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The Wright Sister
Published in time for the 100th anniversary of the first flight, here is the first complete biography of the Wright Brothers' sister. Beloved sibling, confidant, and caregiver, Katharine managed many of her brothers' affairs. Based on a thorough study of her personal papers and the Wright archives, The Wright Sister tells a touching personal story, and casts a uniquely intimate light on the lives of two of the twentieth century's most famous men.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2003
8 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Richard Maurer
14 books1 followerRichard Maurer is the author of The Wild Colorado and Airborne: The Search for the Secret of Flight, winner of the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award. A native of West Texas, he lives in central Massachusetts with his wife, a famous book designer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 16, 2014
I read this book because reading an informational text was required. However the title of this text interested me. This book is about the Wright brothers sister and her life. Including her contribution to the Wright brothers business and evolutionary invention. It was interesting for the first couple chapters or sections, but after a while it seemed like over kill. Because it was an informational text it had the same sense and feel of a textbook, which are completely boring to read. Overall great story and very informative. I would recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about the wright family or their invention of the airplane.
Drugs: None
Sex: None
Violence: None
Language: None
Drugs: None
Sex: None
Violence: None
Language: None
May 19, 2022
Review title: The Right stuff
Orville and Wilbur Wright were the men who invented flight while they were kept well grounded by a strong family at home. And none was more important than sister Kate. David McCullough's The Wright Brothers is the perfect introduction to their story, and just as I noted in my review of that book, my wife and I bought The Wright Sister on our visit in April 2022 to the Wright Brothers National Historic Site in Kitty Hawk.
Katherine was both emblematic of her time and ahead of it. The best educated of her family, and one of the few college-educated women of her day, she was expected to keep house for her father and famous brothers after her mother passed away. And she did it without apparent regret or grudge for years before getting one of the few professional jobs open to women of her day, teaching high school Latin (for lower pay than her male counterparts). But she remained always the faithful daughter and best friend of Orville and Wilbur, corresponding with them during their trips to the Outer Banks and then around the country and Europe demonstrating their accomplishments. She gave up her teaching assignment temporarily to serve as the brothers' social secretary in Europe, seeing historical sites she had only read about and meeting royalty she had never expected to encounter, and doing it all with such frank good humor and grace she became as popular as her brothers.
Maurer tells her story in this slim volume written for school-aged readers. It is written in short simple sentences, paragraphs and chapters, with lots of well-selected and reproduced photographs of Katherine and her family and Oberlin College friends. In telling her story Maurer perhaps focuses too much on the brothers' story, perhaps to provide context he assumes younger readers will lack. He might have been better to assume basic knowledge or refer readers to separate sources so that he could tell us more about Katherine. Even with that opportunity for improvement, Maurer still is able to establish Katherine as an independent character in her own right and give her the dignity she earned with her life, including her marriage to an old college friend at a point in her life when she had settled into middle age still living with and providing companionship to brother Orville after her father and Wilbur had both passed away.
If you know young people interested in aviation, American history, science and technology, or invention, the Wright Brothers and their equally worthy sister are subjects to recommend to their attention, and The Wright Sister a book to add to their reading list.
Orville and Wilbur Wright were the men who invented flight while they were kept well grounded by a strong family at home. And none was more important than sister Kate. David McCullough's The Wright Brothers is the perfect introduction to their story, and just as I noted in my review of that book, my wife and I bought The Wright Sister on our visit in April 2022 to the Wright Brothers National Historic Site in Kitty Hawk.
Katherine was both emblematic of her time and ahead of it. The best educated of her family, and one of the few college-educated women of her day, she was expected to keep house for her father and famous brothers after her mother passed away. And she did it without apparent regret or grudge for years before getting one of the few professional jobs open to women of her day, teaching high school Latin (for lower pay than her male counterparts). But she remained always the faithful daughter and best friend of Orville and Wilbur, corresponding with them during their trips to the Outer Banks and then around the country and Europe demonstrating their accomplishments. She gave up her teaching assignment temporarily to serve as the brothers' social secretary in Europe, seeing historical sites she had only read about and meeting royalty she had never expected to encounter, and doing it all with such frank good humor and grace she became as popular as her brothers.
Maurer tells her story in this slim volume written for school-aged readers. It is written in short simple sentences, paragraphs and chapters, with lots of well-selected and reproduced photographs of Katherine and her family and Oberlin College friends. In telling her story Maurer perhaps focuses too much on the brothers' story, perhaps to provide context he assumes younger readers will lack. He might have been better to assume basic knowledge or refer readers to separate sources so that he could tell us more about Katherine. Even with that opportunity for improvement, Maurer still is able to establish Katherine as an independent character in her own right and give her the dignity she earned with her life, including her marriage to an old college friend at a point in her life when she had settled into middle age still living with and providing companionship to brother Orville after her father and Wilbur had both passed away.
If you know young people interested in aviation, American history, science and technology, or invention, the Wright Brothers and their equally worthy sister are subjects to recommend to their attention, and The Wright Sister a book to add to their reading list.
November 9, 2008
Maurer, Richard. The Wright Sister: Katharine Wright and her Famous Brothers, Roaring Brook Press, 127 pages. Non-fiction biography.
Description: This biographical book tells the story of Orville and Wilber Wright's sister, Katharine, from her childhood through her time at Oberlin College to her years of assisting her brothers with their flying machines.
Review: The Wright Sister offers a new perspective on the Wright Brothers and goes far beyond the famous story of the first flight at Kitty Hawk. Katharine was an impressive figure in her own right--well educated at a time when women rarely attended college, diligently supportive of brothers and father, a respected teacher of Latin and Greek. Katharine's story is told in a way that does not pander to young readers. Using a conversational, prosaic tone, The Wright Sister, provides a great deal of detail from Katharine's personal life and uses these details to frame the events of her and her brothers' famous successes. Readers will also learn a great deal about what life was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially for an ambitious woman.
The book's text is supplemented by photographs from the Wright family's personal collection. Many of the pictures are remarkably candid and give readers an even better idea of what Katharine's life was like. I highly recommend this book for older children (and young teens) who are interested in history, or even in historical fiction. This engaging read will hook many readers with its keen sense of time, place and character.
Professional Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews, 2003.
This review is lightly critical of the book. The reviewer believes that the text is too small and that the text "doesn't quite soar." I disagree with this assessment and found the book to be well-written and carefully prepared.
Fargnoli, Harriett. School Library Journal, 2003.
Fargnoli emphasizes Maurer's extensive research and the resulting accuracy of this book. I agree that this book seems very well researched.
Description: This biographical book tells the story of Orville and Wilber Wright's sister, Katharine, from her childhood through her time at Oberlin College to her years of assisting her brothers with their flying machines.
Review: The Wright Sister offers a new perspective on the Wright Brothers and goes far beyond the famous story of the first flight at Kitty Hawk. Katharine was an impressive figure in her own right--well educated at a time when women rarely attended college, diligently supportive of brothers and father, a respected teacher of Latin and Greek. Katharine's story is told in a way that does not pander to young readers. Using a conversational, prosaic tone, The Wright Sister, provides a great deal of detail from Katharine's personal life and uses these details to frame the events of her and her brothers' famous successes. Readers will also learn a great deal about what life was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially for an ambitious woman.
The book's text is supplemented by photographs from the Wright family's personal collection. Many of the pictures are remarkably candid and give readers an even better idea of what Katharine's life was like. I highly recommend this book for older children (and young teens) who are interested in history, or even in historical fiction. This engaging read will hook many readers with its keen sense of time, place and character.
Professional Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews, 2003.
This review is lightly critical of the book. The reviewer believes that the text is too small and that the text "doesn't quite soar." I disagree with this assessment and found the book to be well-written and carefully prepared.
Fargnoli, Harriett. School Library Journal, 2003.
Fargnoli emphasizes Maurer's extensive research and the resulting accuracy of this book. I agree that this book seems very well researched.
December 29, 2025
No one ever achieves anything alone, and often many of the people that make great things happen are lost to history. Discovering the beautiful, rich, and sometimes tragic life of Katherine Wright was a joy. The writing is sometimes a little superfluous but Maurer breathes life into these historical figures in a way that reminds you that they were fully realized people with feelings, hopes, and faults.
March 22, 2021
As a graduate of Oberlin College (and initially a frequenter of the Wright Physics Lab) I was vaguely aware of the Oberlin connection to the Wright family.
I read about this book in an Alumni group. I'm always impressed to read about the fascinating women who got their start at Oberlin. And Katherine had a life-long connection.
I read about this book in an Alumni group. I'm always impressed to read about the fascinating women who got their start at Oberlin. And Katherine had a life-long connection.
September 3, 2022
A history of the long-neglected sister of the Wright a brothers. She went to Oberlin, one of the first coed colleges, at the turn of the century when very few women pursued higher education at all. She taught Latin & Greek on a high school level and then got tangled up in taking care of her brothers and helping with their business. She was also a long time suffragist Then at 52 she found love with a longtime friend from Oberlin and got married. Orville was so furious about losing her companionship and housekeeping and general care that he wouldn’t speak to her until she was on her deathbed 2 years later. What a pig! Still, the Wright sister was only somewhat interesting, maybe because that was all her life and times allowed her to be.
November 23, 2023
Short but interesting.
Read
May 6, 2012Alyssa Peters
Biography
This book is about Kathering Wright. She was the sister of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who were the men who had the first successful airplane flight in 1903. Katehrine was actually a teacher in Dayton, Ohio. Katehrine actually wtraveled with her brothers to help promote their invention of the airplane. She gave up her teaching career. She married a man later in life that she had actually meant when she was in college. Wilbur died and Orville was left to depend on his sister Katherine. This story was wonderful to read. I really didn't know much as all about Katehrine Wrightl. I think that so many people forget that the Wright brothers even has a sister. She was an important part of their life though. This is a great book for curious young adults who want to learn a little more about history.
Biography
This book is about Kathering Wright. She was the sister of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, who were the men who had the first successful airplane flight in 1903. Katehrine was actually a teacher in Dayton, Ohio. Katehrine actually wtraveled with her brothers to help promote their invention of the airplane. She gave up her teaching career. She married a man later in life that she had actually meant when she was in college. Wilbur died and Orville was left to depend on his sister Katherine. This story was wonderful to read. I really didn't know much as all about Katehrine Wrightl. I think that so many people forget that the Wright brothers even has a sister. She was an important part of their life though. This is a great book for curious young adults who want to learn a little more about history.
September 1, 2020
Loved this sweet and interesting little book, that recounts the life of the famous Wright brothers, forgotten and little known sister, Katharine Wright. She was truly a gentle and heroic woman! A cozy comfort read. Interesting on an historical footing as well. 4 1/2 stars.
October 26, 2019
This enchanting tale of the venture to attain flight is about so much more than the invention of the plane.
Katherine Wright Haskell is a true pillar of feminism in the modern world. From her complete devotion to her family, teaching at Steele University, to the late love she shared with her husband Harry Haskel. Since her mother's death, when she was very young, great responsibilities of the home were placed upon her, so much so she believed she would never lead her own life. Her life became dedicated to her father and brothers. The only personal pleasures in her life came because her father wished she attend college so she could attain a career to care for him in his old age, she journeyed to Europe because her brothers lacked the social skills needed for business, and her husband told her to follow her heart on matters of love.
After the life of sacrifice and adventure she lived she deserved the last two happy years with her husband, even if Orville refused to speak to her.
Katherine's story tells the word that it is never too late to find love, and that devotion to one's family is a fulfilling calling. Her work to bring equal rights to women is also one of her greatest triumphs.
Katherine Wright Haskell is a true pillar of feminism in the modern world. From her complete devotion to her family, teaching at Steele University, to the late love she shared with her husband Harry Haskel. Since her mother's death, when she was very young, great responsibilities of the home were placed upon her, so much so she believed she would never lead her own life. Her life became dedicated to her father and brothers. The only personal pleasures in her life came because her father wished she attend college so she could attain a career to care for him in his old age, she journeyed to Europe because her brothers lacked the social skills needed for business, and her husband told her to follow her heart on matters of love.
After the life of sacrifice and adventure she lived she deserved the last two happy years with her husband, even if Orville refused to speak to her.
Katherine's story tells the word that it is never too late to find love, and that devotion to one's family is a fulfilling calling. Her work to bring equal rights to women is also one of her greatest triumphs.
September 20, 2023
A small book on Orville and Wilbur's sister Katherine. I purchased this book at the gift shop at the Wright Brothers site in Dayton OH. Katherine Wright was a very bright woman who was expected to give up her life and aspirations to take care of her widowed father and then her brothers. She did become the "social secretary" of Orville and Wilbur and thus got to travel to Europe and be feted by many dignitaries. She seemed to enjoy that aspect of taking care of her brothers. But, sadly, when she did marry, in her early 50s, she was disowned and thought a traitor. Unfortunately, she died two years after her marriage. I wish I could have learned more about her.
June 5, 2022
The story is far better than the writing. With no surprise the writing includes tropes about her (the book, and thus perhaps her life, begins with the first flight in 1903) and ignores what seemed to be flashing neon signs to her being in love with her BFF. It's an easy read, though, perhaps for middle schoolers and beyond, and fascinating.
In case you don't feel like you should read it, I'm going to tease you by saying that one of her bros is a real butthead and you gotta get to the end to find out who...
In case you don't feel like you should read it, I'm going to tease you by saying that one of her bros is a real butthead and you gotta get to the end to find out who...
July 7, 2022
Short juvenile biography on Katherine Wright, sister of the Wright brothers. Although geared towards younger children, I learned a lot as the book also chronicled the trials and tribulations of the Wright brothers as well. There are plenty of pictures to enjoy!
It sounds like, based on the Author's Note that very little has been written about Katherine, which is unfortunate because this book did not get into complete details on her impact of helping her brothers or her time at Oberlin. She could be a great inspiration for women.
It sounds like, based on the Author's Note that very little has been written about Katherine, which is unfortunate because this book did not get into complete details on her impact of helping her brothers or her time at Oberlin. She could be a great inspiration for women.
May 2, 2018
3.5 I mean, I definitely learned more than I ever knew about Katherine Wright, and the Wright family in general. Interesting, but I'm not sure if it's *the* most interesting if you're looking to learn about the topic. Which is unfortunate because she played a big role in the invention of the airplane.
November 15, 2019
When reading David MaColough’s bio of the Wright Brothers my interest in Katherine was stirred. This slim volume filled in the gaps and presented a picture of a woman who was well educated, well spoken and supportive of her family and friends. I especially enjoyed the short section on her equally short marriage to Henry Haskell.
February 24, 2023
I had never heard of Katharine Wright before I saw this book. I was very curious about her, so I picked it up and I’m so glad I did. This was a great book and Katharine was such an interesting woman. I loved learning about her. It definitely makes me want to look up more books about the Wright family.
March 20, 2023
I loved this book. I picked it up in the gift shop at Kitty Hawk when we visited in January 2023. This is a young adult book that is so well written and researched. I loved learning about Katharine Wright and her role in the Wright Brothers lives. It helps you to learn more about the Wright brothers themselves.
November 23, 2024
A well-written biography about Katharine Wright and her life. Katharine spent her life supporting her family, particularly her brothers. This is a look at what shaped her, how she lived, and all she did for the world of aviation. A quick and enjoyable read. Suitable for middle school and up. Nothing of concern in morality or language.
June 27, 2019
I read this is one sitting. After reading McCullough’s book on the Wright Brothers, I was intrigued by Katherine, the only sister in the family. There was quite a bit of repetition, but she was indeed a remarkable woman who refused to take a back seat to her famous brothers.
August 17, 2020
I am very critical of biographies because unless written with a story-like cadence, I have a really hard time getting into it. This was an excellent story that moved along and provided a lot of insight.
Wonderful story that enriched our trip to Hawthorn Hill.
Wonderful story that enriched our trip to Hawthorn Hill.
June 18, 2024
Easily read, attention-keeping, and well-written. A fascinating look into an older and simpler time. I will read another by Richard Maurer. Also, I learned a lot! I'm glad someone told Katherine's story.
December 1, 2024
I didn’t know she existed. They couldn’t have done it without her. I didn’t know she existed and they couldn’t have done it without her.
Well researched! The author read her letters - including her love letters!
Well researched! The author read her letters - including her love letters!
June 10, 2017
A fascinating look at a woman who was the "third Wright" who helped with the first flight as she was a champion of her brothers' engineering enterprise and served as their social manager.
August 5, 2017
I love learning/reading about the influential and important women behind the scenes of famous men. These women (like Katharine Wright) have done amazing things, yet no one knows who they are!
April 29, 2018
Kind of a teen book, but interesting and informative. Bought book while visiting kitty hawk for the first time. Kind of a 'behind every successful man is a woman' story.
December 29, 2018
Book Club choice. Interesting for the times, very pro-women.
March 3, 2020
3.5 stars
An interesting, quick read, but I wanted this book to be more informative than it was.
An interesting, quick read, but I wanted this book to be more informative than it was.
May 11, 2021
I had higher hopes for this book. I don't care for the way it is written, first person diary and letters. To me it made an interesting life and story seem rather dull.
August 23, 2021
Great read, well written, lots of interesting information written in an engaging style. I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend for everyone from youth to adult readers.
September 15, 2022
Love a good bio, especially when it reveals a portion of history that was previously unknown to me! Nice little book, well-researched, with great photos.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews