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Homer Hickam grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia in the late 50's. Son of a devoted coal miner, Hickam became passionate about building rockets after Sputnik. Rocket Boys is not only a coming-of-age story in a dying town, but a beautifully written story of small town West Virginia.
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A coming-of-age story set in a 1950s coal mining town. I didn't realise until half way through this book that it is a memoir, as it could just as easily be fiction. Hickam leads us through the process that started him on his way to being a NASA scientist, and along the way he lets us live the life of that small community. By the end of the book I felt like I knew the characters well, including his distant and driven father, and mother who always found a way to help him live his dreams. The two r
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This is a very interesting true life story about a boy that grows up in West Virginia. He has a facination with everything to do with rockets, and eventually goes on to work as a professional rocket boy (I believe if I recall he goes on to work for NASA)!!
Despite having zero interest in Sputnik or NASA, I found this memoir totally engaging and well-written.
Jun 15, 2013
Jean-Marie
marked it as to-read
Feb 12, 2016
Juliana Philippa
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