Rocket Boys: Chapter 25 Summary & Analysis

In the months leading up to the National Science Fair, Homer notices Miss Riley getting healthier and seemingly happier. She visits Homer to prep him for the competition, giving him elaborate notes on how to present his findings. Quentin helps Homer prepare, as well—he visits Homer’s house and gives him charts and diagrams on nozzle functions. O’Dell prepares a beautiful case for the BCMA’s rocket parts, and Sherman and Billy photograph Cape Coalwood to make Homer’s presentation more visually interesting.

Meanwhile, the Coalwood miners continue to strike. Some try to break the strike line in an effort to make money and feed their families, but the strikers prevent them from doing so. Mr. Caton begs Mr. Dubonnet for a chance to help the BCMA prepare new nozzles for their presentation, and Mr. Dubonnet relents. Caton outdoes himself with a set of shiny new nozzles, precisely designed for maximum efficiency. Homer notices that Homer Sr. seems relatively uninterested in Homer’s science fair pursuits. He rarely brings up the subject.

Shortly before the science fair begins, Homer overhears Elsie ask Homer Sr. if he’s told the company he’s quitting yet. Homer Sr. replies that he’ll need to wait until the strike ends—he doesn’t want the mining company to think that the union intimidated him into retiring. Elsie accepts this explanation, but doesn’t seem happy. Homer spends the night before he leaves for Indianapolis talking with Quentin, who drills him on trigonometry, calculus, physics, chemistry, and other difficult subjects.

Homer travels to Indianapolis by bus. Many Coalwoodians show up to see Homer off: Basil, Mr. Turner, Melba June, Mr. Dubonnet, Homer Sr., Elsie, Mr. Caton, Mr. Ferro, and the entire BCMA. Just before Homer gets on the bus, he sees Miss Riley in Jake’s Corvette—and she looks very happy.

At the Science Fair in Indiana, Homer surveys his competition. He’s initially afraid because a team from Texas is also presenting on rocket propulsion, but he’s relieved when he sees that none of their designs rival the BCMA’s in sophistication. Homer befriends a competitor named Orville, who’s presenting on electromagnets as well as rocket nozzles. Orville warns Homer that neither one of them will win a prize at the competition, because the prizes always go to big, expensive projects. Homer walks around the exposition hall, and senses that Orville may be correct. The other projects are lavish and beautifully presented, including a self-contained biosphere complete with a pair of monkeys. Orville adds that the judges dislike rocketry, because they find it dangerous. Homer’s heart sinks.

The fair lasts three full days before the judges make their assessments. During the first two days, Homer notes that his project draws a big crowd, but Orville warns that this means nothing by itself—rockets are inherently popular. On the second night of the competition, Orville and Homer join the other competitors for a big group dinner. Homer finds that he misses West Virginia. He wonders what he’ll do if he’s forced to go home empty-handed.

On the second night of the fair, Homer passes through the exhibition hall and is shocked to find his rocket parts missing. Homer complains to the security guard, who tells Homer that he’s in a big city—he needs to lock his things up. Homer is stunned. He’s left with his display case, his photographs, and his equations, but not his nozzles, casements, or nose cones—so his presentation will make no sense.

With no other option, Homer calls his home. He explains to Elsie that he needs extra rocket parts, immediately. Elsie explains to Homer that this will be impossible—Homer Sr. is busy with the strike. Homer goes to bed, thinking that, much like his father, he’s been “too big for his britches.”

Late at night, Homer wakes up to a call from his mother. She explains that there’s a box waiting for him at the train station. The next morning, Homer rushes to the train station, where he finds a box with extra rocket parts. Hugely relieved, Homer prepares for the judges’ assessments.

On the day of the judges’ assessments, Homer puts on his blue suit and sets up his display. That morning, Orville gives him some surprising news: while Homer was frantically looking for his rocket parts, Orville and the other competitors told the judges panel that if Homer wasn’t given a “fair shake,” they would protest. As a result, the judges have added a special propulsion category to the fair.

The judges begin to assess the competitors’ designs. One of the judges, a middle-aged, German-accented man, tells Homer that he’s on von Braun’s research team. The man asks Homer difficult questions about propulsion, and Homer answer them skillfully. Afterwards, the man compliments Homer, and tells him that von Braun is at the science fair. Homer runs to find von Braun, but can’t locate him. When he returns to his display, Orville informs him that von Braun himself stopped by Homer’s display and complimented his nozzles, calling them “marvelous.” The judges award Homer the top prize for propulsion, and Orville comes in second. Homer is exhilarated by his success.

Homer returns to Coalwood. When he gets off his bus, he’s surprised by a crowd of his friends and supporters. As they cheer, Roy Lee pulls Homer aside and tells him that Miss Riley is in the hospital. Horrified, Homer and the other BCMA members visit Miss Riley in the hospital in Welch. There, they find Jake tending to Miss Riley, who looks weak and pale. Homer shows Miss Riley his medal, and Miss Riley seems overjoyed. Homer senses that he’ll never know anyone as kind and good as she is.

Homer leaves Miss Riley’s side, tearfully, and Jake runs after him. Jake tells him that God has a plan for everyone, and that Homer can’t let Miss Riley’s illness interfere with his happiness at having won the Science Fair. Homer angrily accuses Jake of drinking too much—an accusation which Jake doesn’t deny. Nevertheless, Jake argues, Homer must take pleasure in his life, and continue to pursue his dreams of rocketry and engineering. Homer confesses to Jake that he’s afraid of his future. Jake only laughs, and tells Homer that everyone is.