Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys

• Learn more about One Book

Questions? Call (270) 534-3213

Mark your Calendar
Meet Author Homer Hickam
October 24
• 3 pm , McCracken Co. Public Library
• 7 pm , Clemens Fine Arts Theatre

Among events planned for the “One Book” read included:

• September 11 – the official kickoff of the project with a 7 p.m. screening of October Sky at Maiden Alley Cinema.
• October 1 – retired WKCTC English professor Andrew Halford will lead a special Off the Shelf discussion on Rocket Boys at noon at the McCracken County Public Library
• October 20 – WKCTC’s QEP Committee will also sponsor an essay contest in which readers will write about some aspect of the book. The entries will be accepted from August 20 through October 10. There will be three categories: faculty/staff, WKCTC students, and high school/middle school students. One winner from each category will receive $100 or a $100 gift card.
• October 24 - Hickam will appear in Paducah at WKCTC’s Clemens Theatre at 10 a.m. for a town hall meeting for area high school students. At 3 p.m., the author will sign books at the McCracken County Public Library before giving a keynote presentation/book signing at 7 p.m. in the Clemens Theatre. All events are free to the public but will require tickets that will be available at various locations.

In addition to scheduled events, the McCracken County Information Network (McNet), a consortium of school, public, academic, and special libraries, has worked to promote the One Book, One Campus, One Community project throughout McCracken County and surrounding counties. McNet compiled a toolkit of resources for librarians throughout western Kentucky to utilize in conjunction with the book. The toolkit contained writing prompts, discussion questions, hands-on activities, and bibliographies of theme-related print and non-print materials, such as movies and websites. All materials included on the toolkit are tied to the Kentucky Core Content so that school librarians may use them to target specific curriculum and audiences at their schools. A website for teachers and librarians has been created by McNet and can be found at http://rocketboystoolkit.pbwiki.com/Rocket+Boys+Toolkit.

The book, Rocket Boys, was placed on the summer reading lists in all content areas in McCracken County Board of Education schools. Copies of the book were available for sale to the students prior to the summer break. The schools will distribute the curriculum units developed by the McNet group and assist in the implementation of these units. Students will be encouraged to attend all events for the One Book, One Campus, One Community celebration.

The McCracken County Public Library has several fun, free, and fabulous activities planned for One Book, One Campus, One Community. During the summer, the library will share information about the core of Hickam’s hometown - the coal industry. A hands-on display showcases samples of peat, lignite, bituminous, and anthracite coal. Get great ideas for the next science fair! Learn about a career in the coal industry! Discover what reclaimed mine sites mean for your world… all inside the Youth Services Department, on the library’s second floor. For a complete schedule of events, call 270-442-2510 or go to the Internet Branch ~ www.mclib.net.