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Starchild: My Life Under the Night Sky
From a childhood in Camden to the frontiers of space, an inspirational memoir from space scientist, presenter of The Sky at Night, and bestselling author Maggie Aderin.
'I'd toast the moon and look at the sky... I think it draws us to it; we wonder what lies beyond.'
Maggie Aderin's destiny was always written in the stars. From the age of three, inspired by The Clangers, her dream was to go into space. Throughout a chaotic childhood, ricocheting between divorced parents and acrimonious custody battles, she attended thirteen schools in fourteen years – but while her environment regularly changed, her fascination with the Universe did not. It became enmeshed in her desire to succeed as a scientist even when her school careers advice was to become a nurse.
Starchild is Maggie’s emotionally honest and revealing memoir, telling a story of education and prejudice, adversity and ambition, motherhood and the moon – all recounted in her characteristically warm and relatable style. From being the only Black woman on her physics course at Imperial College London, to her groundbreaking work on the James Webb and Gemini telescopes, to starting her own public speaking company and sharing the wonders of science with thousands of children every year, Maggie’s story will inspire you to never give up on your dreams.
'I'd toast the moon and look at the sky... I think it draws us to it; we wonder what lies beyond.'
Maggie Aderin's destiny was always written in the stars. From the age of three, inspired by The Clangers, her dream was to go into space. Throughout a chaotic childhood, ricocheting between divorced parents and acrimonious custody battles, she attended thirteen schools in fourteen years – but while her environment regularly changed, her fascination with the Universe did not. It became enmeshed in her desire to succeed as a scientist even when her school careers advice was to become a nurse.
Starchild is Maggie’s emotionally honest and revealing memoir, telling a story of education and prejudice, adversity and ambition, motherhood and the moon – all recounted in her characteristically warm and relatable style. From being the only Black woman on her physics course at Imperial College London, to her groundbreaking work on the James Webb and Gemini telescopes, to starting her own public speaking company and sharing the wonders of science with thousands of children every year, Maggie’s story will inspire you to never give up on your dreams.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2026
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83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 5, 2026
“There is no shame in really wanting something and being unable to achieve it.”
Dame Maggie is one of my favourite science communicators, so I was incredibly excited to read this. What an interesting and extraordinary life!
The story is told in her typical passionate and enthusiastic narrative (one of the things I love most about her), taking us from her childhood to where she is now. It’s really insightful to hear about the challenges she has faced and how she has dealt with them so positively and flexibly through adaptation.
Despite being from very different fields, I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter(s) on the PhD and postdoc years was very reassuring and exactly what I needed as a PhD student who is about to submit.
Dame Maggie is one of my favourite science communicators, so I was incredibly excited to read this. What an interesting and extraordinary life!
The story is told in her typical passionate and enthusiastic narrative (one of the things I love most about her), taking us from her childhood to where she is now. It’s really insightful to hear about the challenges she has faced and how she has dealt with them so positively and flexibly through adaptation.
Despite being from very different fields, I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter(s) on the PhD and postdoc years was very reassuring and exactly what I needed as a PhD student who is about to submit.
March 10, 2026
Maggie relates her personal and professional life story with humour, honesty and relatability. I watched her Royal Institution Christmas Lectures last year, and though I’m not of a scientific bent, her unstuffy and clear presentation was informative and entertaining. I’m pretty sure I visited Ladymede with the School Library Service when she was a pupil there; we may have met! There were a couple of passages that were too technical for me, but otherwise this book is a good read, with photos which is always a plus to my mind.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews