In her fourth historical novel, Katharine, the Wright Sister, Tracey Enerson Wood charts the Wright brothers' thrilling (and sometimes harrowing) journey toward mechanical flight, made possible in large part by the efforts and sacrifices of their sister, Katharine.
Wood (The President's Wife) toggles expertly between three points of view: those of Wilbur, Orville, and Katharine herself, providing their varied perspectives on the highs and lows of their attempts to build and perfect their flying machines. Although most Americans have heard of the Wrights' flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., Wood fills in the background of how they got there: dozens of failed attempts, countless calculations of wind speed and resistance, and numerous yards of white muslin, which Katharine sourced for her brothers. Wood explores the sometimes tricky dynamics among the siblings: Wilbur's ambition, Orville's social anxiety, and Katharine's inner conflict between pride in her brothers' work and resentment at missing some key triumphant moments. That conflict eventually comes to a head when Katharine wonders if it's too late to pursue her own happiness--or if her family will understand why she needs to.
Wood draws on historical documents and research to immerse the reader in the Wrights' world of Dayton, Ohio, at the turn of the 20th century, sharing details of the music, clothes, food, and social issues of the day. Katharine later becomes involved in the suffragist movement in Ohio, and the Wrights travel across Europe, meeting heads of state and touring iconic cities. Readers will be swept away by Wood's vivid depictions of early flight, and inspired by Katharine's dedication to stay true to both her brothers and herself. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams