Awards

2014 Winner of the Patrick D Smith Literary Award for Florida authors

2014 Shelf Unbound Notable Indie

2014 Grace Award Previously available under the title "Jessie"

"In the beginning, man blew up a bunch or rockets" The morning Alan Shepherd rocketed into the sky to become the first American astronaut in space, changed everything for Jessie Cole, a 10-year-old boy living in the shadow of America's fledgling space program. "One day, I am going to ride one of those rockets," he declares to his skeptical brothers. Jessie, determined and passionate about his dream, falls prey to disillusionment as his family life disintegrates at the hand of their alcoholic and abusive father. How can he concentrate on future hopes with so many changes in his daily life? Jessie's always been the dreamer, but will his dreams be strong enough to launch him out of poverty and into space as his high hopes battle harsh reality?