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Kite to Freedom

(5 customer reviews)

The Story of a Kite-Flying Contest, the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge, and the Underground Railroad

 

Can a kite change history? Katie and Homan’s did.

 

When engineers were faced with the challenge of bridging the vast Niagara Gorge, the solution was a kite-flying contest. After Katie and Homan’s kite crosses the gorge and wins the contest, construction begins on the first suspension bridge to connect the United States and Canada. The two friends are there as it becomes an important link on the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape to freedom.

 

Even as her parents try to shield her from the ugly existence of slavery and the dangers of the Underground Railroad, Katie discovers that the scary truth is closer to home than she could have imagined.

 

Kite to Freedom is an action-packed, fictionalized account of actual events that occurred during the construction of the Niagara Falls International Suspension Bridge, which still connects the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls.

 

Cross Your Fingers

102 pages 

Suitable for readers between 8 and 12 years old 

Softcover Hardcover
Clear

Meet the Author

Meet the Illustrator

The Story of a Kite-Flying Contest, the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge, and the Underground Railroad

Release date: March 1, 2021

 

Can a kite change history? Katie and Homan’s did.

 

When engineers were faced with the challenge of bridging the vast Niagara Gorge, the solution was a kite-flying contest. After Katie and Homan’s kite crosses the gorge and wins the contest, construction begins on the first suspension bridge to connect the United States and Canada. The two friends are there as it becomes an important link on the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape to freedom.

 

Even as her parents try to shield her from the ugly existence of slavery and the dangers of the Underground Railroad, Katie discovers that the scary truth is closer to home than she could have imagined.

 

Kite to Freedom is an action-packed, fictionalized account of actual events that occurred during the construction of the Niagara Falls International Suspension Bridge, which still connects the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls.

Dimensions N/A
Format

Softcover, Hardcover

5 reviews for Kite to Freedom

  1. Teresa Amabile

    Kite to Freedom is a gripping story about the underground railroad in Niagara Falls, New York, in the 1850s, based on the true story of the first bridge to span the Niagara Gorge. Young people will thoroughly enjoy the friendship between the two child heroes and their triumph over obstacles of nature, poverty, and bigotry. The lessons of Kite to Freedom are unforgettable.
    – Teresa Amabile, Professor, Harvard University

  2. StoreyBook Reviews

    This is a great middle-grade book that teaches children about how a suspension bridge was built over the Niagra Falls gorge and also teaches them about how different parts of the country viewed slavery in the mid-1800s along with some facts about the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman.

    The story is well told and I appreciated Katie’s innocence in what she knew as a young lady. While she recognized that she and Homan had different skin colors, they treated each other as equals and didn’t think twice about their differences. I think they both learned a lesson about slavery and human rights as they observed a young black woman escaping to freedom in Canada. They are even able to meet her and spend time with her during a snowstorm that left them stranded in Canada for a few days.

    I especially enjoyed the part of the story that educated me on how suspension bridges are built and the ingenuity that one person came up with to get the wire over the gorge to the other side. This was no easy task but it was a nice peek into STEM and might influence another young mind in this field.

    I enjoyed the illustrations and felt like they capture the scene and the moment and add dimension to the book.

    I think this is a must read for middle-grade students. They can learn quite a bit and perhaps whet their appetite for more. We give this book 5 paws up.

  3. kellyn brower

    “Kite to Freedom is a must read for middle school students and adults!

    The author did an amazing job combining elements of Black history, the underground railroad, and STEM in a historical narrative that is accessible for the young reader.

    Schools and parents will be delighted to have this story in their homes. The story is thoughtful, informative, and fun while teaching the reader of the significance the Niagara Falls played in the Underground Railroad.

    Added bonus- the beautiful black and white illustrations throughout the book!”

  4. Elizabeth Hunziker

    Would highly recommend this book to any ~3rd-6th grade reader (or a quick/fun read for more advanced readers). When I learned about the Underground Railroad in school, the curriculum was primarily focused on enslaved people’s experience getting out of the South rather than the final leg of the journey from the US into Canada. In only 51 pages, Dinan weaves a tale that encompasses history, friendship, understanding and hope.

  5. E&E Filbrun

    “We really enjoyed this book. I read it aloud to several of my children, and when I asked them what they thought, they said, “It’s good!” My 6-year-old’s favorite part was the kite-flying contest, and my 9-year-old’s favorite was setting slaves free. I liked that there were so many elements pulled together into one story: An exciting kite-flying contest, the building of the Niagara Falls Suspension bridge, and the Underground Railroad. This is a book I would love to have in print on our shelf.
    I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.”

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