The Wright Brothers

November 1, 2011

Gr 3-6-This biography extends from the brothers' early days in Dayton, OH, to Orville's final years fighting for his reputation with the Smithsonian. Drawn in a realistic, computer-aided penciled style, with the narration taking place mostly in expository captions, the book concentrates on two aspects of the Wright brothers' story: that aeronautics was not their initial focus, and that their path to success was arduous and required starting over more than once. However, the men never emerge as unique characters with a sense of individual personalities, and a significant portion of the book is presented as dialogue, which can be an iffy proposition in terms of sourcing and accuracy. The artwork is functional but fails to capture some of the awe and glory remarked upon in the text. Still, the narrative is both conversational and informative and thereby manages to create a fun, compelling read, and the art provides a catalogue of the variety of contemporary flying machines, the evolution of the Wright model, and the look and fashion of the period. The result is a fine example of the sheer amount of dedication and work behind any "overnight success" and an effective collection of personal and technical detail that will satisfy readers.-Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

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