Author Richard Maurer first became interested in Katharine Wright, the sister of Orville and Wilbur, when he was working on a museum exhibit and came across one of her letters, dated August 20, 1902, that described her brothers’ work on one of their flying machines. His substantive biography of her is based almost entirely on the goldmine of letters she left behind. As the only daughter in a family of five children, Katharine was groomed from an early age to run the household for her widowed father and bachelor brothers. Like her brothers, she had a quick and inquiring mind but, unlike them, she was greatly limited by the social conventions of their time. As someone close to the action, however, she was uniquely positioned to tell their story, but her words have gone largely unheard until now. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this absorbing, well-documented biography. (Ages 11–16)

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.