Homer Hickam official Web site - October Sky/Rocket Boys, The Keeper's Son.

READING GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FOR HOMER HICKAM'S BOOKS:

Red Helmet
The Far Reaches
The Ambassador's Son
The Keeper's Son
Sky of Stone
The Coalwood Way
The Coalwood Triology
Rocket Boys
Torpedo Junction
Teacher's Guide to Rocket Boys/October Sky
Soon - "We Are Not Afraid" Discussion Questions

PERTINENT ORDERING INFORMATION

Red Helmet (hardcover)
HOMER HICKAM
352 Pages
ISBN: 1595542140
Publisher: 1595542140

NOTES

Please let Homer know when your Red Helmet discussion meeting is by emailing Linda at LTHickamNOSPAM@homerhickam.com (remove NOSPAM before sending). Homer might even be able to be a part of your meeting via telephone!

See our Red Helmet page for photos and other items of interest and see also musician Jim Brickman's special Red Helmet page (he is featured in the book!)

SYNOPSIS

Song Hawkins is a beautiful, tough, but lonely New York City businesswoman who thinks she's met the man of her dreams in Cable Jordan, the superintendent of a West Virginia coal mine. But soon after they impulsively marry during a romantic holiday, Song realizes they're in big trouble. She can't imagine life outside of New York and Cable has no intention of leaving his beloved town of Highcoal. Song's visit to the little mining community to meet its quirky citizens only makes things worse and it looks like the marriage is over. But in a shocking turn of events, Song realizes it's up to her to put on the red helmet of the new coal miner and descend into the deep darkness, there to make a life-changing sacrifice for both Cable and the entire town.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Below are some ideas for discussion in your group. Homer and I would also love to hear what questions your group came up with! Click here to email us.

Song and Cable seem to believe it was their destiny to be together even though the circumstances were difficult. Do you believe in destiny in terms of romantic relationships? Or is it all luck and circumstance?
How do you see Song changing throughout the novel? How about Cable? Did he change very much or did Song have to do the changing?
Song's mother died trying to climb a mountain while Song was still an infant. How do you think that affected Song's attitude toward life?
When Song looks out at Highcoal for the first time, she instantly disliked it. Why do you think she had that opinion?
Why did Song's first visit to Highcoal go so wrong? Was it her fault? Cable's? Or did the people of the town not give her a chance?
What do you think would have happened if Song had not returned to Highcoal for Squirrel's funeral? How would Song and Cable's story played out?
What did Song learn about herself when she took her red cap training? What did she learn about Cable? The people of Highcoal?
Could you go into a coal mine? How do you think you would feel? Did you get a sense of what it was like by reading this novel?
What do you think happened to Song and Cable after the end of the novel? Would you like to read a sequel?
Other than Song and Cable, who was your favorite character in the novel and why?

BIOGRAPHY

Homer Hickam is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Rocket Boys which was made into the acclaimed movie, October Sky. He is also the author of the bestselling The Keeper's Son and many other books including The Coalwood Way and Sky of Stone. He and his wife and cats share their time between homes in Huntsville, Alabama, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.