close
Official audiobook image coming soon Play Audiobook Sample

Rocket Boys (Abridged): A Memoir Audiobook

Rocket Boys (Abridged): A Memoir Audiobook, by Homer Hickam Play Audiobook Sample
FlexPass™ Price: $14.95
$9.95 for new members!
(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)
  • Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
  • No credits to manage, just big savings
  • Unlimited podcast listening
Add to Cart
$9.95/m - cancel anytime - 
learn more
OR
Regular Price: $17.99 Add to Cart
Read By: Beau Bridges Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 3.00 hours at 1.5x Speed 2.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Series: The Coalwood Series Release Date: November 1998 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780743548489

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

4

Longest Chapter Length:

74:47 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

58:25 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

66:55 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

19

Publisher Description

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 those dreams come true. Nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award, Homer Hickam's lush, lyrical memoir is a marvelously entertaining chronicle of triumph.

Download and start listening now!

"OMG this book almost made me cry! I usually get tired of coming-of-age stories but this one hit home. I don't know, maybe it's the poverty, or the rockets, or his friends. but the story of how he became what he is now is truly amazing. It kinda gives me hope for my own future. :)"

— Irene (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “A thoroughly charming memoir…[An] eloquent evocation of a lost time and place.” 

    — New York Times
  • A thoroughly charming memoir . . . [An] eloquent evocation of a lost time and place.

    — The New York Times
  • “[Hickam] is a very adept storyteller.” 

    — New York Times Book Review 
  • “Unforgettable.” 

    — USA Today 
  • “Hickam’s recollections of small-town America in the last years of small-town America are so cinematic that even those of us who didn’t grow up there might imagine we did.” 

    —  Philadelphia Inquirer 
  • “A stirring tale that offers something unusual these days…a message of hope in an age of cynicism.” 

    — San Diego Union-Tribune 

Awards

  • Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
  • A New York Times bestseller
  • A 1998 New York Times Notable Book for Nonfiction
  • A 1998 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist

Rocket Boys Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.12 out of 54.12 out of 54.12 out of 54.12 out of 54.12 out of 5 (4.12)
5 Stars: 10
4 Stars: 11
3 Stars: 2
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — 84737, 4/18/2021
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good memoir of a boy growing up in a coal mining town at the start of the rocket age. "

    — Jennifer, 2/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " i am not very far but... i love it so far! "

    — Mary, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Homer Hickam is a great storyteller and really gives you a sense of the time and the town. "

    — Jess, 1/27/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Easily one of the best books I've ever read. The movie is one of my favorites and this book is fantastic (maybe even better than the movie). Rocket Boys epitomizes the American Dream in my opinion and it proves that you can do anything you set your heart to. "

    — Daniel, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Amazing book, it truly did inspire me to build rockets. "

    — Ronen, 1/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent read. I saw the movie when it came out, but never got around to reading the book. Hickam is an EXCELLENT storyteller. I don't think I have laughed so hard while reading non-fiction ever. I kept cheering the boys on even knowing the general story. "

    — Lesli, 12/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I'm no rocket scientist, but I enjoyed this book. It's a very well-written look at a small coal-mining town and explores family relations, friendships, 1950s life, and oh rocketry. And it's true. "

    — Kimberly, 12/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " October sky is a good book problem is it is dry and doesnt have very intrest or maby thats just my opinion "

    — 03jarredm, 12/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Why can I not give this book more than five stars? "

    — Andrew, 11/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book is really cool! "

    — Ellie, 10/31/2013

About Homer Hickam

Homer Hickam is the author of the New York Times bestseller Rocket Boys, which was made into the acclaimed movie October Sky. He has also authored the military history bestseller Torpedo Junction, along with several other popular historical and science fiction novels. A respected amateur historian, scuba expedition leader, and military veteran, he continues to write using his personal experience and history for creative material.

About Beau Bridges

Beau Bridges is a Grammy and Emmy Awardwinning actor and AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator.