Carol’s Comments by
Carol Rusinek
April 2011
This
month, the St Joseph County Public Library launches its second annual One Book, One Michiana campaign. This
year’s featured book is Rocket Boys: A Memoir by Homer H.
Hickham, Jr. Although I’m not usually attracted to books about the physical
sciences, I was still intrigued by this engaging autobiography which accurately
depicts growing up in late 1950’s Cold War America.
The
story begins in the coal mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia shortly after the
Russians launched the Sputnik satellite in October 1957. Not only did this
momentous event propel the United States into a space race with the Soviet
Union, it also motivated Homer Hickham and his friends to build and launch
their own rockets despite his mine superintendent father’s disapproval.
Overcoming
many obstacles and setbacks to achieve their goals, the “Rocket Boys” receive
lots of encouragement from the townspeople, especially their high school
science teacher Miss Riley. She convinces them that their amateur rocketry
techniques are good enough to exhibit at the county science fair.
Ultimately,
the book’s most pivotal scene occurs when Homer’s father takes him down to the
mine and tries to persuade him that his destiny is to become a mining not a
rocket engineer. At that moment, Homer realizes that emulating rocket scientist
Wernher von Braun is more important than working with his father in a dying
industry. Homer eventually wins his father’s approval when the “Rocket Boys”
triumph at the National Science Fair in Indianapolis.
For the scientifically
challenged like myself, October Sky, the 1999 screen
adaptation of Rocket Boys is a real treat. Lewis Colick’s succinct screenplay
successfully condenses the book’s scientific aspects and instead concentrates
on Homer and his friends’ efforts to build and fly amateur rockets. The film
also focuses on Homer’s determination to escape the coal mines and pursue a
scientific career that he loves.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s and
Chris Cooper’s superb performances of as Homer Hickham and his father
realistically portray the conflict between father and son. Furthermore, the
movie also dramatically illustrates how a teacher’s support can inspire their
students to literally reach for the stars.
October Sky is a very uplifting and inspirational film. I
recommend seeing the movie after reading Hickham’s memoir.
From April 1through May
7, the St Joseph County Public Library will be sponsoring a variety of
activities related to this book that
include teen and adult book discussion groups and movie showings. For a
complete list of events throughout the Michiana community, visit the library’s
web site at www.libraryforlife.org
.See you next month and thanks for reading!
Previously posted at SJCPL blog
