Megan Kuhle
November 8, 2004
English p. 5
Stepping Stones
Marsha Sinetar, an accomplished author once said “Life's ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals - think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want”. This inspirational quote interprets Homer (“Sonny”) Hickman’s life experiences in the novel October Sky, his memoir. Growing up as a teenager with big aspirations and hopes for a successful future in the small coal-mining town, Coalwood, with little money and means is not the easiest thing to do, but Sonny proves that with a little faith and a lot of hard work, it is definitely possible. Throughout this book Sonny overcomes many of the difficulties put in front of him, whether they are building rockets, doing well in school, or various relationships.
One of Sonny’s first obstacles that continues throughout most of the book is his difficult relationship with his father, Homer Sr. Being a veteran at the coal mines, Sonny’s dad tries to convince him that this is his best career option in order to succeed later in life. Sonny, however, has bigger plans for his future. He starts building rockets at the age of 14, and wants to go into the science of rockets. Occasionally Sonny goes to the mine, where his father always talk about how nice it is to be a miner and how he disapproves of Sonny’s interest in rockets. “ ‘There’s no men in the world like miners…They’re good men, strong men…You will never know such good and strong men.’ ” (Hickam 202). However, as the story advances, the barrier of hate between the pair lessens slowly. As Sonny’s rocket progress continues, his need for his father’s help does also. Homer Sr. gives up on trying to convince Sonny that the mine is the only path of life, and begins to help Sonny with his rockets, especially with obtaining and using the needed materials properly.
Sonny becomes interested in rocket building just for fun at age 14. But, as he progresses and hears about the National Science Fair and the prizes for winning, he decides to get a group of friends together and compete in it. So, Sonny and his friends, Quentin, Roy Lee, and Sherman, all begin spending their free time finding materials (such as “rocket candy”), doing calculations, and, of course, building and perfecting their inventions. Unfortunately, at first they got little, if any, support. One teacher at their school, Miss Riley, however, aids the boys from the beginning. The school administration disapproves of the rocket-building act as a whole, and does whatever it can to stop the boys. Even when the boys try to get a trigonometry class to be taught at the school for further exploration, the board does not let them. “We were outraged ‘That’s not fair!’
Mr. Hartsfield looked up sharply. ‘Who ever told you boys life was fair?’ he demanded.” (Hickam 257). Not only do they not allow it, but they are also rude and overlook the boys as if they are just foolish and naïve troublemakers. Sonny’s obstacle of un-supporting people in his quest for rocket success was soon overcome as he proved his success. The class is finally approved, and the smarter Sonny and the “rocket boys” become, the easier it is for them to succeed. The rocket boys end up attending the National Science Fair and placing first. This achievement turns around most of the town’s views on the boys, gaining recognition and, most importantly, respect in Coalwood.
The last obstacle of Sonny’s is his love for Dorothy Plunck, his brother Jim’s girlfriend. Of course, this love is un-returned and known to almost everyone, and still exists throughout Sonny’s high school life. Ever since his freshman year of high school, when he was miserably cut from the football team, but Jim made it, he has dreamed about being with Dorothy. Even though most the rocket boys know about his secret obsession, Sonny manages to keep it a secret from his brother. The more jealous Sonny got, the harder it becomes to do that, like when Jim took Dorothy to a dance. “Dorothy melted in Jim’s arms. As my stomach tightened, he took his stubby hands and clasped them around her petite, perfect waist, while she tucked her head into his lumpish shoulder, her summer-sky-blue eyes closed, a contented smile on her perfect lips.” (Hickam 279).
Dorothy ended up breaking Sonny’s heart, by not only not loving him in return, but also by taking his spot in the new Trigonometry class he was dying for a spot in. Because of the limited space in the class, Sonny ended up missing out on the single most important class to help him in his rocket building career. His desire for Dorothy is substituted for a while when he begins to like an older girl, Valentine, and eventually gets together with her. His realization that Dorothy will never love him in the near future, helps him learn how to have fun while he is young with different girls and not just focus on one.
From working in the coalmines to competing in the National Science Fair, Sonny proves that putting effort and hard work into overcoming your obstacles has continuous positive benefits. Sonny is approached by these obstacles at a growing and sometimes confusing stage in his life, but with his determination he slowly turns them around one by one for the better, gaining recognition and an outstanding reputation as he goes. He is blessed with many never-ending benefits including various prizes, awards, and praises, but nothing that could beat the support, respect and love gained by his family and friends in Coalwood.