Rocket Boys

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Summary: An inspirational book for anyone who has ever had a dream!
Review: A good story and nicely written. However, the best thing about it is that it shows is all you need to find your dream is hard work and persistance.

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Summary: A GREAT BOOK THAT MAKES AMERICA PROUD!!
Review: Well, I am from tens of thousands of miles away from Coalwood. Having seen the movie, October Sky, I still read the book with great enthusiasm and I would like to say only this...to America! It is not a very immoral president like Bill Clinton or a devil's advocate and a big fat lier like Rush Limbaugh or the racist, hypocrat and crook politicians that make your nation great. It is the millions of hard working people as in Coalwood decades ago and courageous and determined youngsters like the Rocket Boys that made America the greatest nation of our time. You wanna know why and how...?? Go, get this book and make sure to pass it on to your children.

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Summary: Homer Hickam, Jr. - a great author!
Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read but I'm at a loss how a reviewer below could conclude that someone named James Hickam wrote this book. Where in the world did he get that? I met Homer Hickam, Jr. on his book tour. Nice guy, a great author. I'm looking forward to his next book - Back to the Moon. He also said he was working on a Rocket Boys / October Sky sequel.

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Summary: A great book for all ages
Review: I first saw the Movie, October Sky, and really enjoyed it. I was very eager to read the book. I got it, and finished it in 3 days. It was even better than the movie! I have reccomended it to many peole since!

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Summary: A time capsule coming of age for the rock & roll generation
Review: Seeing the movie (October Sky) first didn't diminish the interest and impact of this biography of an ambitious youth making a drab world brilliantly colorful. People and place characterizations are such that each person mentioned in the text is fleshed out thoroughly. The writer puts you in his shoes as he experiences the wonder of coming of age in the rock and roll era, using the clarity of reflection many times and more interesting, letting the reader think for themselves in visualizing people, places, events and the meaning of each interaction of them all. You are there as an observer watching the world change for everyone, even the adults, who don't realize that the coal company towns and life are ending. The reader knows everyone of these characters, because they are real for the reader, as well as for the author. The generational education explosion occured just at the end of the industrial age, and the rockets and space age provided the mind fuel for this evolution. This book takes you though that process, and makes the trip as exciting as living it. Bronson S. Bias

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Summary: One of the best books I have ever read.
Review: I can count on one hand the books that I have read that have touched me enough to bring tears to my eyes and delighted me enough to cause me to laugh out loud and Rocket Boys is one of those books.

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Summary: the book keep my interest, but also made feel apart of it
Review: The book October Sky was a thrilling and wonderfully written book. I feel the author, James Hickem, Jr., thoroughly enjoyed his youth and does a great job in sharing his experiences. I liked how he incorporated his other friends throughout the book. I felt a little sorry for James with his relationship with his father. It seemed as though they did not know each other all that well and after he died I could tell from his epilouge that he regreted not knowing him better. I liked the relaitonship he had with his teacher Miss. Riley. One could tell in the book that she was a good teacher that enjoyed her job to the fullest. His mother was one of a kind. She seemed sometimes as though she was out-spoken while at other times she was quite with her words. The choice of words she used to raise her kids was interesting. It seemed as though James was her favorite and Jim was his father's favorite. The part I liked most about the book was when James tells his family he is going to build a rocket and hist mother's response was,"Well just don't blow yourself up." Her actions were most inspiring to my thoughts because she was constantly telling James he could get out of Coalwood and be something great. I think these words paid off in the end; since he became a engineer for NASA. My last comment is that I would encourage any one to read this book if they are wanting a great story to read for about two weeks.

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Summary: A great book with meaning, and helping other people.
Review: October Sky is one of the best books I've read. Homer expresses his true, indignant feelings about himself. I recomend this book to everybody.

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Summary: BUY IT AND READ IT!!!
Review: I must put "October Sky" in my personal TOP 10 List! I read the 100 previous reader reviews, and 95 rated it 5 stars -- I knew I couldn't be wrong. If you have teenagers, give them the book -- I have to liken it to a modern "Tom Sawyer" -- timeless and ageless reading.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Perhaps on eof the best books I have ever read - inspiring and riveting. It's rare good 'ol fashioned 'book-learnin' is celebrated.

Thanks to Chuck Gordon for bringing it to the screen.