Sonny be full of himself at times.

Sonny – Sonny, also known as Homer Hickam Jr.

, is the narrator of the book. During this time, the spacerace is in full throttle, and Sonny and the boys were inspired. Throughout the memoir, Sonny and the restof the Rocketboys design, test, and build rockets. When the odds were stacked against them, they went onto win the national science fair. The novel also includes the drama in his life.

He was in love withDorothy, though she didn’t love him back. He and his father didn’t get along very well, bt he and hismother were on good terms. Quentin- Quentin is one of the Rocketboys members. At the beginning of the story, not many othersliked him. He was described as nerdy, and could be full of himself at times.

Sonny let him joi, becausethey needed someone to help with calculations, and Q could certainly do it. He had a ton ofdetermination, despite not always being the favorite. Sonny’s father – Sonny’s father, Homer Hickam Sr., worked in the coal mines for most of his life. Hecontracted black lung, from breathing in all the coal dust. He and Sonny didn’t have the best relationship.

He wasn’t supportive of what Sonny had accomplished, and was more interested in the football Jim, Sonny’s brother, played. Homer was strict, hard headed, and stubborn before anything else. Despite hisnot so playful qualities, he did love his family. Jake Mosby- Jake Mosby was an engineer from Ohio, that came to the mines as a work project. He wasfairly wealthy, and loved getting the attention of young women.

He supported the BCMA, and gave wordsof wisdom to Sonny and the boys. He liked astronomy, and had a thing for Miss Riley, Sonny’s teacher. Miss Riley- Miss Riley was Sonny’s teacher and has always supported the boys from the start. Shebelieved what they were doing could get them out of Coalwood, and into a better life. She assisted theboys with any science questions they had, and fought for them when no one else would. She was Sonny’sfavorite teacher, along with the other boy’s too.

Unfortunately, towards the end of the book, she got a fataldisease, and later died at a young age. John Dubonnet- Mr. Dubonnet was leader of the Coal Miner’s Union, and was ridiculed for telling theminers to work instead of going on strike. He supported the BCMA and looked to help in any way hecould. Though he loved Sonny and his plans, he didn’t get along with Homer Sr. In multiple scenesthroughout the book, they could be found arguing, typically about work.

Sonny’s mother- Sonny’s mother, Elsie, was a strong and independent coal miner’s wife. She was onSonny’s side whenever Homer Sr. would discourage the boy.

She stuck up for herself and Sonny. However, she wasn’t too fond of the explosions and messes the boys made. She loved Myrtle Beach andlater moved there. She took a liking to Quentin and pitied him more than the others.

Dr. Werner von Braun- Von Braun was Sonny’s idol in Rocket Boys. Homer Sr. didn’t like him becausehe used to build missiles for Germany’s army under Hitler’s reign.

However, he went to work a Cape