Author: Tracey Enerson Wood
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Pages: 448
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: She helped her brothers soar… but was the flight worth the fall?
It all started with two boys and a bicycle shop. Wilbur and Orville Wright, both unsuited to college and disinclined to leave home, jumped on the popular new fad of bicycle riding and opened a shop in Dayton, Ohio. Repairing and selling soon led to tinkering and building as the brothers offered improved models to their eager customers. Amid their success, a new dream began to take shape. Engineers across the world were puzzling over how to build a powered flying machine―and Wilbur and Orville wanted in on the challenge. But their younger sister, Katharine, knew they couldn't do it without her. The three siblings made a pact: the three of them would solve the problem of human flight.
As her brothers obsessed over blueprints and risked life and limb testing new models on the sand beaches of North Carolina, Katharine became the mastermind behind the scenes of their inventions. She sourced materials, managed communications, and kept Wilbur and Orville focused on their goal―even when it seemed hopeless. And in 1903, the Wright brothers made the first controlled, sustained flight of humankind.
What followed was the kind of fame and fortune the Wrights had never imagined. The siblings traveled the world to demonstrate their invention, trained other pilots, and built new machines that could fly higher and farther. But at the height of their success, tragedy wrenched the Wright family apart… and forced Katharine to make an impossible choice that would haunt her for the rest of her life.
From internationally bestselling author Tracey Enerson Wood, Katharine, the Wright Sister is an unforgettable novel that shines a spotlight on one of the most important and overlooked women in history, and the sacrifices she made so that others might fly.
My Review: Everyone has heard about the famous Wright brothers, who have invented the first modern airplane. Yet, very few know about their sister, Katharine. This novel attempts to shine light on a little known historical figure. Katharine Wright is shown to be the mastermind to help the brothers make their most famous invention, the airplane.
Before reading this novel, I had never heard of Katharine Wright. Therefore, I was eager to read this novel to see how she had impacted the Wright brothers. Katharine is portrayed as a genius who is involved in her brothers’ inventions. She had a really close relationship with them until tragedy struck. However, I found Katharine to be very admirable in making a tremendous sacrifice for the good of her family. Thus, Katharine was a very compassionate and loving figure. Katharine is a commendable character. I couldn’t stop reading to find out what had happened to her.
Overall, this novel is about family, dreams, and sacrifice. I found all the characters to be very well-developed and complex. I did not like the multiple narrators, especially the perspectives of her brothers because it seemed to distract us from Katharine’s story. I also thought the story was very slow-paced, and I struggled at times to get through it! I did find the novel to be very well-written and meticulously researched! Nevertheless, Katharine, the Wright Sister shines lights on a forgotten historical figure! Katharine, the Wright Sister is perfect for those who love reading about early aviation! I recommend this novel for fans of Her Last Flight, The Aviator’s Wife, and Flygirl!
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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