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Summary: October Sky: The Forces That Shape Identity
Review: "October Sky," an autobiography by Homer Hickam, Jr., details the life of Sonny, a 14-year-old boy growing up in Coalwood, West Virginia, in 1957. Sonny has a passion - he loves rockets. He is determined to escape the inevitable life of coal mining that seems to be his destiny, despite his father's wishes for him to become a mining engineer. His sights are set on NASA. Sonny is influenced by many people and events in his life. Wernher von Braun, a famous rocket scientist, becomes his inspiration, a hero for him to emulate. His friends teach him about loyalty and initiative. Most importantly, though, Sonny's parents, his teacher and the launching of the Russian satellite Sputnik are the key elements that influence Sonny's life. These are the forces that shape Sonny's development from a teenager building homemade rockets to realizing his dream of becoming a NASA engineer.The launching of Sputnik marked a turning point in Sonny's life. "I guess there were two distinct phases to my life in West Virginia: everything that happened before October 5, 1957 and everything that happened afterward." Motivated by the successful launch of Sputnik, Sonny was driven to follow his dream of building rockets. He read every article he could find on the men at the Cape and was glued to the television set for all the latest on the space race. Because of Sputnik, Sonny started to see past Coalwood and challenged himself from that point on. His challenges and struggles mirrored those of his hero Wernher von Braun. Every setback von Braun and his men faced, Sonny and the BCMA (Big Creek Missile Agency) boys faced on a smaller scale. Neither team gave up. Neither von Braun nor Sonny stopped following his dreams, no matter what the obstacles. Sonny's mother's influence was evident throughout "October Sky." From the time he was three years old, Elsie Hickam insisted Sonny was nothing like his father. She encouraged Sonny to follow his own path, his own dreams. Her faith in Sonny never wavered and her goal to get him out of Coalwood was absolute. "I believe you can build a rocket. He doesn't. I want you to show him I'm right and he's wrong. Is that too much to ask?" Even thought the rocket boys destroyed her fence, her pans and her hot water heater, she still allowed them to build their rockets in their basement. The mural she continually painted of the beach symbolized her desire to escape Coalwood and was a reminder that Sonny should follow his heart. One of the greatest gifts that Sonny's mother gave him was her candor. Unlike Sonny's father, his mother was a realist. She told Sonny that Coalwood was dying and he had to get out. Sonny's father, on the other hand, had a different dream for Sonny. He and his father never saw eye to eye, especially when it came to Sonny's future. His father wanted Sonny to become a mining engineer. Sonny tried to win his father's respect, but sometimes his anger got in the way. "But what had really truly pushed me into it was my anger toward Dad. If we won the science fair, that would show him, wouldn't it?" His parents' conflicting ideas sometimes caused Sonny to question the choices he had to make about his future. Another character who affected Sonny was his physics teacher Miss Riley. She offered him encouragement by presenting him a book on guided missiles and giving him a mission for his life. Her advice to him was: "You've got to put all of your hurt and anger aside so you can do your job. Your job, Sonny, is to build your rockets. If for no other reason because it honors you and this school." Her words stayed with Sonny and helped him with many challenges he faced later on. For example, when his cat was killed he decided not to retaliate and when his rockets were stolen at the national science fair, he persevered and found a way to replace his missing rockets. He put his feelings aside and remembered what she had told him to do - his job. The author also used literary elements to convey how Sonny's identity was shaped. The rocket boys used Jake's telescope to see stars a million miles away, but couldn't focus it clear enough to see Coalwood. In that same way it was ironic that Sonny felt "I had a clear vision of my future in space, but the life I led in Coalwood sometimes seemed to blur." Another element used by the author was symbolism. Rockets became more than a hobby for Sonny: they symbolized a means of escaping the Coalwood way of life. Although they are not always clear, many forces shape our identity. For Homer Hickam, his family, his teacher, friends, community and even world events played significant roles in his development and helped shape his personality. Each contributed in a different way to give him his unique identity. In "October Sky," the author gives us a look at what life in a small town is like, complete with all of the ups and downs that go along with it. It's a captivating story that shows how, with perseverance and determination, it's possible to achieve your dreams. It gives you hope for your own life. It makes you believe in yourself. In the words of Sonny's friend Quentin, "prodigious." Wonderful, amazing, powerful. That's how I feel about "October Sky." It's a must-read for all ages.
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Summary: What Forces Shape Identity?
Review: The book, October Sky, by Homer Hickam describes a young boy's struggle to assert his own identity in a rural coalmining town. Identity is what makes a person unique. It is who they are. Identity is shaped by many forces including a person's surroundings, family and friends, and local and world events. For Homer Hickam, often called Sonny, the people in his life have the greatest influence on what he becomes.
The mine dominates almost everything in Coalwood. The coal or the company influences almost everything that happens there. All the houses are owned by the company. Any family that loses their miner in an accident gets kicked out of their house. The children are expected to grow up to work in the mine. No one can ever forget about the coal mining. They constantly hear the trains taking the coal away. Everyone battles to keep the ever-present coal dust from turning their house black. From all over town people can see the tipple where the coal is hauled out and the miners go down for their shifts. The mine almost forces people to be identical, to have the same values and outlook on life. Even the religion of the community changes when the company hires a new preacher.
Sputnik was a new force that changed some people. The thought of Russians flying overhead scared some people but after a few days football and mine work took over conversations again. Sonny was inspired by Sputnik. He wanted to be part of rocket building and the space race. It started him on the path to become a scientist, not a miner. This choice brought both conflict and support from his family and friends.
Sonny's father, Homer Hickam Sr., is the superintendent at the Coalwood mine. The mine is his life. He wants Sonny to follow him into the mine. He is closer to Sonny's brother Jim, who is a high school football star. When Homer Sr. shows up at all of Jim's football games and none of Sonny's early rocket launches, Sonny thinks his dad isn't proud of him. This conflict isn't resolved until Sonny's last rocket, Auk 31. Sonny lets his dad launch the rocket at the countdown and they watch the best rocket launch together.
Sonny has some important people that provided support and encouragement. His mother, Elsie, is a strong independent woman. She hates the mine and what it is doing to everyone. She can see that the mine will not last much longer. She wants to get her sons to college and her husband to retire from the mine. So when Sonny says he wants to build rockets, Elsie is the one that encourages him. She is tolerant about losing her prized rose garden fence to the very first rocket attempt. She defends Sonny when his rockets land in unexpected places. Elsie Hickam provides a safe place for Sonny to develop his identity.
Sonny's teachers are sources of encouragement as well as information. One group that helped a lot was the "Great Six". They were the teachers of grades one through six at the Coalwood grade school. When the preacher was preparing a sermon about sons obeying their fathers, the teachers made a suggestion that turned into another part about fathers helping their sons to dream. That sermon led to Homer Sr. leasing an abandoned slack dump which became Sonny's launching site, "Cape Coalwood". Sonny's most important teacher was Miss Riley, the high school chemistry teacher. She provided technical help with books and chemistry demonstrations which led to ideas for rocket fuel. She helped get math courses that were needed for an understanding of rocket motion. More importantly, she helps Sonny grow as a person. When Sonny felt responsible for the death of Mr. Bykovski he stopped all work on rockets. Miss Riley convinced Sonny not to give up his dreams and to keep going. She taught Sonny to keep aiming higher. She encouraged him to enter the state science fair, and he advanced all the way to a first place finish in the national science fair. Miss Riley herself provides an example of determination when she gets a serious disease but never gives up.
Sonny's identity is influenced by many things but especially the people in his life. His mother and Miss Riley had the greatest influence on who Sonny became. October Sky is a worthwhile read because everyone goes through something similar to Sonny's struggle and because it shows that anything is possible if you work hard and aim high.
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Summary: Forces That Shape Identity
Review: In Homer Hickam's memoir October Sky many forces shape Sonny's
identity. Both external and internal forces shaped Sonny's identity. His personal dreams and ambition as well as his parents' dream for him and his environment shaped his identity.
Sonny dreamed of becoming an engineer and working on American Rockets in Cape Canaveral with Dr. Wernher von Braun. His dreams led him to form the Big Creek Missile Agency (BCMA). His dreams also formed his identity of being a rocket boy. Sonny started working to reach his dreams, which served him well later on in life. Sonny had to work hard to learn the math and science needed for rocket building. Sonny had enough discipline to teach himself calculus when he was denied the class he fought so hard to get. The passion Sonny felt for rocket building gave him the strength to go against his fathers dreams for him. Sonny stood up many times to his father when he denied him materials and the use of the company machines and machinists. Sonny's dream gave him many qualities needed to achieve his dream.
Sonny's parents also shaped his identity. His father had a very different idea of what Sonny should do with his life. He felt that If Sonny were to be an engineer he would be a mining engineer. Sonny had a different idea and used his passion for rockets to try and become good enough for his father. Sonny tried to go along with the style of Coalwood and that was to not show emotion and fight personal battles alone. Sonny was different then the rest of the Coalwood community and so was his mother. Sonny's mother supported him in anything he wanted to do as long as he went to college. Sonny's mother continued to support him even after ruining her things. Sonny's first rocket ruined her fence and when Sonny started making rocket candy he ruined her kitchen equipment. He also broke his mother's furnace every time she had it fixed and reminded him to not blow himself up. Sonny's parents and his dreams shaped his identity. The environment Sonny grew up in also
effected his identity.
The setting of October Sky effects Sonny's identity because the town of Coalwood came with it's own destiny for it's residents. In Coalwood you either worked at the mines or for the company and if you got to college you got there on a football scholarship or through the military. It was rare to have dreams for doing or becoming anything else. Sonny and his friends had a different dream and felt their rockets would get them there. In order to build the perfect rocket took determination and hard work. The boys were lucky to live in a coal town because they had the materials and skill of machinists at their disposal. When Sonny started building rockets the town did not support him. When Sonny's first rocket blew up his mother's fence the town thought he was just building bombs. With wit and careful planning the boys overcame many obstacles. The boys continued to build rockets despite the lack of money, the amount of trouble and failure they ran
into did not stop them. Sonny and his friends were lucky to live in a trusting environment and one that still excepted trading as a form of pay. When the boys needed something they were able to work or trade for it. This gave them honesty and got them the resources they needed to be successful. The environment of the Coalwood gave them the physical and mental needs to succeed.
Homer Hickam's autobiography October Sky shows what forces shaped Sonny's identity. The theme of struggle runs through out the book. The author really gets the reader involved in the story with many surprising events. Through the book the characters are stopped by problems and every single time they over come them. The reader gets very close to the characters and you always want the boys to reach their goal of becoming
successful rocket engineers. The book is a worthwhile read full of information and emotion that shape the identity of Homer "Sonny" Hickam.
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Summary: What Forces Shape Identity-School Review of The Rocket Boys
Review: Language Arts William Kapp
What Forces Shape Identity? August 4, 2003 In books and stories there are many factors that influence the identity of characters. Some of the forces that can shape character's identities are the desire to impress others, the need to prove themselves to others, and determination. All of these forces help shape a young Homer H. Hickam Jr. (preferably known as Sonny) in his own book Rocket Boys, written as a memoir. This book shows his struggle to find himself and his future in a failing mining town called Coalwood, West Virginia. During the start of the book, Sonny is described as a nearsighted, small, intelligent young man. Unlike his brother who is a football star at his school, Sonny never had a future with football, which was the pride of Coalwood High School and the surrounding area. Because of this Sonny's father is not as close with Sonny as he is with his other son James (Jim). Sonny finds his comfort with books. When the Russians launch the Satellite Sputnik Sonny begins to have an interest in rocketry. After convincing his friends to go along with his plan to launch rockets they begin to experiment. During the events that follow, the forces that influence the identity of the characters begins to shape them and the people around them. In Rocket Boys the desire to impress girls helps build up the characters of not only Sonny but also all of his friends. Throughout the book girls are always a key subject of conversation between Sonny and his friends. While Sonny and his friends build rockets Sonny becomes infatuated with a girl called Dorothy Plunk. Against one of his friends advice Sonny tries again and again to win the heart of Dorothy. Sonny believes that by building rockets it will impress Dorothy. Sonny's idea is also helped along by the fact that the football team got suspended and so Sonny and his friends, (the "rocket boys") become more popular at the High School. Then one night at the Dugout (the popular weekend dance floor) Sonny sees Dorothy dancing quite intimately with his brother. Because of this Sonny then goes to make love to his close friend Valentine. Even after Dorothy and Jim break up Sonny still refuses to notice her presence in the hall. To cope with his disappointment Sonny puts even more effort into building rockets. This causes Sonny to realize that love is not always fair or right. As Sonny begins to launch off rockets it becomes apparent that he father doesn't agree with Sonny's dreams of working with Wernher Van Braun (an engineer that works on rockets for the Army). But when Jim and the High School football team get suspended from playing, Sonny's father begins to take a more active role in Sonny's future. Although Sonny's father never actually outright helps the "rocket boys" build their rockets he still helps in many unseen ways. An example of this is when Sonny can not find any wood that can be used for the blockhouse they are planning to build. Sonny's father gives them permission to use perfectly good wood that is supposedly "leftover" and "scrap" wood. Soon Sonny's father tells him that it sounds like what Sonny would like to be is an engineer. Because of this Sonny's father brings him into the mine where he is the foreman. Here Sonny finds out that his father still does not approve of his idea of working with rockets for the rest of his life but wants Sonny to work with him in his mine as an engineer. When Sonny tells his father that he still wants to work on rockets his father is upset, but Sonny goes on to prove himself to his father by winning the national science far. This causes Sonny's father to finally respect Sonny and his dreams of the future. Sonny's father finally shows his respect for Sonny's accomplishments when he shows up at the launchs of Sonny's final rockets. Because Sonny was able to gain respect from his father he comes to realize that West Virginia is where he belongs. Another force that greatly helps shape the character and identity of Sonny is determination. Through out the book Sonny stays determined to continue working on rockets no matter what everyone else says. The only time when Sonny's determination falters is when Mr. Bykovski dies in a mining accident. This is because Mr. Bykovski was helping Sonny with his rockets, and was found out and was punished by being forced to work as a loader in the mine on the evening shift. This causes Sonny to go into a bout of lethargy in which Sonny supposedly tries to be strong like his father. This causes him to stop working on rockets. Sonny gains more self-confidence after talking to Miss Riley about the incident. Sonny then returns to working on his rockets with even more determination. Through out Sonny's phase of depression Sonny becomes stronger but also comes to realize that to live you must have some weaknesses. This book does a very good job of portraying a teenager's struggle to find out who he is and where he belongs. This would be a very good book for anyone else suffering from the same solitary symptoms. The author does very good job of portraying his early life's events. Once done with the book many people feel the urge to go out and find themselves by launching rockets.
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Summary: Forces that shape Homer's identity
Review: October Sky by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. showed how Homer found out his identity during his teenage years. Homer's identity was shaped by his relationships, his community, and actions. He was so thrilled after the satellite sputnik flew over his town of Coalwood, West Virginia. After the sight he knew he wanted to help in the journey to space. That's when he decided to build his own rockets. Homer knew it would be tough and he was ready for anything.
Homer gained many new relationships with people during his rocket building. The rocket building club, BCMA helped Homer make new friends and get to know his old ones better. They all had a great time building the rockets. The club helped bring out Homer's leader skills and his determination. He wanted everything to work out and almost always succeeded. Many times they were low on supplies and they didn't have much money. To get the steel for the rockets, Homer had to go through a whole trading process. The first time he ran into trading he wasn't ready and had to go through tons of people until he got the steel. Homer's relationship with his father greatly impacted his identity. They disagreed frequently but every once in a while there was a love in the relationship. Homer Senior always wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and become a coal-mining engineer. Homer Jr. saw a different future. He wanted to be an engineer but a rocket engineer. This brought big conflict in their relationship. But even with this conflict Homer Senior helped out on Homer Jr.'s rocket building. Homer Jr. would ask for supplies from the coalmine and Homer Senior would always make an argument on how he couldn't. But the next day the supplies always showed up. Homer's mother was very supportive of Homer. She was proud he was getting away from the town when he grew up. She felt that Coalwood would die and she didn't want it to take over his life like it did to Homer's father. She always told Homer that he'd go to college. She even got him a signed photograph of Homer's idol, Dr. von Braun. Dorothy Plunk made a huge effect on Homer's identity. Homer had a huge crush on Dorothy throughout the whole book. They became friends and liked each other's company. But Dorothy didn't want to become boyfriend and girlfriend like Homer did. This broke Homers heart but he realized he couldn't get everything he wanted.
Homer's community of Coalwood was very helpful during his rocket building. Homer didn't know what to do when he just got started. He didn't know how to weld rockets together so he needed someone to build his rockets. He was very lucky because Mr. Bykovski who worked in the machine shop risked his job and built Homers rockets. He tried to teach Homer but when Homer tried it turned out sloppy. Other people helped out too. The community came and watched Homer set off his rockets to give him support. Eventually Mr. Bykovski got in trouble but Homer wasn't out of luck. Mr. Caton now could build Homer's rockets as long as it was ok with Homer's father. He was very proud of helping out and excited to try and perfect Homer's designs. Mr. Caton and some his men came to the launches and were very proud of the rocket club for their work. Homer's rockets brought the town together.
Homer's own actions took a big part in shaping his identity. He was the first one in the town to think about anything but football and coalmining. He widened people's minds and showed them there was more to life. The football season was canceled for one year because the football fathers' challenged the football league. This was because Big Creek wasn't allowed to play in the championships after a terrific year. The fall was suppose to be depressing without football but it wasn't. Homer's rockets kept up everyone's spirits. The only depressed people were the football players. When Homer just started he blew up his mother's fence. The news spread around Coalwood and he was made to be a troublemaker. He had to change his reputation in order to count on the community for help and soon did by making rockets fly without hurting anyone.
Homer identity gets stronger as the book goes on. Many forces effect his identity and it changes many times. This book was very compelling and strong. The book let you learn to think outside the lines and stay strong. This book show's how important family, friends and your community can be in life.
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Summary: Homer Hickam: The Result of Opposing Forces
Review: In "October Sky", by Homer Hickam, the main character, Homer Hickam, was a teenage student in the isolated city of Coalwood, Virginia. Son of a very important person at the local mine, he was destined to become a miner like his father; however he had other plans in mind. On his journey to escape his hometown, Hickam is forced through many various identity changes, brought on by all his environmental exposures. Hickam was molded into the outgoing, confrontational, outlandish, and industrious student he was. Family, friends, disasters, and even Hickam's teachers were the sculptors of his personality.
No matter in what city or during what period one is raised, one's milieu will always have a dramatic effect on one's values and character. While Homer was in school, a major occurrence was seen across the world, Sputnik was launched, showing Russia was ahead of America in the space race. Seeing the flaming piece of metal stream across the sky that October evening changed Homer's life forever. The Russian's achievements inspired Hickam to start building his own rockets. Homer was also raised in a small town where almost everybody raised there was stuck there working in the mine for the rest of their life. He was always seeing the horrible things going on down at the mine, such as people consistently injuring themselves. He was steadfast in position of desiring to leave his small town and never having to work in the mine.
Friends also played a major role in the formation of the Hickam that is around today. After deciding to build rockets, Homer set out t o create a group colleagues who he would build rockets with. With this goal in mind he created a small group called the Big Creek Missile Agency (BCMA), consisting of several of his classmates. One of these boys had a large impact on Homer as a person; Roy Lee. Roy Lee taught Homer all about girls, and just life in general, and turned young Hickam into a much more social and easy going person. Quentin, adversely, taught Homer great discipline when it came to work, and would always inspire Hickam to keep going no matter what obstacle threw itself in his way.
Even though Homer always thought himself different from everyone else, no one can escape the tremendous influence their parents have on what they become. Homer's mother was an ever understanding person, and encouraged Homer to do whatever he wanted, as long as he didn't "blow himself up." Contrastingly, Homer's father wanted him to have nothing to do with the rockets. He had always thought that Homer would come and work at the mine. This put Homer and his father in constant confrontation. Homer would keep building his rockets, and his father would keep yelling at him and punishing him for it. Hickam's parents often quarreled over the matter of Homer's rockets, so he used his rocket building as an escape from all pressures of his family life and all the tension in his life.
Whenever Homer was feeling daunted he always had two people he really looked up to. His teacher Mrs. Riley was always there to encourage him and to tell hi how good he was doing, even while she lay on her deathbed. The other was Homer's hero, Dr. Werner von Braun. He even had an autographed picture of him in his room. Failure would not daunt Homer because he knew that even his hero underwent failures.
The community always gave their support whenever it was feasible. The rockets not only meant a way for the BCMA to get knowledge and possibly a scholarship, they also symbolized the possibility of any kid to do something great, which was not a common thought in that town. Up till that point, unless a child played football and got a scholarship for that, they would be stuck working in the mine. Now the community realized that these few kids held their own hopes and aspirations in their hands. Homer was not always aware of this, but it did mean he would always have the support of his town in whatever endeavors he encounters.
Being hounded by all these counterbalancing forces did not hinder Hickam on his journey to become a very successful and talented scientist. He harvested all the pressure upon him and used it to make diamonds in this wonderful narrative. It keeps one wanting more, and never disappoints. This book is not only worth reading, it's worth reading twice.
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Summary: Forces that Shaped the Identity of Sonny Hickam
Review: Throughout Sonny Hickam's adolescent years there were many strong influences that made him who he was as a young adult. Forces that shape identity range from important, and impacting events, to influential people that one would meet in life. Shaping the identity of a person is forming how a person will act, and how other people recognize and regard one forevermore in ones' life. The forces that shaped Sonny Hickam's identity were the influencial people that knew or met along in his life. They left an impact that affected how he acted, and how he would furthermore live his life.
One force that shaped Sonny's identity was the maternal influence that his mother had on him. The author characterizes Sonny's mother as a woman of dedication and a leader among her family. "You better not become a heathen, boy." This quote is a prime example when Sonny skipped Church, of how Elsie Hickam was very dedicated towards religion and her taking care of her family religiously. Eventually, Sonny became very dedicated with his amateur rocketry, as his mother was with Church realted programs. As a motherly influence on Sonny, Elsie Hickam became a source of inspiration for Sonny, and his leadership towards the success of his love for space and rocketry. Dedication and leadership were evidenced in Elsie Hickam, and this became a force to shape Sonny Hickam into a dedicated leader.
In addition, another force that shaped part of Sonny's identity, was the generosity and willingness of Ike Bykovski, the machinist and welder. Ike Bykovski was always fond of Sonny Hickam, and was always more than willing to meet any need or demand that Sonny had for the further development of his rockets. For example, when Sonny started his adventure of building rockets, he asked Mr. Bykovski to weld a washer to the bottom of a piece of metal tubing. The author uses characterization to allow Ike to not just weld the washer, but gladly do whatever task Sonny needed done. By building more rockets than Sonny needed done, and also getting more machinists to work on the rocket project. Ike's generosity rubbed off onto Sonny. Sonny displayed generosity by studying with, and partially tutoring his fellow classmate, Dorothy Plunk every Sunday afternoon, free of charge. Ike Bykovski was always generous towards Sonny, and can be regarded as a force that shaped generosity into Sonny Hickam's identity.
Yet another force evidenced in Sonny's life was the everlasting power of friendship, showed by his fellow Rocket Boys. Sonny's friends were all equally dedicated and hardworking with him during the experimentation of the rocket building. They were always helpful to Sonny in his achievements and in taking another step forward in rocket building. For instance, when Quentin kept challenging Sonny toward greater rocketry goals, such as the science fair. Also, by helping him get the money to buy new and better materials for experimentation in their rocket experiments. By having friends, Sonny always several comrades to back him up in his decisions and to encourage him in his life as a young scientist. By using conflict, the author uses and instance when the Rocket Boys earned the honor of competing in the National Science Fair, and only could send one person to go to the Fair. They sacrificed their trip to Inndianapolis, Indianna in order to have Sonny represent them after all their hard work and dedication. The Rocket Boys always kept the power of friendship strong, and were ready to sacrifice almost anything for one another.
There are a wide variety of different forces that shape identity. The shaping of identity is the expansion of ones' inner and personal characteristics; created by the influential forces of this world. For Sonny Hickam, several major forces were the maternal influence in his life that shaped dedication and leadership into his identity. Also, the generous actions of Ike Bykovski that implanted the traits of generosity and willingness into Sonny's identity. Finally, the power of friendship displayed by all of the Rocket Boys towards Sonny, that gave him the characteristics in his identity of self-sacrifice, and perseverance. These are the few forces that most significantly shaped Sonny Hickam's identity. Due to these strong forces they make the book enticing throughout every page. This worthwhile read will have an everlasting effect on you, that will make you think differently about the forces that shape your identity the most.
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Summary: What Forces Shape Identity
Review: There are few forces that can shape identity. In the autobiography Rocket Boys, by Homer Hickam Junior, also known as October Sky, there were many events where you could relate and identify with the character. You could imagine what kind of person the character was, and connect them to a fellow acquaintance, and further more how they would come to influence Sonny. Hickam uses setting, characterization, symbolism, and other literary articles to his advantage, to help shape a younger version of himself and his identity.
Quentin is one of the significant people that helped shape Sonny. Quentin would always motivate Sonny, so he could achieve his absolute best. There is one particular scene in the book in which Sonny was calculating equations to design a new rocket nozzle. Though Sonny kept nagging Quentin to work the equations instead of him, because Quentin was a better mathematician, Quentin had Sonny keep at the equations well into the night. Quentin made Sonny become more determined and built up his self-confidence. During that night Quentin had told Sonny that if the equations weren't worked out then the BCMA might as well have only settled for a good rocket, instead of maybe achieving a great rocket, a rocket that does exactly what it's designed to do.
The event in the book where Daisy Mae, (Sonny's beloved cat) is run over by a car, the author uses the conflict in the book in order to better shape Sonny's identity. Sonny had thought that Daisy Mae's death had been an accident, but he realized that he had heard the same tires screech before. Sonny had heard them when someone had tried to shoot his father. Roy Lee, being a faithful friend found out who had murdered Daisy Mae, but Sonny declined in knowing the culprit. Sonny had grasped that it would not have done him any good, and he figured since the leader of murderer's group, Pooky had been sentenced to leave town, the culprit would get his just deserves. Thus Sonny is showing signs of maturity, and this displays what kind a person Sonny is, with help from Roy Lee.
Another force that helps to shape identity is emotion, and how those emotions are presented and used. When Sonny and Quentin ruined the hot water heater, his mom saw it and started laughing. Any other person's mother would have been screaming at them, or have been the least bit furious with them. But nevertheless she told them, "You boys are the light of my life, I've been wanting to get rid of this coal-fired thing for years." Sonny's mom had a huge influence on him, and he was lucky to have her. Sonny's emotions were what made him such a loveable character and they really helped you picture him and what he would do in a certain situation.
This book was a worthwhile read, because there are not many books similar to this one. October Sky, is a great book that is full of interesting facts about rockets, and how life was like in a small town such as Coalwood, in the 1960's while he was growing up. The book lets you connect with the characters in their sentimentality and realism. This book is a great read that people will want to read again and again. Homer Hickam omni majestically conveys many forces that shape Sonny's identity as he is growing up and touches the hearts of many who come to read the book.
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Summary: October Sky
Review: English Liz Carroll
October Sky Formal Writing project Each person is an individual. No one is exactly alike. Some people are always happy and smiling, some people are shy and don't make friends easily. In Homer Hickam, Jr.'s case, he's friendly but determined and strong willed. What forces shape this person? What gives them their identity? Since each person is different, the forces are different.
In a person's life, there are always major factors that influence who they are. Parents and family are usually a factor that most people have in common. When children are young they look up to their parents and respect them for the most part. A lot of times they want to be just like them when they're older. Sometimes parents try and live through their children as well. If a parent missed opportunities as a child, their children can make up for it. Also, siblings can greatly influence an identity. This is the case of Sonny, or Homer Hickam, Jr. His father could not be more proud of his son Jim. Jim is an amazing football player and his father goes to see all of his games. Despite his suspension from football in his senior year, colleges still offer him scholarships to play for them. This would be a lot for anyone to live up to. Especially fo Sonny because he's not exceptionally bright and he didn't make the football team. His father expects Sonny to come work with him in the mine and stay in Coalwood forever. Sonny wants to find a way to get himself into college like his brother, and the satellite Sputnik motivates him to build rockets. Being a "rocket boy" of the BCMA (Big Creek Missile Agency) has given Sonny a name for himself. Practically the whole town comes to watch him when he launches off his rockets. His father played a big part in that aspect of his life. Maybe not by encouraging and supporting him but perhaps by the opposite. His father wasn't there for him and didn't believe in him and that made Sonny want to prove him wrong.
Elsie Hickam was a strong supporter of her son, Sonny. She wanted so badly for him to get out of Coalwood, West Virginia and make something of himself. She didn't want to see him caught up in the mine like his father. Elsie did what she could to help Sonny. Even if it was just staying out of their way or giving support from the sidelines. From the beginning she's told Sonny two things:fly these rockets so you can get out of Coalwood and don't blow yourself up. Sonny is glad to have the support of one parent and has so much gratitude towards her for making him continue his rockets even after his father tells him not to. Through all the difficult times when it looked like they would never succeed, she has believed in them. For her whole life she has been saving up her money to move to Myrtle Beach and send Sonny off to college. She knows Jim will get a scholarship because of football but she was worried about Sonny. She always pushed him to build better rockets and enter them into the science fair. Without his mom, Sonny probably would have just given up.
In the same sense as his father, Jim motivated Sonny. Not only is he the oldest in the family, but he is such a good football player that the whole school knows who he is and knows that he's related to Sonny. It also doesn't help that Jim's not very nice to Sonny. Jim and his football friends are always picking on Sonny and his friends and Jim always gets the girls. He even gets Dorothy Plunk, the girl who Sonny has been in love with all through high school. It's hard to compete with someone a school hero when you're nothing special. But Jim motivates Sonny to be something special. He's tired of being the little brother to the star of the football team and he's wants people to recognize him for his achievements.
For Sonny, the forces that shape his identity are mostly pressure from his parents and siblings. He wants so badly to impress his father, make him proud. His mother wants him to get out of Coalwood and make a life for himself and he doesn't want to let her down. His brother has always been better, stronger, quicker, smarter. But now, Sonny has something that he's better at. October Sky was a great book. The author, Homer Hickam, Jr. makes you feel what he's feeling. He shows you the small town and identical houses. The backyard fences where Coalwood news spreads so quickly. He shows you the tipple, and the mine, and you hear the footsteps of the miner's as they walk to work each morning. This book is a fantastic read and very entertaining to anyone.
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Summary: Forces that shape identity
Review: Who you are is not always an easy question. The answer is shaped by many different forces and influences. In October Sky, Sonny's include mentors, family and friends, challenging situations, community support and gaining independence. October Sky details the changes made by those forces for Sonny Hickam.
"That which does not kill you makes you stronger," a wise man once whispered. The wisdom of his words applies to Sonny Hickam, due to the challenging situations he was often put into. Many situations involved his rocketry, of course, but most were bigger than that. First, a lack of support, in the beginning, from their community often occurred. "[When] we blew up a bottle . . . people thought the mine had blown up . . . then somebody else would say 'No, it's just those damn rocket boys!' " Children acted arrogantly and ill-mannered as well: "Across the creek . . . younger children gathered . . . 'Hey rocket boys! Why don't your rockets fly?' they chorused." His father also had a lack of interest and affection. His resistance to Sonny's rocketry was a major, perhaps the decisive factor in Sonny's identity change. More than anything, Sonny wanted his father to feel love and pride in his accomplishments. When Sonny wanted him to visit Cape Coalwood, his father resisted; "'Dad, we're doing good down at Cape Coalwood. Come see us.' . . . 'Maybe when I have time.' . . . 'You always have time for Jim,' I blurted out. . . 'Just come and see, dad.' . . . I heard pleading in my voice." This scene is one of many that shows Sonny's need for acceptance by his father. But by the end of the book, the misadventures with his father changed his attitude and outlook. "[I] waited patiently and with hope for him to put his arm around my shoulder and tell me . . . [I'd] done something good. . . I went to him and put my arm around his shoulder. . . 'You did really good dad . . . nobody launched a better rocket than you." Instances such as these show a shy boy becoming an independent man.
Homer, his father, also played the role of a mentor. Although not the only one (Miss Riley, his mother and Dr. Wernher Von Braun were also important), he probably had the most influence upon Sonny's actions. This was because Sonny constantly tried to match up to his father. One example of this occurred at Doc's house. "[Doc asked] 'You want me to deaden your wrist?' 'Oh, yes, sir,' I said groggily. He shrugged. 'Your dad got . . . stitches . . . without any painkiller. I rose to his challenge. 'Then I don't need it either.'" His mother was another existing driving force. She expected of Sonny nothing more than for him to be himself. She supported him and was on his side.
Another supportive person was Miss Riley. She was the first person to help and even suggest the science fair. "'This came . . . yesterday . . . Mrs. Bryson and I . . . ordered it for you.' It was the most wondrous book title I'd ever seen: Principles of Guided Missile Design." This is just one situation where Miss Riley encouraged the boys' rockets. In addition to encouragement, she was a mentor toward them, and Sonny thought of her as someone very close to him. When she got cancer, Sonny felt "[He] had been turned inside out."
Dr. Wernher Von Braun also served as a driving force. Sonny repeatedly exclaimed that Wernher Von Braun was a great man. When he received the autographed photograph of him, he "Couldn't believe what. . . [He] was reading."
All these mentors were an integral part of Sonny's eventual achievement. But role models come in many different forms, for instance friends. Quentin was someone who always believed that Sonny could do more. When it came time to do calculations for a rocket, Sonny felt: "My confidence was gone. . . Quentin leaned forward. . 'If you don't work these equations . . . What will be the point of all we've done. . . we might. . . be able to bluff our way. . . but you'll know and I'll know. . . We could have built a great rocket."
From Quentin to his father, Miss Riley and Dr. Wernher Von Braun, his mother, Sonny had people and situations that impacted his life. The changes these people made are evident through the experiences Sonny had. Every major event that happened to Sonny involved one of these people in some way, from when he cut his arm and his father was there, to the science fair when Miss Riley encouraged him. Every prominent event took place with at least some input from the important individuals with whom Sonny spent time.
The author, Sonny, also used literary elements to accentuate the story and convey the forces which shaped his identity. Tone and setting and conflict followed by resolution were four techniques often used. The first two techniques were subtly used in order to show how the mood of the story changed. In the beginning, the story seemed to be dreadful. But by the end, a different mood had set: "Dad prancing along the slack waving his old hat in the air . . . as Auk XXXI raced across the sunlit sky on that glorious day . . ." In the preceding excerpt the gloomy tone had changed, and changes in Sonny were subsequently reflected. Thus, literary elements helped to convey forces which shaped Sonny's identity. Elements of conflict and resolution represented by Sonny and his father's relationship as depicted in the following scene: "'You're my boy . . . I was born to lead men in the profession of mining coal. Maybe you were too.' You're my boy . . . I could savor the words . . . [Dad questioned], 'Do you want to be a mining engineer?' . . . I want to go work for Dr. Von Braun.' He didn't hide his disappointment [and proceeded to ridicule Dr. Von Braun] . . . I knew I'd hurt him. . ." Portraying the mentor he came to be, Homer's character and Sonny's change was shown through this scene. Because although resolution was not far from view, conflict was the closest feeling within reach, and conflict is what shows emotion.
In summary, Sonny Hickam changes during the course of October Sky, whether it's because of perspective, mentors, family and friends, challenging situations, community support or gaining independence, this book is definitely worth a read. Every situation could be your life, or at least some form of it, and you want to keep turning the page. October Sky has definitely earned the title "#1 New York Times Bestseller," and is well worth a read.
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