“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!