Rocket Boys

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Summary: Great descriptive language of the people, the town,the rocke
Review: I lived in Amherstdale W.Va., a coal mining town the first years of my life, and I feel he got the description of coal mining towns down pat. The in the early 70's my father was the United Methodist Minister in Coalwood and again he found himself in a Union vs. Company town. With the Big store still there, the coal company providing heat for the church and parsonage. As I laughed and cried thoughout the book I realized I had been where Hickam was with dreams desires and ideas that did not fit the small frame of my hometowns, I had more that one hometown. I could not put the book down. It gets you on the first page and keeps interest up thoughout the entire book. Would like to know more about Hickam, where he went to college, did he marry? etc. Plan to make both my college age children read it. Better late than never.

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Summary: An inspiration from West Virginia
Review: As a graduate of Big Creek H.S. I had high expectations of Rocket Boys and was not disappointed. Tonight I watched a sneak preview of the movie, October Sky (where did that name come from?) and I began to have a greater appreciation of a scriptwriters job. There is a lot of great material in the book that did not shine through in the movie. Still tears filled my eyes several times and I often laughed alone at some of the scenes perhaps only an insider could appreciate. So moviegoers please read the book. Only in Rocket Boys can you begin to understand the values which grew from a community where everybody knew you and respect was as common as "hello". But I'm afraid only someone from Big Creek can appreciate the sleigh ride from Coalwood to War or how far Quentin traveled from Bartley to Coalwood without the convenience of a car.

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Summary: I bought it for my husband, but chose it for my bookclub.
Review: While traveling east last October, I picked up Rocket Boys in the airport's bookstore to give to my husband. Little did I know that it wasn't going to be a book just for "boys" or just for rocket lovers. I loved the book, the characters, the setting; everything. What a wonderful tale. My bookclub, consisting of 12 women, is reading it this month. My last selection was Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Rocket Boys has lots of the same great ingredients.

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Summary: A book for dreamers everywhere; inspirational to all
Review: I loved this book so much I didn't want it to end. I laughed and cried with the characters and rooted for them all the way. From Elsie dreaming of going to Myrtle Beach, brother Jim dreaming of a football scholarship, and Sonny, dreaming of firing rockets and meeting Werner Von Braun, the story takes us into their lives and into their hearts. Sonny's father, however, is the saddest character, for he is holding onto a passing dream, that of the dying coal-mining town that he refuses to see. The conflicts between father and son, and between husband and wife are so realistically portrayed I thought I was reading excerpts of my own life. I especially like the era this story took place, back when loyalty meant something, and people stayed married for better or worse, and folks took care of one another, and men went to work at unglamorous jobs because they had no other choice. These are the kind of people, and dreamers like Homer and his friends, that made this country great. By the way, the movie's fantastic! Saw it last night.

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Summary: October Sky first publishes as Rocket Boys
Review: October Sky (Rocket Boys) is an amazing coming of age story of a boy who sees Sputnick fly over his West Virginia coalmining town. Homer (Sonny) Hickam decides that he must build rockets. He and his group of friends set out to make their dream come true. Homer H. Hickam Jr. eventually becomes a NASA rocket scientist. As Mr. Hickam says "Dreams really do come true." Read this book it is one of the most touching stories I have every read, and Homer Hickam is one of the most interesting and wonderful people I have ever met.

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Summary: Oh, has there ever been such a glorious day!
Review: Homer "Sonny" Hickam is an inspiration to me

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Summary: PRODIGIOUS!!!
Review: I was moved, I laughed, I cried. Why? because I grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia and had the unique privilege of standing by the Slack Dump with my Father, and watching Sonny Hickam launch this Rockets. My Father worked in the Machine Shop where Sonny had is rockets built, and I sipped Nehi while sitting on the steps at the Big Store. I am blessed to know most of the people mentioned in his book. I had all but forgotten my days in Coalwood and at Big Creek High School, until I read Sonny's Book. The Rocket Boys makes me proud to be from the Coal Mining Hills of West Virginia. Bravo, Sonny, for a Wonderful Book that colorfully shows the wonderful past of Coalwood its People and Boys who had Dreams.

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Summary: PRODIGIOUS MAN, PRODIGIOUS
Review: I grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia and remember when Sonny Hickam was launching his Rockets. Loved the book because I knew the characters and it shows the true strength of the wonderful people in this small rugged coal mining community

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Summary: If the movie is as good as the book........
Review: I received Rocket Boys for Christmas and 3 days later I was done with it. A GREAT book and wonderful story. So much so I searched the net for Homer Hickam's e-mail address and began writing to him. He is a wonderful guy and I wish him luck on the movie "October Skys" which is based upon this book. If it is as good as the book, STAR WARS better take cover!

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Summary: Great Read
Review: I was turned on to this book by a friend who was a few years ahead of the author, Homer Hickam, at Big Creek H.S. in War, WVA. I note that Hickam admits taking certain liberties in the telling of his story but my friend assures me the context is all too true. When I finished it, I said "This is going to make a great coming-of-age movie, sort of like "Breaking Away," although with a little more substance. This morning I picked up the paper and read the movie -- "October Morning" -- was previewed last night in Washington, D.C., with top NASA people in attendance.

JGL