OCTOBER SKYNatalie Ciresi, Joyce Lam, Katie Schmelz, Chaenny Sim, Lianne Yu

BRIEF SUMMARY

Science Fairs

Attempts to Build

Rockets

BCMA

Launch of Sputnik I

STRUCTURE

Exposition• Meet Homer “Sonny”

Hickam• Coalwood, WV• Sputnik

Rising Action• Big Creek Missile Agency

is formed• Future aspirations

(College vs. work in the mine)

• Science Fair

Climax• Cancer• National Science Fair • Stolen Rockets

Falling Action• Mrs. Hickam

saves the day• National

champions • Graduation

Conclusion• Fame• Final launch • Father/son bonding

POV

•1st person

•Explicit •Conflict

: Man vs. Man, Self, and Society

Style

•Reminiscent tone

•Memoir•Literary

Devices•Symbolis

m: rockets, Coalwood mine, National Science Fair

Structure

•26 Chapters

•Chronological

•Spans from 1957-1960

THE JOURNEY: POV

“You ever go down in the mine again, I’ll get your Ground-Daddy’s old pistol out of my cedar chest and shoot you dead on the spot.” (208)•Feels need to follow his mother’s wishes•Knows the pressure to leave

“’No Trespassing’.  My blood boiled at the sight of it.” (333)•Sees his change to leave gone•Hope vanishes in eyes•The importance of leaving makes him angry

“People surged from the road across the slack, following the other boys as they raced after our last, great rocket.” (420)•Realizes the magnitude of what he did•Finally gets the support of his dad

EFFECT OF POV

Follow your own dreams and intuition.

Internal conflicts results in his decision to follow his own “direction”

Characterization

Ambitious, determined, and strong-minded

Helps develop Homer’s persona as a typical young man whose direction in life is ambiguous

PlotSearches for identity

Must choose between what his mother and father want

Ultimately decides to follow his own “gut”