October Sky Essay

Outside Reading Project

Across Disciplines-How did this story inform you about another subject? The book October Sky not only tells an intriguing story of a boy, his town, and rockets, it also informs the reader about how the rockets are built and what it takes to design and build each one. In the book, a group of boys that call themselves “the Rocket Boys” are building rockets; at first it is for sport and to see if they can do it, but it evolves into a source of pride for the town. This is to give the reader a better idea of what’s going on in the book, as it makes it easier for them to picture each scene. For example, it says in the book, “‘What makes a rocket fly?’ ‘Newton’s third law. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.’” It also says, “‘[The nozzle is] designed to convert slow-moving, high-pressure gasses into a stream of low-pressure, high-velocity gasses.’” This book not only entertains

He learns that it’s not where you’re from, but what you do, that defines you. His friend and fellow “rocket boy” mentions, “‘[The judges of the science fair] won’t let you win…Not after you said you were from [Coalwood].’” Even though he was from the small mining town of Coalwood, he won at a national science fair, showing him that he was capable of great things. Sonny also becomes more aware of what is going on in the town, and senses the tension between the members of the coal mining union and members of the coal mining company. In addition, Sonny’s view of the coal mine changes. At the beginning of the book, he sees the mine just as part of the town and part of his life; as the book progresses, he realizes that the mine isn’t permanent as well as nothing is permanent. He learns this when Ike Bykovski, a worker in the mine that Sonny knows, dies in a mining accident. In conclusion, Sonny becomes more wise and aware of his surroundings by the end of the