Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1) by Homer Hickam
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Book Reviews of Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1)
Book Review: The Best Book I've Read in 2009
Summary: 5 Stars
As the first book of his "Coalwood Series", Author Homer Hickham garners this non-fiction book a "galaxy" rating, as it is easily the best book I have read in 2009. I intend to share it with my 14-year old son, who dreams of being a rocket engineer someday.
Set in the tiny town of Coalwood, West Virginia, (1957 - 1960) Homer Hadley Hickham suddenly discovers at age 15 that there is a whole world outside of the isolated Coalwood when he views the mysterious Russian satellite, Sputnik, pass overhead one night. The idea that the Russians could put a satellite in space inspires young Hickham to think beyond working in the Coalwood coal mine, as his father has planned for him. Encouraged by his science teacher and his wonderfuly free-thinking mother, Homer begins to build home-made rockets for the grandiose goal of someday working with the great German Scientist, Wehrner Von Braun, who leads the American space effort.
This is a most engaging and charming book. It captures the heart and soul of a teen-aged boy who has great plans, but has virtually no one to guide or help him achieve his dream. Despite daunting odds and obstacles, Homer gathers some like-thinking friends and they begin the Coalwood Rocket Club. The boys have absolutely no idea how to build or fuel a rocket, so they enlist the help of the high school math and science geek, who consistently guides the rocket boys in the right direction. Yet even the addition of a math genius is not enough, for materials for rockets are scarce. Homer enlists workers from the Coalwood mine to help him obtain the raw materials to build his rockets. The miners readily pitch in to help, but Homer's father, the mine foreman, strongly and disdainly discourages Homer from pursuing his dream, and instead tries to steer Homer to become a mine engineer, like himself. The central conflict becomes the straining tension between a father's practical expectations for his son, and the son's expnsive dreams of space flight. Is this not a universal conflict between all boys and their father's expectations?
Over the course of approximately 3 years, Homer and his rocket boys launch over 35 rockets, learning lessons from their failures as well as their successes. Along the way, Homer tenderly relates his experiences and thoughts as he makes his way through the tumultuous high school years: girls, girlfriends, sex, school dances, poverty, envy, jealousy, complex family relations, labor-union conflicts, and so much more. While rocket building is the framework for this book, the lessons and experiences of growing up in Coalwood fill out the framework in a very satisfying manner. Anyone growing up in the fifties or sixties will be instantly transported back in time to their own teenage years, for Homer's story is the story of the American Dream.
The book hooks you early on as every good book should, and then holds your interest to the very last page. I am already looking forward to devouring the remaining books in the Coalwood series.
Homer Hickham blasts off this first book and achieves a successful orbit that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. A great book, and most highly recommended.
Konedog
Book Review: Romanticism + Postmodernism = "October Sky"
Summary: 5 Stars
Romanticism is yellow paint, and postmodernism is blue paint. Many authors do not know how to mix the two colors together, so that the colors unite and become one color. Hickam is one the few authors who are able to mix romanticism and postmodernism into green paint. This green pain is the must-read story called "October Sky" by Homer J. Hickam Jr. Even though this book was written in 1997, Hickam efficiently transitions romanticism into postmodernism. As a result, approximately every prominent romantic trait can be clearly seen in "October Sky." Thus, this postmodern book is the most suitable book for those people who wish to learn about 18th Century romanticism in postmodern era.
Romantics in the 18th Century believed that there was an imprisoning boundary that surrounded them. It was a tradition that society did not even dare breaking. Society during the 18th Century followed their tradition of living for their future by only praying and studying the bible to ensure their tickets to heaven. Romantics sought to break away from that `imprisoning' boundary through the famous Renaissance. Instead of dully living their lives by only praying, romantics began to live their lives for the present by entertaining themselves. Romantics began to paint art, write philosophies that tested God's existence, read books other than the bible, and conducted scientific experiments that once again challenged God's powers. The Renaissance at first appalled society; however, soon enough society accepted the break away from tradition.
This romantic aspect can clearly be seen in "October Sky." By building rockets to enter the imaginative infinite medium of room called Space, Sonny was determined to break away from society's imprisoning boundaries. Because these rockets were breaking society's traditional presumption that nothing could enter Space, society was cynical towards Sonny's rockets. However, as a romantic, Sonny persistently pursued his goals to break away from the imprisoning boundaries. At times there were obstacles that were at first seemed too hard to overcome. Therefore, Sonny resorted to nature for refuge and hope, which is a very romantic aspect. Nature was Sonny's sacred place where the urban society's imprisoning boundaries could not enter. Therefore, by resorting to nature, Sonny could limitlessly allow his imagination to soar. In nature, he did not have to confront his tiring battle against the imprisoning boundaries; and thus, found peace in nature. As a result, because Hickam could find peace and hope in nature, he claimed that true beauty could only be found in nature, which is an extremely romantic trait.
Therefore, even though this book is set during postmodern era, romanticism soars in "October Sky." With a combination of romanticism and postmodernism, this book is surely the most inspiring and educational book not only about rocketry, but also about life. We should always constantly pursue our goals and fight any hindrances such as, the imprisoning boundaries that Sonny has fought in "October Sky." I believe that if I give a longer review not only will people move on to the next review, but I will also spoil the ending. Therefore, I will conclude this review with a two thumbs up!
Book Review: A Truly Inspiring and Informative Memoir
Summary: 5 Stars
Memoirs have the potential to capture events and time periods on a personal level by those who have lived it. In his chronicle, Rocket Boys, Homer Hickam Jr. provides a firsthand look at life in a 1950's West Virginia mining town, and the emergence of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). On a personal level, we see the conflict between young Homer and his father over his desire to leave the mining town and follow his dreams of becoming a rocket engineer for the up-and-coming space program. The driving force behind this desire is the Soviet launching of Sputnik, the Space Race, and the work of renowned scientist Werner von Braun and his fellow rocket scientists at Cape Canaveral. Fourteen-year-old Homer, Jr., sees building rockets as a passion and a way out of Coalwood, West Virginia, a dying coalmining town nestled in the heart of the Appalachians. Hickam combines his family conflicts and the Space Race of the 1950's to provide a literary experience that connects with the reader on both a personal and historical level. Homer, or Sonny as he is called by his family and friends, is in constant conflict with his father over his desire to build rockets. Sonny's father is the mine superintendant, a workaholic totally dedicated to his work. As we soon learn, Homer, Sr., is responsible for the hundreds of men who risk their lives underground in the mines every day. He sees Sonny's rocket building as a childish hobby that needs to be left behind. Sonny's resolve and dedication to building rockets and becoming an engineer is unwavering, and the two rarely see eye to eye. Although there are some adults in the community who support him, at times it feels as though the entire town is against him. Sonny Hickam is an inspiration as a scientist, person, author, and patriot. At the end of the memoir, he looks back on his childhood and remembers Coalwood: "Even now, Coalwood endures, and no one, nor carless industry or overzealous government, can ever completely destroy it--not while we who once lived there may recall our life among its places, or especially remember rockets that once leapt into the air, propelled not by physics but by the vibrant love of an honorable people, and the instruction of a dear teacher, and the dreams of boys" (page 368). A lifetime has passed since his childhood, and yet he is able to reflect and remember the positives of his youth far outweighing the negatives. His words and attitude that come across in them inspire the reader. On a personal level, I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir; indeed, I was utterly transfixed as the story played itself out. As I read each page, I was moved that Sonny kept his dream alive despite the enormous obstacles that stood in his way. It truly seemed that nobody else but Sonny realized that his dreams could come true unlike everybody else in the town. To his everlasting credit, whenever he got hit hard, he invariably stood right back up. This would apply to the arguments with his father and his frustration with the rockets that he's built and launched. He had multiple failures before he achieved the ultimate success. In my mind, it is a truly inspiring and informative memoir.Book Review: Terrific Book......Part Of A Tradition
Summary: 5 Stars
I decided to pick up Rocket Boys after seeing "October Sky" with my son. October Sky, (OS) is one of the movies that was included as part of a tradition my son and I had started when he was a youngin', and still continuing today. October Sky is what I refer to as a "Dad" movie, or any movie that was either about, or included a sub plot that reflected a relationship between a father and his son. Anyone that has seen OS knows that this wonderful movie very much accomplishes that prerequisite. Other examples over the years included "Field of Dreams", "Road To Perdition" and "The Fighting Sullivans". Although my son is all grown up now, we still try to get together on occasion whenever a new Dad movie either comes along, or is discovered. I really don't expect him to make a point in his life anymore to seek out and secure every one there is available. I am happy that he at least remembers it, and joins me on watching one with me every once in a while.
Reading any book together that inspired the Dad movies has not ever been part of the tradition, (that one is mine alone). And Rocket Boys (RB) is no exception. I bought RB after seeing OS, for I was very much interested in seeing just what liberties were taken with the theatrical version. Not only that, but I was also so fascinated with this truly amazing real life story, that I couldn't wait to read all the furthur details of Homer Hickam and the rocket boys life and times. I really do not want this to be just another review where I talk about Hickam's writing style, his portrayal of characters, or the differences between his book, and the movie. Let it suffice that if you loved OS and just felt at the end of it that you wished it could have just continued on a while longer, than Rocket Boys is something you should definitely take the time to read. Basically it follows the movie very well, except like any book that inspires a movie version, there is a tremendous amount of more, and greater detail about everything. Hickam's home life, the relationship with his brother, and girls, his trials and tribulations with designing and building his rocket, along with the true story of his trip to the science fair finals. If everything that is in the book was included in the movie, it would have been at least twice as long as it was. Which for those of us that loved the movie, would have been just fine.
If you are someone that is fortunate enough to have a tradition such as mine, or are just someone that loved October Sky for just the wonderful, heart warming, intricate portrayal that it was, I urge you to pick up a copy of Rocket Boys. The last thing this true story is, is one of those books that is so different from the movie that you will find yourself disappointed. It will not in any way portray anything that you are not already familiar with, transport you to a different place, or introduce you to any new characters that will leave you abandoned from what the movies visuals instilled in you. It is basically October Sky, the complete story. Highly recommended...
Book Review: A Great Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam Jr. is an eloquent story about six boys putting their minds on something and succeeding in making their dreams come true. It is a demonstration of personal change and growth where the boys hoped they could do great things but didn't really know that they could succeed. Homer Hickam, know to his family and friends as Sonny, is growing up in the 1950's in a little mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. Everyone's life revolves around that mine In that town, you have two choices as to what to do with your life. The boys are all destined to take the same route that their parents did which is either ending up in a mine or going into the services. But The Rocket Boys as they are come to be known don't want to follow the path of their parents, they want more. They have dreams to be famous and create rockets.
Its inspirational because there were people that thought that they could reach their dreams like their teachers and people in their community, but there was also people that didn't think that they could do it. Sonny's own father didn't give him enough credit for what he was trying to accomplish. Homer, Sonny's dad doesn't really believe his youngest son is capable of growing up to be anything more than a clerk at the coal company, but his mother did, "You've got to show your dad you're smarter than he thinks. I believe you can build a rocket. He doesn't. I want you to show him I'm right and he's wrong". Its an important quote because it keeps Sonny going so he can accomplish his goals, because he mother wants to see him do more things with his life than just to become a miner. The boys kept going and kept their heads high.
It makes you really believe that you can do anything that you set your mind to. They end up accomplishing so much more than anyone thought that they could. All the rocket boys get together after graduation for one last launch. Their rocket, Auk XXXI reaches 6 miles into the sky. All the boys succeeded what they wanted to accomplish in life like becoming an engineer, join the army, or in Sonny's case work for NASA.
Sonny came from West Virginia but he was able to make it all the way to Cape Canaveral and work with NASA, which is a true life example that if you work hard enough, your dreams will come true. This was an amazing story of a young man's dream that never let down and I would recommend it to anyone. It's a book that you just can't put down and grabs your attention from the very first to the last chapter
Also the movie based off this book "October Sky" has nothing on this book. The book was amazing compared to the movie because it reveals more into relationships and town life and you should definitely read it and I promise you that you wont be disappointed. This book was excellent and well worth the time of reading! It will be one of the best books that you read. The book is a long read but if you put all the details aside, the message of the novel is that dreams can come true.