Rocket Boys
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Epilogue
Themes
All Themes The Cold War and the Space Race The Individual vs. the Group Dreams, Ambition, and Acceptance Parents and Children Hard Work, Scarcity, Science, and Innovation
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Homer Hickam Jr. Homer Hickam Sr. Elsie Lavender Hickam Sherman Quentin Roy Lee Dorothy Plunk Wernher von Braun Mr. R.L. Turner Reverend “Little” Richard Reverend Josiah Lanier Jim Hickam William Laird John Dubonnet Mr. Isaac Bykovski Miss Riley Jake Mosby Orville
Symbols
All Symbols Rockets
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
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Rocket Boys

by

Homer Hickam

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
  • Chapter 17
  • Chapter 18
  • Chapter 19
  • Chapter 20
  • Chapter 21
  • Chapter 22
  • Chapter 23
  • Chapter 24
  • Chapter 25
  • Chapter 26
  • Epilogue
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Cold War and the Space Race Theme Icon
    The Cold War and the Space Race
  • The Individual vs. the Group Theme Icon
    The Individual vs. the Group
  • Dreams, Ambition, and Acceptance Theme Icon
    Dreams, Ambition, and Acceptance
  • Parents and Children Theme Icon
    Parents and Children
  • Hard Work, Scarcity, Science, and Innovation Theme Icon
    Hard Work, Scarcity, Science, and Innovation
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Homer Hickam Jr.
  • Homer Hickam Sr.
  • Elsie Lavender Hickam
  • Sherman
  • Quentin
  • Roy Lee
  • Dorothy Plunk
  • Wernher von Braun
  • Mr. R.L. Turner
  • Reverend “Little” Richard
  • Reverend Josiah Lanier
  • Jim Hickam
  • William Laird
  • John Dubonnet
  • Mr. Isaac Bykovski
  • Miss Riley
  • Jake Mosby
  • Orville
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Rockets Symbol Icon
    Rockets
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

Rocket Boys Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Arn, Jackson. "Rocket Boys." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 20 Nov 2015. Web. 25 May 2025.


Chicago

Arn, Jackson. "Rocket Boys." LitCharts LLC, November 20, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/rocket-boys.

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