We recently finished reading The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean. This was our second McCaughrean read this year, as we read One Thousand and One Arabian Nights in Term One. Both of these books are Beautiful Feet Intermediate Medieval History recommendations, as well as IEW Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons recommendations.
The Kite Rider is set in 13th Century China. It's the coming of age story of Haoyou, a young Chinese boy who needs to earn a living to provide for his widowed mother and baby sister. Haoyou begins making fanciful kites in the hope of selling them. However, an evil sailor burns him out in an effort to marry his mother. Together with his cousin, Haoyou sends the drunken sailor out to sea and joins the circus as a kite rider. Unfortunately, the money he earns and sends home doesn't make it to his mother because his greedy Great-Uncle Bo intercepts and gambles it away. There is much more to this adventure story, but I don't want to give away the ending.
As a family, we have come to love McCaughrean's writing. Her characters develop and show much growth as the story progresses, making them seem real and very interesting. Also, McCaughrean's language is beautiful and not dumbed down. We all found ourselves rooting for the protagonist, hoping for a happy ending to their plight.
Another McCaughrean title the kids have enjoyed in the past is Stop the Train, which is set in the American west. We would frequently get the audio from the library when they were younger, as they wanted to listen over and over again. If you haven't tried a Geraldine McCaughrean book, we highly recommend you do so!
This is very helpful, thanks Melissa! I have acquired quite a few McCaughrean titles, but have not the time to read them yet. This is the recommendation I needed to read.
ReplyDeleteshe is a brilliant storyteller. Not the end of the world is another great one.
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