Chapter 22 Reading Questions
1. Why did the Auk XXIII not achieve the altitude that Sonny had calculated it would?
2. How are the boys able to afford their continuing rocket construction after Auk XXIII uses up the last of their funds?
3. Why does Sonny's father object to John F. Kennedy as a presidential candidate?

Reading Questions Chapter 19
1. During his conversation with Miss Riley, what did Sonny mean by "the West Virginia thing?"
2. There was a change in Sonny after Mrs. Bykovski's bus pulled out. What was this change? What caused it?
3. Why do you believe Sonny didn't explain to the other boys in the BCMA his reason for switching from rocket candy to zinc dust and sulfur?

Reading Questions Chapter 20
1. At the start of the chapter, what is Sonny's state of mind due to his family's situation?
2. How does the boys' plan to make money backfire on them?
3. Who comes to their financial rescue and how?

Reading Questions Chapter 21
1. Why is it necessary to find a binding agent for the zinc-sulfur mixture?
2. What do the boys find as a binding agent and how does that get them into trouble?
3. How do the townspeople treat Mr. Fuller and why?

Reading Questions Ch. 17
1. What kind of music did Ed Johnson and his devotees prefer?
2. Describe the changes in mood Sonny experienced on the night he went to the Dugout. How did he feel on the way to the Dugout and while he was first there? How did he feel when he saw Dorothy, when he was with Valentine, and when he was with Buck?
3. How does the tone of the final scene of this chapter, when Sonny returns home, compare with the tone of the earlier scene?

Reading Questions Ch. 18
1. Why was Sonny so devastated by the death of Mr. Bykovski?
2. Doc said, "Coalwood is no place to be weak, but if you are, keep it to yourself and get the hell out of here as soon as you can." Do you agree with this assessment of Coalwood? Support your opinion using a character from the novel.
3. What was the worst thing Sonny had ever felt, and what

**Note that for each set of questions, some may have
Chapter 14 Reading Questions
1. What principle behind the De Laval nozzle made it a more efficient model than the ones the boys had been building previously?
2. What subject would the boys need to learn in order to build a De Laval nozzle?
3. How are his father's and Sonny's stories paralleled in this chapter?

Chapter 15 Reading Questions
1. How did Mr. Hartsfield believe Big Creek High School was regarded? Who else believed this was how the school was seen?
2. How did Sonny's father indirectly help Sonny teach himself calculus?
3. Although Sonny valued Quentin's friendship and his membership in the BCMA, was Sonny also aware of Quentin's less admirable traits? Give an example of Quentin displaying such a trait.

Chapter 16 Reading Questions
1. Explain Quentin and Mr. Caton's difference of opinion concerning design changes. What made each of them think he was right?
2. What actually pushed Sonny into entering the science fair?
3. Describe the dynamics of Sonny's family up to this point in the story. Explain the relationship of each parent to each son, the relationship between the brothers, and the relationship between the parents.

Reading Questions Ch. 12
1. How is Sonny able to obtain the material and work needed to build the Auk XIV?
2. What does Sonny go to ask Mr. Bykovski?
3. What do Quentin and Sonny agree about their rocket experiments after the launch of Auk XV?

Reading Questions Ch. 13
1. How does Sonny nearly die in sledding home?
2. What does Sonny learn from Geneva Eggers that gives him a larger and more positive picture of his father than he had previously?
3. What story does his father later tell him about Geneva Eggers that again changes

Reading Questions Chapter Nine
1. Although there were many differences between Jake Moseby and Sonny, why did they become friends?
2. How did Sonny's parents' relationship change while on vacation?
3. What is the hardest thing Sonny's father says he has ever learned? Is he simply referring to thermodynamics?

Reading Questions Chapter Ten
1. How does Mr. Van Dyke settle the issue of theft of the telephone equipment?
2. Why is this school year different than others?
3. Which of the experiences in this chapter do you think is most important to Sonny? Why?

Reading Questions Chapter Eleven
1. What is "rocket candy" made of?
2. What are Sonny's father's motives in taking Sonny on a tour of the mine?
3. Why is Sonny's mother so angry with his father for taking Sonny into the mine?

Chapter Seven Reading Questions
1. How did Sonny, his mother, and Mr. Bykovski react to his father's reassignment of Mr. Bykovski?
2. How did the Great Six teachers work behind the scenes to influence change in Coalwood?
3. What was the purpose of Reverend Lanier's sermon? To whom was it directed?

Chapter Eight Reading Questions
1. How were the two main subjects of Mr. Turner's speech to the high school linked?
2. Why does Sonny's father look at Sonny with "some confusion, almost as if he had never looked at him before" (pg 141).
3. What does Sonny learn about his parents' relationship from eaves

Chapter 6 Reading Questions

1. How does Emily Sue assess Sonny's, Jim's, and Dorothy's characters?
2. In what essential way does Mr. Bykovsky assist the Big Creek Missile Agency? Why do you think he wants to help Sonny?
3. What happens with the launch of Auk IV that gets Sonny in trouble?

Chapter Three
1. In what ways does the conflict between Elsie and Homer Sr. benefit Sonny?
2. How are the building of a rocket and the acquisition of and education connected in Elsie's mind?
3. Is Homer Sr. a good, bad, or typical father? Is Elsie a good, bad, or typical mother? Explain.

Chapter Four
1. When Big Creek High School is not allowed to play in the football championship, how does Dad react? What is Mom's response?
2. What conflicts left over from the past seem to make Dad's feelings toward John Dubonnet especially bitter?
3. In Mr. Dubonnet's opinion, what change or changes has made modern coal mining more unhealthy than old-fashion mining used to be? Why is this danger particularly relevant to Sonny's dad?

Chapter Five
1. How does Quentin differ from most kids at his school? Despite these differences, how are his circumstances similar to those of his other classmates?
2. Why does Mr. Dubonnet believe that Sonny should leave Coalwood after high school?
3. What do you think motivates Dorothy to ask Sonny to her home for a study date?

Chapter One
1. Describe the strengths and weaknesses of Coalwood.
2. How does Sonny feel about his father?
3. In what ways is Coalwood similar to your hometown? How is it different?

Chapter Two
1. Have there been national events in your lifetime as significant as Sputnik? What were they? Why were they significant?
2. Are the students described typical of high school students? Why or why not?
3. Why do Jim and Homer Sr. appear to dislike Sonny?