As someone who didn't realise there was a sister in the Wright brother's flight success, I found this book interesting. Some parts dragged, but overall, this book was fairly interesting. I found it hard to put it down.

Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood is a great historical fiction that I really enjoyed.

I really liked Ms. Wood’s previous novels, so of course I was excited to read this one.

It was so fascinating diving into the Wright family and to get to see history not only through the minds of both Wright brothers, but also through their sister, Katharine. I had already read a book from her POV, but this one really gave her another dimension that I felt I was missing when I pictured it all.

Great read.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/10/24.

In Katharine, the Wright Sister, we meet the sister of and force behind the famed Wright brothers and their flying machine. As with her other novels, Tracey Enerson Wood introduces us to an important woman whom history has overlooked. I enjoyed "meeting" Katharine. I only knew the grade-school version of the invention of the airplane, and this book goes so much deeper. Truly, without Katharine, her brothers would not have been successful.

I think book clubs will love this novel as there is a lot to think about. For example, was Katharine altruistic in giving up her dreams to help her family? Or was she guilted into it? Personally, I really enjoyed Katharine and didn't always like how she was treated by her brothers or father.

The book is narrated in alternating chapters by Katharine, Wilber and Orville. Though Wood's neat prose is generally so pleasant to read, I thought there was a lack of distinction between each voice. I had to look back at the beginning of chapters on occasion to remind myself who was narrating.

Wood's writing really shines in the descriptions of flying machines and the science of flight. She keeps it interesting and also explains complex concepts and describes how machines looked and worked in incredible detail that's easy to understand. She deftly teaches readers about complex flight and machine concepts without talking down to us.

Overall, I really enjoyed this well-done novel and loved learning about lesser-known but very important figure the history books have disregarded.

I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood is a historical fiction novel about Katharine and her famous Wright Brothers. The story is told through alternating points of view : Orville, Wilbur, and Katharine. We learn that Katharine was instrumental in assisting her brothers in making their dreams come true. She spent considerable time managing tasks for the brothers while working at the family bicycle shop and local school.

I recommend this book for historical fiction readers, it explores the story of the Wright Brothers in detail but also shows the lesser known sister who made it possible. Katharine was a dedicated woman who sacrificed much of her dreams and life to work and care for her brothers. I appreciated the shifting points of view to have the detailed story of how the flying machine was made and how flight was finally achieved after many revisions.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

“She helped her brothers soar … but was the flight worth the fall?”

Wood’s fantastic historical fiction brings to light the dynamic woman behind the history of flight - a woman who has been overlooked and overshadowed by her famous brothers.

Katharine Wright was a celebrity in her own right. The youngest of five Wright children and the only girl, Katharine graduated from university and pioneered women’s rights and pursued a career in education. Like her brothers, she dreamed about flight as a child and the three of them (Orville, Wilbur and Katharine) managed to keep their dream alive until realizing it, many decades later.

Author Tracey Enerson Wood (1) examines what drives and keeps a person invested in a dream to hold it for so long and (2) explores the question of whether the Wrights were responsible for their invention (i.e. it was sold to the U.S. Airforce and used as a weapon of destruction). Her story definitely benefits from three different POVs; Wilbur, Orville and Katharine.

I was amazed to discover the force behind these two men. I can’t believe I’d never heard of their sister, Katharine, despite her significant impact on the invention and on the field of aviation. I think the thing that stayed with me the most was the years of sacrifice and risk the siblings endured in their journey to realize their dream. I was caught up in the family dynamics and in Katharine’s role, not only in sustaining the family, but in keeping their dream alive. My heart ached when I read about a single choice that changed the trajectory of the sibling relationship.

Above all, I appreciated the opportunity to realize how far we’ve come since the invention of flight.

Congratulations on a spectacular cover!

I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Growing up less than an hour away from the Wright family's Dayton, Ohio, home always made me intrigued by the famous brothers. To learn how their sister Katharine provided important support to them--unknown to me before--made for an absolutely compelling read. Highly recommended!