3 out of 5 stars
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Rockets in the Sky by Mark Petruzzi follows the author’s journey to healing after losing his son at a very young age. Nicholas Petruzzi died from a rare type of brain cancer and undiagnosed hydrocephalus. This book contains the journal entries of Mark, his father, through three years. He shares his process of overcoming loss and rebuilding faith in God and science after being drastically let down by both. With the help of his family, mediums, and everyone else who showed their support and love, Mark got a newfound hope to live and a different outlook on life. He details his tireless work towards his goal of being more spiritual and eventually being able to reconnect with his son. While this is happening, Mark continues to pursue the investigation of medical professionals that failed to properly diagnose his son, leaving him to suffer in his last days.
I loved reading the advice given by both the author and several others in this book. They taught me about love and honesty and how they are foundational to becoming a better person. It was invigorating to see the author grow and become a great person over the years. It felt refreshing to see how he used his experiences for his good instead of dwelling on them. The book taught the importance of having a support system. The people in Mark’s life following the aftermath of his son’s death gave him strength and some reason to live. He, in turn, was there for people around him regardless of his relationship with them. Their reactions showed the significance of reaching out and supporting others. I admired the author’s candid honesty in his thoughts and ideas. It made the book more relatable and engaging.
I was disappointed by how the book was concluded. I expected to have some closure regarding the legal case of Nick’s death. I was roused by the author’s attitude towards the rest of his immediate family when his son died. It felt like he did not acknowledge them enough and paid little attention to them. Also, there were several grammatical and spelling mistakes throughout the book that affected my reading experience. I wouldn't say this book was professionally edited.
Owing to the points stated in the two paragraphs above this one, I would rate Rockets in the Sky by Mark Petruzzi three out of five stars. I believe this novel portrays a valuable message through Nick and Mark’s story, but I couldn’t get past some ways I disagreed with his behavior and ideas. Also, I couldn't get past the errors and the unsatisfactory ending of the story; those are the reasons I removed a star from the book.
I recommend this book to anyone going through the loss of a child or any loved one. Mark’s journey inspires readers to find hope and live for the ones they have lost.
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Rockets in the Sky
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