2010  ► Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr.

Galveston Reads, a “One City, One Book” program, has selected Rocket Boys, by Homer H. Hickam for 2010.

Rocket Boys is a skillfully written memoir that captures the wonder of the early years of space exploration and reminds us of the mid-century wonder of seeing Sputnik in the night sky. In his honest rendering of his youth, the author evokes the universal angst of being a teenager while showing that anyone can rise above their circumstances. Brought to the screen as "October Sky”, the novel is far richer and contains many more details about his life and times.

Galveston Reads encourages reading by offering programs held at various locations throughout Galveston County that revolve around the selection. Past selections include Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyles; Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team , and a Dream, by H. G. Bissinger; A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, by Mark Haddon; Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America, by Barbara Ehreinreich, A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, and The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls.

Programming has included local discussion groups led by trained discussion leaders, theatrical presentations, author visits and panel discussions, including the ever popular evening with three local English professors.

The Galveston Reads committee is excited about the selection of Rocket Boys, one of three finalists chosen from the dozens of books reviewed by the book nomination committee. Other finalists were The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh and Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer.

2009 book

        Galveston Reads 2009 book is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

Galveston Reads is a voluntary organization composed of community representatives. It’s modeled after ‘one city, one book’ projects around the country that are designed to promote the reading of the same book at the same time by their residents of high school age through senior citizens. The committee endeavors to choose a book of interest to this community and to use the accompanying events to unify the community of Galveston County by encouraging reading and thoughtful discussions.

Page last updated 04/30/09