Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - Rocket Boys

Rocket Boys
Rocket Boys
Author: Homer Hickam
The #1 New York Times bestselling memoir that inspired the film October Sky, Rocket Boys is a uniquely American memoir--a powerful, luminous story of coming of age at the dawn of the 1960s, of a mother's love and a father's fears, of a group of young men who dreamed of launching rockets into outer space . . . and who made th...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780385333214
ISBN-10: 0385333218
Publication Date: 1/11/2000
Pages: 384
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 51

4 stars, based on 51 ratings
Publisher: Delta
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 2
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Rocket Boys on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Yes, it's basically non-fiction, but it reads like a novel. Never a boring section, and it gives both a
good picture of a coal mining town and the impact of the space program on the nation. Much better than the movie!
reviewed Rocket Boys on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent! One of the best books I've read. I am usually somewhat anxious to finish a book to find out how it ends. With this one I could have just kept bouncing along on the journey for another couple of hundred pages and enjoying the ride.
reviewed Rocket Boys on + 21 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the progression as these young men developed an understanding of the mathmatic principles of rocketry. There were a few parts which many may think add to the readability of this book but I think were not necessary.
This book also gives insight to the ways of coal mining and the effect it has on the miners and their families. It's a good read.
reviewed Rocket Boys on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a fascinating, very entertaining memoir by Homer Hickman, a NASA engineer. Hickman's story of growing up in the 1960s in a small West Virginia mining town with a group of friends who dreamed of launching rockets to space. Hickman grew up to become not only a rocket scientist but also an excellent writer!
DieHard avatar reviewed Rocket Boys on
Helpful Score: 1
Being a huge fan of the film "October Sky", I was a bit reluctant to read the memoir upon which it was based, "Rocket Boys". I was afraid one might dwarf the other but both are equally engaging, funny, and poignant. This is Homer Hickam story of growing up in a West Virginia coal mining town in the late 1950s and the attempt of a group of friends to escape the coal mining life by following their dream of building rockets. I highly recommend both the book and the movie.
Read All 8 Book Reviews of "Rocket Boys"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

top-tone avatar reviewed Rocket Boys on
Excellent memoir. Wonderful story of a certain time and place.
reviewed Rocket Boys on
I love this book. It is such a neat story about the details of living in a small community, the excitement of following Sonny as he develops his knowledge of rocket science, and the heart-warming support of his parents.


Genres: