Book One of The Coalwood Series: Rocket Boys

Jian Guo: We got this book after we watched the movie, great book!

Canada on Jan 25, 2022

Marco Costanzi: Un ragazzo nato in un posto dimenticato da Dio in mezzo alle montagne dove la gente ha l'unica prospettiva di morire di silicosi o incidente in una miniera di carbone, può arrivare ad addestrare astronauti alla NASA? Ad Homer Hickam è successo questo ed è narrato in "Rocket Boys", libro famoso più che altro per essere alla base di "October sky" ("Cieli di Ottobre"), film pluripremiato. E la bellezza maggiore di questo libro e di questa storia è il fatto che Homer Hickam non era affatto conscio di quanto gli stava succedendo, e gli è successo soprattutto per la determinazione della madre, della sua insegnante e dei suoi amici. Lui ci ha messo solo un po' di faccia tosta e di spericolatezza. E' stato abbastanza. E' una grande storia di come un atto di generosità e lungimiranza può cambiare il mondo.

Italy on Oct 29, 2021

Wellington: Eu preciso melhorar meu inglês para relê-lo, foi a maior lição que eu tirei deste livro hahhahaah

Eu arrisquei aqui, pois gosto muito do filme, e fiquei curioso para ter mais detalhes. E o livro está cheio deles, a história de vida do grupo de rapazes é ótima, e muito legal ver toda a comunidade ajuda-los em sua "brincadeira" de construir foguetes achando que nada de bom realmente iria vir dai... mas que no fim junta toda a cidade em torno dos lançamentos e cria a esperança de dias melhores para todos. Não é só um livro sobre foguetes, é um sobre como sonhos se tornam realidade através de muito esforço, estudo e ajuda de quem só quer o seu melhor. Além de que não tem ninguém no mundo melhor que a sua mãe... foi até revoltante ver como a mãe do Homer Hickam foi tão importante para que tudo desse certo e ela ter sido jogada pra escanteio no filme e terem focado apenas no pai dele...

Um livro excelente, mas eu tenho que melhorar meu inglês para encara-lo novamente, teve muita coisa que eu não compreendi nem com ajuda... hahahaha

Brazil on Sep 07, 2019

Barbara Lawrence: Speedy delivery and more modern title and cover,was first printed as October Sky. One of the best books I have ever read, tells of the angst of teenage boys growing up in a mining town in America, the fifties. As it is a true story it is inspiring as they persist in realising their dreams and I would recommend this book and others in the series. Homer Hickam is still writing books and the rocket boys still meet annulaly for a reunion, I have read most of his books and they always entertain.

United Kingdom on May 28, 2018

Paul Drye: On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, and event that shocked and fascinated the world in the days and months to come. In the United States in particular it lead to a great deal of public angst over their engineering prowess and educational standards, leading to changes in schools that affected millions of children.

This book is the semi-fictionalized autobiography of one teenager caught up in the post-Sputnik avalanche of events, former NASA engineer Homer Hickam, and how he came to terms with the contradictions between his fascination with this new cutting edge of science and the utter dependence of himself, his family, and virtually everyone he knows on the dying coal-mining industry of West Virginia. It's part social commentary and part science documentary, all boiled down to Homer and his circle of peers as they negotiate the last few years of high school while learning how to create rockets of ever-increasing sophistication as their ticket out of the life they've lived to that point.

My own personal interest in reading this was for the rocketry and the insight into what it was like to be alive at that particular moment in...

Canada on Apr 21, 2016

Michael B Freedman: Homer "Sonny" Hickam, Jr.'s first memoir Rocket Boys is a masterpiece of American literature. Hickam's acclaimed book tells an extremely inspirational story of a young man who reaches his dream against all odds. However, what separates this memoir from the numerous other "follow your dreams" stories is its vivid, lucid language. As I was reading the story, I could actually picture what it was like living in small town America in the 1950's! I could picture his friends, the town, and all of the characters. I could feel his frustrations, problems, and relationships. Although I knew the ending to the novel straight away, I could not help but feel my emotion swaying with the ups and downs of the book. At some points, I was laughing out loud, and other made me feel as if I could shed a tear. What spurs Homer "Sonny"" Hickam throughout the memoir is the constant threat of working in the coal mines, dying young and miserable. His mother fears since he does not have the athletic ability of his older brother Jim, who is expected to receive a scholarship for college, he will never make it out of the town. However, Sonny's father hopes that he will follow in his footsteps and become the...

United States on Feb 15, 2011

John Thomas: 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...

United States on Oct 31, 2009