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Rocket Boys Audiobook
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(4.00) - 6,349 listener ratings
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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.
With the grace of a natural storyteller, NASA engineer Homer Hickam paints a warm, vivid portrait of the harsh West Virginia mining town of his youth, evoking a time of innocence and promise, when anything was possible, even in a company town that swallowed its men alive. A story of romance and loss, of growing up and getting out, Homer Hickam's lush, lyrical memoir is a chronicle of triumph—at once exquisitely written and marvelously entertaining.
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"A memoir of growing up in a coal town where few possibilities besides being a miner were there for the kids. This gave a great memoir not only of the boys involved but the town itself becomes a character. Funny and moving. It makes you think about dreams kids have and supporting them even if you think it's crazy...like the Mom in the book says repeatedly..."Just don't blow yourself up." Otherwise...go for it!"
— Amy (4 out of 5 stars)
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“A thoroughly charming memoir…[An] eloquent evocation of a lost time and place.”
— New York Times -
“[Hickam] is a very adept storyteller…It's a good bet this is the story as he told it to himself. It is a lovely one, and in the career of Homer H. Hickam, Jr., who prevailed over the facts of his life to become a NASA engineer training astronauts for space walks, that made all the difference.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Unforgettable…Unlike so many memoirs, this book brings to life more than one man's experiences. It brings to life the lost town of Coalwood, W.Va.”
— USA Today -
“Hickam has a great story to tell…Rocket Boys will certainly strike a nostalgic chord in anyone who grew up during the early days of the space race, but its appeal goes beyond that…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…Perhaps we all have something to learn from a half-dozen boys who dared to reject all limitations…and resolved to send dreams roaring to the sky.”
— San Diego Union-Tribune
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A 1998 New York Times Notable Book for Nonfiction
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A 1998 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
Rocket Boys Listener Reviews
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" Pure American nostalgia - I cried at the end. "
— Nicki, 2/20/2014 -
" Great story. OK style. "
— Carol, 2/17/2014 -
" I love a good story about small-town America and the triumphs of people who dare to dream. Inspiring! "
— Emily, 2/16/2014 -
" Listened to this Audio CD... I think it was abridged, so I will have to read the book. It was fantastic. It also was neat to read while living in West Virginia. It gave me new perspective about the state. The movie (October Skys) is great too! "
— Lindsay, 2/13/2014 -
" Audio Book, October Sky is one of my favorite movies. "
— P, 2/3/2014 -
" So much better than I thought it would be. It's a coming-of-age book with multi-faceted characters, romance, danger, parent-child relationships, parent-parent relationships, and even a good dose of science and math thrown in. And it's non-fiction. "
— Ann, 2/2/2014 -
" Brilliant,gritty hardship and American dreams. "
— Richard, 1/15/2014 -
" This was a book that closely matched my life experiences except it was in West Texas and I also went to work for NASA. My autographed picture is of Kirt Debus since he ran the JFK Space Center. "
— Dltharp, 1/6/2014 -
" A feel-good story. "
— Isla, 12/26/2013 -
" I had to read this book in my first semester at CR. I loved this book! It was such a great story and easy to read! "
— Krystal, 12/20/2013 -
" I read this because Josh had to read it for school. I liked it a lot. Great true story. "
— Rebekah, 11/30/2013 -
" Great book!! I know and have met the main people in this book and have also been to the town in West Virginia where it all took place. I loved this book. "
— Linzie, 7/28/2013 -
" This book was boring, and seemed to drag on for a long time. I didn't appreciate the sexual content in the book and thought it was unnecessary and inappropriate. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. "
— 06keeganh, 1/20/2013 -
" Learn what life was like in a coal mining town. Also a great example of how much a father will do for their son. "
— Kylie, 1/8/2013 -
" People should read this book for unlisted reasons. it also is a good book to read for school. "
— Kurtis, 7/26/2012 -
" This book was boring, i didn't like it very much. There wasn't anything that got my attention. But there were a few parts that was interesting but not very much. If I had a chose i wouldn't pick it again. "
— Tylar, 5/29/2012 -
" The beginning was ok but it TOTALLY got better!!!!! "
— Michaela, 2/15/2012 -
" Very enjoyable story. I can't wait to see the movie now! "
— Alicia, 12/2/2011 -
" Marjorie sent it home for Lyman to read, but I picked it up and really couldn't put it down. "
— Debra, 11/11/2011 -
" Well. At leas it's a nice story about fulfilling one's aspirations through determination and effort; dreams are possible, but you can't just sit there waiting for them to come true. "
— Deborah, 10/14/2011 -
" A prodigous work of non-fiction representing a great need for drive, acceptance, and upthe nature of growing in a community not ready for your dreams. Moving and uplifting. "
— Mitch, 9/25/2011 -
" I loved this book. Homer Hickam does a very good job capturing characters with his writing. He told this story in a very interesting and surprisingly funny way. "
— Ellis, 5/25/2011 -
" Wow. this is a really good book. and we read it in school, which is even more surprising, considering some language and interesting scenes in the book. but I am disappointed that I'm going to miss the first half of the movie in core because of a choir trip. "
— Gaia, 5/23/2011
About the Authors
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.
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.
About Tom Stechschulte
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.