Welcome!

Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, Jr. is the first book selected for One Book, One Valley’s community reading program.  This best-selling memoir is the true story of Homer “Sonny” Hickam, Jr., a boy from the mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. In1957, when Sonny was just 14 years old, Sputnik raced across the Appalachian sky.  It left in its wake one boy’s desire to join the space race, a dream that he ardently pursued with the help (and sometimes hindrance) of the people in the unique little town of his youth.   Rocket Boys offers readers ways to teach and foster the concepts of hope, passion, confidence, self-realization, and the power of following a dream.  The book reminds all of us that to simply dream is not enough.  We should live our dreams, too.

One Book, One Valley is an opportunity for members of our community to gather and discuss great literature.  One Book, One City projects (community-wide reading programs) were started by the Washington Center for the Book in 1998 with “If all of Seattle Read the Same Book.”  Since then, the idea has spread to more than 200 cities.

Do you want to know what would happen if all of the
Antelope Valley read the same book?
Join the discussion and find out.

How you can participate

• Check out a copy of the book at any of the libraries in the Antelope Valley, or
                                  
• Purchase a copy of the Book from the Friends of the Libraries of the Antelope Valley – discounted for program participants.
                                  
• Attend one of the book discussion groups listed here.
                                  
• Attend one of the Special Events listed here.
                                  
• Spread the word to friends, family, and coworkers about his community-wide reading project.
                                  

The goal of One Book, One Valley is to
promote a culture of reading and literacy in our community,
and encourage the diverse members of the Antelope Valley
to gather together and discuss books and ideas.