“Adventures of the STEM Brothers” is a non-fiction children’s picture book written by Dr. Rhea Lynne Gordon Miles about three brothers, Johnny, Thurman, and Vernon. Rhea Miles was inspired by her father (Johnny) and her uncles’ journey as African American men in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) during segregation, the civil rights movement, and into the 21st century. It is the author’s hope that this story about her own family will inspire families in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, the United States, and the world.
In the book, we learn about the three brothers’ lives as Johnny becomes a statistician after earning a degree in mathematics, Thurman works in research and development after earning a degree in aerospace engineering, and Vernon becomes a computer software engineer after earning a degree in mathematics. This real-life story is about the challenges they faced in following their dreams on the path to STEM. “Adventures of the STEM Brothers” defines goal setting, resilience, and self-perseverance.