Rocket Boys
Homer Hickam
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1957–1960 · Coalwood, West Virginia
Homer Hickam & the Rocket Boys
Science, education & exploration
Inspired by the space race, Homer Hickam and his friends began building rockets in a West Virginia coal town. Their experiments offered a path toward education beyond the mines. Rocket Boys recounts the group’s work and community relationships; October Sky reshapes that memoir for the screen.
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The Story
When1957–1960
WhereCoalwood, West Virginia
In this collection3 resources
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October Sky (1999)
Film / television guide
A dramatized interpretation; compare it with the reporting.
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Blogs & Essays
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Blogs & essays
1 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
Historical source
Rocket Boys reading and classroom guide
Publisher’s guide to the memoir discusses its Coalwood setting and its use in education. A reading resource, not evidence that the story changed a law.
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Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
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Books
1 itemsHomer Hickam
Rocket Boys
Hickam’s memoir is the source for October Sky. The movie title is also used on some editions.
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Movies & TV
Movies
1 itemsAbout these sources
Watch links, previews and title listings are identified below. Rentals or subscriptions may be required.
Film / television guide
October Sky (1999)
Dramatized portrayal of these events. Film information and availability are provided by the linked source; dialogue and chronology may differ from the historical record.
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TV & documentaries
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Audiobooks
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Audiobook
Rocket Boys
Narrated by Tom Stechschulte
Unabridged
Audio edition verified at the linked source. The Amazon button is a title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed.
Edition checked 2026-10-12
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Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
Film / television guide
October Sky (1999)
Dramatized portrayal of these events. Film information and availability are provided by the linked source; dialogue and chronology may differ from the historical record.
Fiction / DramatizationAccess Varies · Check Source
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Search Amazon · paid linkViewing options & film details
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
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Podcasts
Podcasts
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Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
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News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
5 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
Smithsonian Magazine · Free Article
Review of 'Rocket Boys: A Memoir'
An article providing additional historical reporting and context for this story.
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OverDrive · Library Access
Rocket Boys — Ebook
Homer Hickam. Related reading for Homer Hickam & the Rocket Boys. Check participating libraries for this edition. Borrowing requires an eligible library card; availability and waits vary.
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OverDrive · Library Access
Rocket Boys — Audiobook
Homer Hickam. Related reading for Homer Hickam & the Rocket Boys. This library catalog lists the edition. Borrowing depends on membership in that library and current availability.
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Google Books · Catalog / Availability
Rocket Boys
Related book record. Google may offer selected pages or another edition; full-book access is not confirmed.
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Everand · Subscription Access
Rocket Boys — Ebook
Homer Hickam. Related reading for Homer Hickam & the Rocket Boys. Check the current subscription terms and available sample; trial offers are not permanent free access.
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Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
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Newspaper clippings
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Internet Archive
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Court & Files
Court records & documents
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Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
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Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
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Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
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Social Media
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