A memoir from Homer Hickam Jr. of growing up in the mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia, in the age of Sputnik. "Sonny" became fascinated with the idea of rocketry and with some friends began building and firing off rockets, like his idol Wernher von Braun. His stories about his dedication to learning the math and science involved in rocketry, scrounging the materials and inventing the fuels he needs, and the difficulties in witnessing his father (a mine foreman) dealing with the vicissitudes of life in coal-mining country, . . . well, it's all a very inspiring story. An enjoyable story!