It’s 1959 and young Homer Hickam is faced with the dilemma of his life. His eyes have seen Sputnik racing through the stars above Coalwood, West Virginia. His mind has been opened to the possibility that he, too, could be part of the glorious space race that has just begun. But, there are two nearly impenetrable obstacles in the path of his dream. One is the scholastic superiority it will take for a young man from a coal mining family to even be considered for an engineering scholarship. The other is his father, the powerful supervisor of the town’s coal mine, who is determined that his son belongs in a mining career. Fate and family forces have a tight grip on Homer, just as they have on all boys in the Appalachian coal fields. Yet, he is determined to realize his ambitions…but not by losing his family.
He is the "Rocket Boy"
If the name Homer Hickam or this theme sounds familiar, it is because we know him from the book, "Rocket Boys" and the movie it inspired, "October Sky." He’s the genuine article. Homer and his friends are all real people from a real coal town in West Virginia. Like thousands of boys in the late fifties, they watched the cold war turn into the space race and marveled at the emerging technology of rockets and satellites. I, too, remember running outside on clear, dark nights to see a bright moving man-made star soaring right over my house. Many of us had that dream of going to Cape Canaveral and signing on to launch rockets to the moon and beyond. Homer did it. Not only that, but his success was largely self-made. He taught himself the principles of engineering and applied them to make rockets that would behave predictably. He excelled in school by nothing more mysterious than plain diligence driven by a powerful dream of success. It’s a lesson that still works today. The message is that, despite your initial circumstances, you can and will succeed IF you are willing to stick with your dream and put in the required effort. For that message alone, this is a book that should be shared with boys and girls of high school age. Especially those who aren. t sure if what they want is achievable.
The Coalwood Way of Life
This book fills in more of the little daily details of life in Coalwood. "Rocket Boys" focused more on the story of how Homer Hickam learned to design and build his rockets, and how he took them on to win the science fairs. It also sets the stage for the father/son conflict and how mom came through for both of them. If you haven’t read "Rocket Boys" or seen the movie "October Sky" you should really do that first. It probably doesn’t matter which, as the movie very closely follows the book. Even so, there is something in the flow of the writing, the descriptions that Homer provides, that will make "The Coalwood Way" even more meaningful if you have read "Rocket Boys."
This second book adds more stories and introduces us to more of the people who live in Coalwood and give the town its personality. You’ll meet Poppy Hickam, Homer’s grandfather who lost both legs in a mining accident but went on to read nearly every book in the town’s library. Why did Homer bolt from the hospital room the night Poppy died and how did that color the relationship he had with his father from then on? Why did the women of Coalwood despise Dreama Jenkins so much even though she might help them succeed with their beloved Christmas Pageant? Was it just a resentment of all outsiders or was there something more in her background that justified concern? How was Homer’s older brother Jim, the firstborn, treated differently and to what effect? Did it help or destroy their relationship? Who were the girls that interested Homer? Can you guess ahead which will become fast friends, which will turn into romances and which will result in heartbreak?
"The Coalwood Way" is about life, love, work, dreams, heroism and even murder in a small isolated community. Homer shows us enough sides to most of the players that we can root for some to succeed and hope that others get their due. Most of us, especially those who grew up in smaller towns, will identify with these people, even if we have never been within driving distance of a coal mine. The hardworking blue-collar families could just as easily be making cars or paper or nuts and bolts. You can readily imagine how Homer’s father, mother, brother, neighbors and friends could fit right into your own family.
Who Should Read This Book
Part way through "The Coalwood Way," I got to thinking about how it reminded me of the holiday movie "A Christmas Story." Homer could be Ralphie. Instead of Northern Indiana, move the setting to the hills of West Virginia. It’s about the same time period. But "The Coalwood Way" is much more serious. The boys have their fun with the rockets and the school dances and mom’s squirrel running around the house, but the humor is always intertwined with doses of heavy reality. The steel company is constantly cutting back at the mine, the miners are about to go on strike, people get beat up and the future is always somewhat in question. If you like a good story about the lives that people really lead, this book will transport you far away from your living room. You’ll identify with most of the characters, whether you like them or not. Yes, if you liked "The Waltons," you’ll enjoy "The Coalwood Way."
I think anyone who grew up in the late fifties and early sixties will enjoy both "The Coalwood Way" and "Rocket Boys." It’s especially true if you were one of those boys interested in science in the Sputnik days. You’ll find yourself saying, "yeah, I did that too."
Others who will love this book and get something from the message are those who could use a little inspiration and reassurance. It shows that people really do have a lot of decency within them and can achieve what they set their minds to. I mentioned that the book makes a good example for high school students, but anyone who’s having a tough time of it or considering making changes in their life could benefit. It’s a story of one man’s growing up, but it’s also an inspiration for any generation.
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