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The Coalwood Way (Abridged): A Memoir Audiobook
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(4.00) - 655 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
It's fall, 1959, and Homer "Sonny" Hickam and his fellow Rocket Boys are in their senior year at Big Creek High, launching handbuilt rockets that soar thousands of feet into the West Virginia sky. But in a season traditionally marked by celebrations of the spirit, Coalwood finds itself at a painful crossroads. The strains can be felt within the Hickam home, where a beleaguered HomerSr. is resorting to a daring but risky plan to keep the mine alive, and his wife Elsie is feeling increasingly isolated from both her family and the townspeople. And Sonny, despite a blossoming relationship with a local girl whose dreams are as big as his, finds his own mood repeatedly darkened by an unexplainable sadness. Eager to rally the town's spirits and make her son's final holiday season at home a memorable one, Elsie enlists Sonny and the Rocket Boys' aid in making the Coalwood Christmas Pageant the best ever. But trouble at the mine and the arrival of a beautiful young outsider threaten to tear the community apart when it most needs to come together. And when disaster strikes at home, and Elsie's beloved pet squirrel escapes under his watch, Sonny realizes that helping his town and redeeming himself in his mother's eyes may be a bigger-and more rewarding-challenge than he has ever faced. The result is pure storytelling magic- a tale of small-town parades and big-hearted preachers, the timeless love of families and unforgettable adventures of boyhood friends-that could only come from the man who brought the world Rocket Boys
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"Not really a sequel to October Sky. More, an addition, as it covers some of the same time period - Homer's first semester as a high school senior. There is less about the rockets and more about Homer trying to figure out why he has bouts of depression, as well as the meaning of his life. Also more about other residents of Coalwood and their struggles. I liked the book and am looking forward to reading the next one, Sky of Stone."
— Ann (4 out of 5 stars)
The Coalwood Way Listener Reviews
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" At first I was worried that it would repeat a lot of the Rocket Boy's book, because it covers a lot of the same time frame. But, his focus is different and I really liked his writing style and felt like I sort of had a better idea what in the heck teenage boys have goin' on inside their heads. "
— Karen, 2/20/2014 -
" I thought this book was an excellent story of small town life in a West Virginia mining town during the 1950's. I grew up in a small town in Florida, yet could relate to Hickam's humor and description of Coalwood's activities. I liked reading a chapter/night and enjoyed the pace of the story and the memoir style. "
— Jane, 2/17/2014 -
" I haven't read any of Homer Hickam's fiction books yet, but I've loved his memoirs. What a great storyteller. "
— Ellis, 1/31/2014 -
" If you liked the "Rocket Boys," you'll like this book. It tells the story of his boyhood town and it's people; their heartbreaks, sorrows and joys. Their lives are very interesting. "
— Karen, 1/31/2014 -
" Having loved "Rocket Boys" I was a bit disappointed in this entry in the series as I almost felt it was a redressing of story lines already touched upon in Rocket Boys; but still enjoyed it as I love Hickam's writing. "
— Pat, 1/27/2014 -
" Another good one from Homer Hickam. "
— Ron, 1/27/2014 -
" My third Homer Hickham book. I still like the way he writes! "
— James, 1/14/2014 -
" Great story based on Homer Hickam's childhood. "
— Kathy, 1/13/2014 -
" This is the same author that wrote Rocket Boys, (made into the movie, October Sky.) Good book! "
— Gail, 1/3/2014 -
" a fantastic sequel to an already fantastic story and must read to anyone that has lived in the shadows of the Appalachian mountains "
— Rj, 12/23/2013 -
" The second in the series of memoirs. GREAT!!! "
— Say, 12/19/2013 -
" A sequel to Rocket Boys (October Sky). More engaging and moving stories from growing up in the mining company town of Coalwood, West Virginia. "
— Lauren, 12/17/2013 -
" Must read after Rocket Boys! "
— Shywvgrl, 12/13/2013 -
" I enjoy Homer Hickham. He's down to earth, and here tells a remarkable story, which is a memoir. "
— Etta, 12/11/2013 -
" This is a good book showing how kids in a coal mining area want to get away and not be miners. These seniors want more. This is the way I felt when I wanted to get away from the town where my family grew up and stayed, working in the coal mines and staying around close to family members. "
— Mom, 12/6/2013 -
" Enjoyable read, although not as good as "Rocket Boys" (aka October Sky). "
— Ellen, 9/6/2013 -
" Another fantastic book by Hickam. Really enjoyed it. "
— Sean, 6/27/2013 -
" Very well done. A mix of October Sky and other stories of his life. A very good read. Enjoyed it very much. Loved the squirrel parts! "
— jeannine, 6/12/2013 -
" While I didn't find it as engaging as Sky of Stone, it definitely picked up steam as it went and was a great read. If you liked Rocket Boys or Sky of Stone, you'll enjoy this. I'm giving all three as a gift to my dad for Christmas - don't tell! "
— Beth, 1/30/2013 -
" I loved this memoir of Homer Hickam growing up in a small mining community. I read the author's other novel October Sky and enjoyed it as well. "
— Joni, 10/28/2012 -
" This memoir covers a lot of the same ground as October Sky but lets the reader in on Homer's personal and home life. "
— Rae, 5/25/2012 -
" Meh. After reading "Rocket Boys" I thought this was a bit of a let-down. It deals primarily with Sonny's last Christmas and is a re-hash of the same time period of his prior book. Actually I'm not quite sure why he wrote it, because it just really doesn't cover much. "
— GymGuy, 5/3/2012 -
" I loved this book! My husband worked in Welch, West Virginia, for a time and we would always say, "I wish I knew what this town was like in its hay-day." To read this book allowed me to "visit" Welch when it was a boom-town of the coal industry. "
— Shea, 3/3/2012 -
" Since my Dad is from West Virginia, and my Grandpa was a coal miner, I found this book intriguing. Such a different life from the one I live in Ohio! "
— Eric, 10/6/2011 -
" Definitely worth a read if you liked Rocket Boys "
— Ronen, 9/24/2011 -
" Further adventures and stories about Coalwood, the town where Hickam grew up and which was memorialized in October Sky. Interesting, thoughtful and a good read. "
— Michelle, 4/4/2011 -
" I enjoyed reading this book--- Since my husband is in the mining industry I enjoyed reading how certain things came about. Also, I enjoy reading autobiographys - he kept my attention. "
— Tammy, 1/9/2011 -
" Hickam is also the author of Rocket Boys/October Sky. In this book, the author tells more about his life in Coalwood, a mining town in West Virginia. This was a good book, but some of it was a repeat of Rocket Boys. "
— Coralie, 7/27/2010 -
" I enjoy Homer Hickham. He's down to earth, and here tells a remarkable story, which is a memoir. "
— Etta, 3/22/2010 -
" This is a good book showing how kids in a coal mining area want to get away and not be miners. These seniors want more. This is the way I felt when I wanted to get away from the town where my family grew up and stayed, working in the coal mines and staying around close to family members. "
— Mom, 1/31/2010 -
" This is the same author that wrote Rocket Boys, (made into the movie, October Sky.) Good book! "
— Gail, 9/8/2009 -
" I really enjoyed this book about life from the perspective of a teen-age boy in coal mining town. It seemed very honest. "
— Rhonda, 7/13/2009 -
" I read this for my bookclub "
— Sarah, 4/11/2009 -
" Any book that makes me laugh and cry gets 5 stars. "
— Cheryl, 4/1/2009 -
" Enjoyable read, although not as good as "Rocket Boys" (aka October Sky). "
— Ellen, 1/2/2009 -
" The second in the series of memoirs. GREAT!!! "
— Say, 12/22/2008 -
" I loved this memoir of Homer Hickam growing up in a small mining community. I read the author's other novel October Sky and enjoyed it as well. "
— Joni, 11/17/2008
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.