Northern European. This character mix does not reflect current reality. The U.S. space program includes astronauts of both genders and a wide range of ethnic backgrounds.

One does not have to be "politically correct" to find a problem here, both in plausibility and in the lack of role models for many children. It is inexplicable that neither the author nor her publisher seem to notice any reality or sensitivity gap. However, this very defect may be a...