Discussion Questions: Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam

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Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam Discussion Questions

Our last One Book, One Michiana selection To Kill a Mockingbird was a novel similar to a memoir, while Rocket Boys is a memoir, yet it reads like a novel. Do you find true stories more compelling than fiction? Why? What makes a good memoir? What makes a poor one? Homer used a certain authors license. How does an author determine what to put in, what to leave out, and when to bring the work to a conclusion? (See Memoir Writing with Walt Collins, Mondays, April 4 and April 11) 1. Much of the storys tension comes from Homer Seniors determination to make his son a mining engineer and Homers belief that the future was somewhere else, not in Coalwood, and I had to get ready for it. Discuss their strongly held beliefs and the rift it caused. Is this an inevitable situation between parent and child? 2. Despite their differences, Homer and his father come to have great respect for each other. Name some examples. What role did Homers brother play in the story? 3. Homers aspirations are high, yet other characters in the story encourage him to aim even higher. Who are they, and how do they motivate him? If there had not been a Miss Riley, would Homers lifeand this memoir have been as successful? (Or would he have to invent one?) 4. What was Elsie Hickams reaction to her sons new hobby? In what ways was she a typical housewife of the 1950s? What made her unique? What did her mural represent to her? And why were her roses mentioned several times in the story? 5. Homers parents had many challenges in their relationship. Some came from the era in which they lived; some were due to the stress of living in a company town; yet others came from the inherent dangers of coal mining. Ultimately, do you think Homers parents had a good marriage? 6. Talk about the other rocket boys. What unique roles did each play in their success? What kept them focused on their goals? How did the adultseven the whole townhelp them achieve their dream? 7. If this story were written today, what dreams and struggles of this generation would be conveyed? What are the rocket boysand girlsof today trying to achieve? What technologies will be instrumental in their future? 8. As you read this memoir, did you begin to feel as if you knew the people involved? Did you like them? Do you think youd have been happy to live in Coalwood in the late 1950s? If you had, what position in it would you have wanted? Coal miner? Foreman? Teacher? Housewife? Preacher? Doctor? Rocket Boy or Girl? Football Star? 9. Was this memoir similar in its construction with others that youve read? What do you think of the memoir genre? Do you think it might be difficult to write a memoir that is interesting to readers? 10. How would you describe this book? Would you call is a mans book or a womans book? Were you fearful it might be too technical? Is it just a story of a boy with a dream or the story of a small mining town? Or is it something grander and deeper?

11. Do you think Homer Senior and Elsie love each other? What is the principle cause of their conflicts? What is the importance of the mural Elsie is painting in the kitchen? Why is Homer Junior called Sonny in the book? Why did his teachers insist on calling him by that nickname rather than the one his mother wanted? 12. How would you describe Sonnys father? Why does Homer Senior take Sonny into the mine, risking Elsies wrath? Why does he arrange for rocket materials when he seems so antagonistic to the rocket building? How does the conflict between his mom and dad motivate Sonny? Why was Geneva Eggers so important in Sonnys understanding of his father? 13. In the first paragraph of the book, Homer writes that his hometown was at war with itself over its children. What does this mean? 14. Nearly all the women in Coalwood are shown to be strong women, a trait they must have to say goodbye daily to their husbands and sons who work in the dangerous mine and may not return that night. Although most of the women of Coalwood make the best of their lot, they want a better life for their children. How can they help this to happen? Are they feminists before the term existed? How about the teachers called The Great Six? Whats their role in Coalwood? What is your opinion of Elsie, Sonnys mother? Is she too harsh with her husband in her attempt to better her life and that of her sons? And Miss Riley? What did it say about her when she stood up for the Rocket Boys against the feared principal, Mr. Turner? 15. Does the book tell a universal story? Could it be set in other times or is it specific to Coalwood and West Virginia in the late 50s? The book has been translated into eight languages and people from all over the world say Homer told their story, yet they have never held a rocket or even seen a coal mine! The book is dedicated To Mom and Dad and the people of Coalwood. Why do you think Homer made that dedication? 16. Many schools from fifth grade to college are studying Rocket Boys/October Sky in their classrooms, including English, math, and science classes. That makes it a pretty unique book! This is an adult book, but it is told from a young mans point of view. Why do you think teachers are picking this book to study and why are they writing Homer that they think it was their most popular class read ever, sparking the most thoughtful discussion? (See the Web sites Teachers button and the letters from them for many examples.) 17. This story is also about the rewards and costs of nonconformity. Who conforms, who doesnt and what are the consequences of their actions? Is that a problem today and can this story help those who tend to go against the expected norms? How was Quentin a nonconformist? How about the other boys? 18. In Chapter 22, Mr. Turner, the Big Creek High School principal, wryly tells Sonny, In the queer mass of human destiny, the determining factor has always been luck. But in Chapter 26, Homer writes, Theres a plan. If you are willing to fight hard enough, you can make it detour for a while, but youre still going to end up where God wants you to be. Are these quotations about human fate really in conflict with each other? How do they apply to the story? 19. Rocket Boys/October Sky is an excellent way to think about and discuss the many steps it takes to achieve a goal. Sonnys idea of building rockets starts as simply a dream, but then he brings in the other boys and even approaches Quentin, the school outcast. The Rocket Boys first look upon their rocket-building as interesting and fun but then it becomes a challenge to defy expectations. Only much later does the idea of entering the science fairs occur to them. Discuss the importance of incremental steps in your life. Do you believe an incremental approach has validity in all walks of life, academic and otherwise? Why does Quentin believe in the necessity of obtaining what he calls a body of knowledge? 20. Miss Riley, the physics teacher, seems to regard education as a challenge and adventure. Sonny rises to meet

the formidable task she sets before him. He writes, I had discovered that learning something, no matter how complex, wasnt hard when I had a reason to want to know it (p. 168). That challenge is taken to the next level by Miss Riley when she gives him the book Principles of Guided Missile Design, saying, All Ive done is give you a book. You have to have the courage to learn whats inside it (p. 232). Discuss Miss Rileys motivational techniques. 21. When Sonny thinks of giving up rocketry altogether, Miss Riley tells him: Youve got to put all your hurt and anger aside so that you can do your job ... Your job, Sonny, is to build your rockets. When Sonny asks why thats so important, she answers, If for no other reason, because it honors you and this school(p. 296). Its clear that she means it also honors Coalwood. Discuss the concept of civic pride. How do the Rocket Boys help the town? Why are they celebrated in the newspapers? In church? In the Big Store? By both sides of the unionization conflict? Why do so many attend their rocket launches? Is it just because the football team is on year-long suspension? 22. Discuss the motivational aspects contained within this story. How did Sputnik motivate Sonny? Is his mother trying to be motivational after he blows up her rose garden fence with his first rocket? (I believe you can build a rocket. [Your father] doesnt. I want you to show him Im right(p. 52).) Early in his career as a rocket builder, Rocket Boy ODell says, A rocket wont fly unless someone lights the fuse(p. 105). How important is it to find motivation in all our endeavors? Would the boys have gotten to the science fair without being motivated by something larger than themselves? 23. The final chapter in the book (before the epilogue) finishes with the launch of the last rocket of the Big Creek Missile Agency. Homer Senior is invited to launch this rocket. Why do you think this invitation was made? Why do you think he accepted?

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