Illustrated primarily with archival photographs, the book includes extensive back matter, as befits an event as thoroughly chronicled as this one: an author's note, pictures and quotes from an assortment of team members, bibliography, chapter notes, additional sources (including many Web sites and other media), starting points for further exploration, info on other missions, an index, and a glossary.

At times, text superimposed on pictures is difficult to read, and the author's penchant for hyperbolic prose seems unnecessary in the face of such a hyperbolic event. But these are quibbles that won't bother most kids -- they will be too busy being enthralled by the adventure, the drama, and the fascination of the bit players who made the whole thing possible. Thimmesh has taken a grand idea and fleshed it out beautifully. It's not hard to imagine that this kind of book could inspire a child's direction in life.