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Rocket Boys  By  cover art

Rocket Boys

By: Homer H. Hickam Jr.
Narrated by: Beau Bridges
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Publisher's summary

In this uniquely American memoir, Homer "Sonny" Hickam beautifully captures a moment when a dying town, a divided family, and a band of teenage dreamers dared to set their sights on the stars. Looking back after a distinguished NASA career that fulfilled his boyhood ambition, Hickam shares the story of his youth, taking listeners into the life of the little mining town and the boys who came to embody both its tensions and its dreams. After watching the Soviet Satellite Sputnik streak across the sky, Sonny and his friends took their future into their own hands, changing their lives and their town forever. With the help, and sometimes hindrance, of the people of Coalwood, West Virginia, the Rocket Boys learn not only how to turn mine scraps into rockets that soar miles into the heavens, but how to find hope in a town that progress is passing.
©1998 Homer J. Hickam, Jr., All Rights Reserved (P)1998 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved

What listeners say about Rocket Boys

Average customer ratings
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommended!

A very incredible, inspirational story about a young man and his dreams, life in a small town, and relationships.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Hard to put down

A great story about how people can come together to accomplish something far greater than than the pursuits of an individual. It also helps you appreciate how we can impact the lives of others. Basically, we can build people up or tear them down. Enjoy the story, but reflect on the greater meaning.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book. Disappointing audio quality

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a story of adolescence, of rocket science, and of life in West Virginia mining towns. Beau Bridges' reading is brilliant. Unfortunately, this is only available in Format 2 audio and it sounds like it is being read over an intercontinental phone line. Also, I was disappointed after listening to the book to realize that it is an abridged version. Despite these shortcomings, it is highly recommended!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

dose not have the full story as the books

dose not have the full story as the books. dose not have the full story as the books. dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.dose not have the full story as the books.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic book

A fantastic book about adolescent and a love for science and technology in a little town of Coalwood

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It skips pages from the books

Very frustrating. Not sure if it's a problem with downloading but full pages were not read by the narrator.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Better than the movie

I really enjoyed this movie so I wanted to listen to the book.
I was pleased that it expanded upon the story slightly.
The narration by Beau Bridges is excellent.
His voice has a certain gravitas that captures the hometown feel of an era gone by

it's almost like hearing a fable told by your grandfather. I highly recommend this book it's extraordinary on every level.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Large parts of the book left out!

I was suspicious when I saw how short this was. They left out a lot of very interesting stories that were in the book. If you haven’t read the book, you may not miss them but to me the story isn’t nearly as compelling without them.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiration

I watched October Sky, an anagram of Rocket Boys, many years ago. Read this story.

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