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Summary: Read it twice!
Review: After some slow going in the beginning, I rocketed through the book with both laughter and tears. The day I finished it, I saw the movie which is also great but since there is so much more depth to the book, I'm reading it again. As a native West Virginian, I appreciate the portrayal of the hard-working people who struggle with time, tradition, and the hold the Mountain State has on her people - the depths of the mines match the depths of their hearts and the peaks of her mountains match the heights of their dreams except, of course, for the Rocket Boys who dreamed even higher. Congratulations, Rocket Boy!
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Summary: riviting, i couldn't put this book down
Review: 2 words, the bes
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Summary: WOW!
Review: One of the best books I've read. The story reminds me of this... "We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true." (by Woodrow Wilson) Mr. Hickam, thank you so much for sharing your story.
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Summary: This book should be read by everyone with a dream.
Review: This book should be required reading by all 8th and 9th graders everywhere. It tells people you can reach your goal if you keep focused and keep trying. This is the best book I have read in a long time.
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Summary: An excellent, easy reading autobiography.
Review: I read the book in about four days. I found the novel quite easy to read and the pace of the book always kept me wanting to continue even though sleep was calling. It is enjoyable because it tells well of struggles a teen goes through in establishing what he wants to do with himself, who he is in life as well as all other distractions that happen in high school. Climactically winning the national science award tops a fine ending. Touching yet compelling.
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Summary: WOW! You won't put this book down!
Review: October Sky is inspirational, humorous, thought provoking and an emotional piece of work. I'm a "distracted" reader in that it's easy for me to put a book down and do something else. The result is that sometimes it takes me a few weeks to finish a book that I find quite interesting. I finished October Sky in 1 day. I couldn't put the book down. I had watched the feature film a night before and found the written version to be far superior (although I will admit that I probably wouldn't have picked up the book without having seen the movie). The characters are presented with depth in this memoir. Homer's dad is not preceived to be an all out evil person in the film, but in the book one can see the wars that are fought in this man's mind. Hickam also does a great job describing the imminent death of Coalwood and his attempt at leaving it before it sucks him in. After reading this book, I not only felt a that I had completed something, I felt like a few of the goals I had set in my life were not too far off. I have no doubt that I will be reading this book again in the near future.
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Summary: "Must-read", "feel good", "10 best". Pick the cliche'.
Review: Here's another cliche'. This book was heart-warming. It not only provides an interesting insight on American history (coal mining, "company towns", The Cold War), it tells an inspiring tale of a boy who reaches far beyond his grasp, and grows up in the process. I am very happy to have this book in my personal library. I am so glad I read it instead of going to the movie.
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Summary: A meaningful page-turner
Review: This is a story of real-life circumstances, successes and disappointments that anyone who had teenage aspirations can relate to. Engagingly told, I found the book hard to put down. I limited myself to one chapter a day because I didn't want it to end. Hickam, besides being good at making rockets, is a very talent story teller. Buy it and enjoy.
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Summary: Takes Me Home Again- Totally Awesome
Review: An Excellent story about some boys who made up thier mind what they wanted to do, would not take No for an answer, who had the suport of their teacher and mothers but not vey much from their Dad's. I graduated from Big Creek H.S. in 1970 and grew up in Raysal, W.V about 15 miles from Coalwood. Like Mr. Hickman, I had the pleasuer of having Miss Riley as a teacher and like Homer she was one of the best if not the best. I think anyone who had her in class, knows how dedicated she was to teaching and must have grieved at her passing. Homer makes life in Coalwood come back again. All my memories of my Dad, the coal mine, and my high school came flooding back. I have seen the movie based on this book twice and cried both times. A truely inspirational story similar to "Rudy".
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Summary: Powerfully evocative and affecting
Review: Beautifully executed, this is a deeply affecting account of how science and a sense of purpose transformed a young man's life. It's "inspirational" in the best sense of the word, moving without being overly sentimental and narratively powerful without being theatrical. I only wish I had encountered this book when I was a little younger...
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