Rocket Boys (Ms. Wilson)

SUMMARY (5-10 sentences that reveal the book's setting, characters, and conflicts):

Rocket Boys is the story of Homer "Sonny" Hickham, who comes of age and begins to realize his potential at a time when America is first entering the space race. For the country, the future is rich with possiblity, but growing up in Coalwood, West Virginia, Homer is not encouraged to have big dreams. His father expects him to work in the mine like everyone else, but after hearing the steady beep-beep of Sputnik over the radio, Homer and his friends become inspired to build rockets of their own. This is the story of six boys who are determined to add to their "body of knowledge" by doggedly following their dreams. They teach themselves advanced math and shoot off countless duds before anyone will take them seriously. It is the story of a town that wants more for its children, a country that is rocketing into the future, and a father-son relationship that is both heart-wrenching and real.

CONNECTION (5-10 sentences that explain a personal connection to the book, a connection with another book, or a connection to a world issue):

As a teacher, I was drawn to the character of Miss Riley, the boys' science teacher. Rather than accept that all of her students are destined to work in the mine, she encourages them to dream big. She and the librarian conspire to buy a book about the physics of rockets so that Homer can acquire the knowledge necessary for a successful launch. She convinces Homer not to give up on rocket-building even after one of the mine workers who has helped him is killed in a devastating accident. Miss Riley is a central character in the story who helps the boys to see beyond their everyday reality and believe in bigger possibilities. Miss Riley's role in the boys' success reminds me of my own goals as a teacher.

EVALUATION (5-1o sentences that give YOUR RATING of the book. How many stars would you give it? Discuss the reasons behind your positive or negative rating):

I would give this book 5 stars because Hickham manages not only to tell the story of his youth, but to also give a compassionate portrait of his hometown and of the country at a pivotal moment in history. The characters that populate Homer's world are vividly portrayed. We sympathize with his mother Elsie's refrain, "Don't blow yourself up" and his father's persistent black-lung cough, all the while believing that we are just getting a glimpse of their lives through the eyes of young Homer. The book relates everday tales of adolescence alongside changes in national policy as the nation tries to catch up to the Russians. Homer's story is unique not only because of the life circumstances he has to overcome, but also because the way it illuminates the country's larger history.