Probably to change mind through humor and exaggeration. :)
The main purpose is to:
highlight for readers the hardships that Eileen Collins overcame
Explanation:
"Eileen Collins – NASA's First Female Shuttle Commander to Lead Next Shuttle Mission" is a text that bases itself not on the facts of the mission or the the journey of the protagonist once she becomes the shuttle commander.
The story instead focuses on how she overcame bias and odds to become what she has become.
It is a story of her struggles and trials and tribulations that have brought her this far in life.
yes it was stated that she grew up and lived in a house that was filled with many books. ( I dont know if that lasted through her adult years )