Even better than the movie!

books:

	• Rocket Boys: A Memoir Homer Hickam Simon & Schuster Audio, 2006 average customer review:based on 538 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Even better than the movie!

It is a well known fact that a movie based on a book is not nearly as good as the book that it was based on. I had already seen and enjoyed the movie "October Sky," which is based on Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys, and so I was curious to find out if the book was indeed better. This fact definitely proved true in the case of Rocket Boys; it gives a deeper and more inspiring understanding of the story of those six boys from Coalwood, West Virginia.

Rocket Boys is an inspiring tale of six boys from West Virginia who thought they would spend the rest of their lives in the mine that was the center of their town. But things start to change when the United States became focused on the Russian satellite, Sputnik, and the boys began to see their futures opening up. They started learning all about rockets and then started building them. The book details all of the successes, failures, and challenges that the boys encountered along the way. It illustrates the all of the emotions and hard work that led to the boys' eventual success.

It is amazing and inspiring to see what these teenagers had to overcome in order to reach their dream in a world where all anyone thought they could do was work in the depths of a mine. They beat the odds and soared above the rest, despite any cynicism from those around them. Homer, the author, even got a job at NASA. Rocket Boys teaches the important lesson that you can do anything that you put your mind to. The movie was good, but the book was even better, and it was interesting to compare the two. This is a must read for all, and I recommend you don't just see the movie.

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October Sky

October Sky
By Homer H. Hickam, Jr.

This was an awesome book! This is based on a true story and the author was the main character in the book. It was just like the movie they made a few years ago, but the book had a lot more detail in it. I really liked that. I thought that the book in general was one of the best books I have read in a long time.
October Sky was a great book to show people a lesson. Homer Hickam Jr. loved rockets. He thought there was nothing like them and that they were the best thing on earth. One day Homer had decided to build a rocket but didn't have a clue where to start. The next day at school Homer went to the nerd of the school (Quentin) and asked him if he knew anything about rockets. Of course Quentin knew just about everything about rockets. Homer knew he would be made fun of if he was caught hanging out with Quentin but he didn't care. All Homer wanted was to be able to build a rocket and have it work. Homer and his friends Roy Lee and O'Dell worked with Quentin day and night to get the rockets to work. It seemed as if every rocket they had built was getting better and would fly way better. Every day they went to school they would be made fun of more and more because they became known as the "Rocket Boys". Finally they launched their last rocket for the town and it went for miles! The whole town saw it too. Homer felt like someone for once and he hadn't felt that way for a long time.
This book wasn't only a great book but it showed the readers that you can make just about any dream come true. It tells the readers and listeners to not give up on something you love and enjoy because you never know when your great dream may come true!

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Sonny's Amazing Life

October Sky is an inspiring novel that brings the story of the Rocket Boys to life. The descriptions are real, without holding back any truth to keep from offending people. He tells the story as he remembers it, adding in parts that sometimes do not even need to be told. All in all, the unnecessary short stories make the novel more entertaining. One can never tell what the boys are going to do in their next adventure.

Hickman goes into great depth describing his town and the people that he encountered. He paints a picture of a strange town, different from any that can be found in today's
Modern world. He shows a different way of life that people should be encouraged to hear about. He doesn't give the glory of the coal miner's life. He gives the hard basic truth, including all of the dangers and hardships coal miners faced as they tried to scratch out a living for their families.

The novel, also, gives an in depth look at how the Rocket Boys started. Hickman demonstrates how the boys fought for years to learn to build rockets. The struggles that they had to go through to achieve the lives they hold today. The fights they had with parents, schools and the coal company. There is a nice showing of how the boys learned to make rockets; it demonstrates the idea that nothing comes easy in life. The boys try over and over to build rockets that will fly higher and higher constantly having to change their designs.

I highly recommend that you read this novel. It shows the readers the way of life for coal miners and how people had to struggle to achieve their dreams. A good read that keeps readers smiling to the end, it goes into perfect description and brings the town to life.

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Hey you, Rocket Scientist!

Hey, you, Rocket Scientist! How many times have I said this sarcastically? It has finally caught up with me.

After reading Rocket Boys, a memoir by Homer Hickam Jr., I have a newfound respect for mathematics, physics, the scientific method and the perseverance it takes to achieve one's goal.

Set in the coal-mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia in 1958, Hickam recounts his high school years and his dream of going to space after the Russians launch Sputnik, the first rocket to make it into space.

However, Homer runs into many problems along the way, from the depressed economy of the coal mining town, which his father runs, to angry football players who hate the attention Homer and his buddies, the "Rocket Boys", get when the town grows to love their rocket launches. Every step of the way Homer seeks his dad's approval - will he ever get it? Mix in some high school romance and it's a recipe for success. And don't forget this is a true story.

Although I read it slowly, often reflecting upon my own high school dreams and loves, I rarely put it down. I think almost anyone would enjoy this success story - especially teen boys. Maybe a few less "Rocket scientist" comments will fly in the future.

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Timeless novel

October Sky is a very inspirational story about a group of boys growing up in a mining town, deep into the mountains of West Virginia. These boys, led by Homer Hickam, in their High School years built rockets, with inspiration from their idol, Dr. Werner von Braun, that they hope, will get them away from their town. They don't want to grow up to be a miner like they are expected too. They all have goals of bigger and better things. As time goes on, the boys learn more and more about their rockets, and gain a lot of support from the townspeople. The townspeople go and watch the launches and some of them even participate in the rocket building. As the rockets become more advanced the boys plan to enter them into a science fair. The idea was given to them by their teacher at school, At first they were hesitant but soon they became confident that they would do well. Since Sunny (Homer), was the leader he was going to be the one presenting. Sure enough, they won the science fair and went to go to regionals, and sure enough, they won there too. Now the boys were going to show off their rockets at the national science fair. At this fair, however, Sonny runs into some trouble. Someone steals all of the rocket equipment out from under the desk. But, with all of the support he has from the people back home, he gets new equipment delivered to him in time. Along with this good news, Sonny wins the science fair and brings home a blue ribbon for everyone to see. To show his thanks, he gives his medal to their teacher at school, when she is in the hospital. Sonny ends up working for NASA and the other boys in the group end up in the engineering field. The rocket boys brought a huge change to their small town in West Virginia.

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reviews: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, page 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

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