The Kite Fighters [Hardcover]

Linda Sue Park (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In a riveting narrative set in fifteenth-century Korea, two brothers discover a shared passion for kites. Kee-sup can craft a kite unequaled in strength and beauty, but his younger brother, Young-sup, can fly a kite as if he controlled the wind itself. Their combined skills attract the notice of Korea's young king, who chooses Young-sup to fly the royal kite in the New Year kite-flying competition--an honor that is also an awesome responsibility. Although tradition decrees, and the boys' father insists, that the older brother represent the family, both brothers know that this time the family's honor is best left in Young-sup's hands. This touching and suspenseful story, filled with the authentic detail and flavor of traditional Korean kite fighting, brings a remarkable setting vividly to life. AUTHOR'S NOTE.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tradition and family loyalty come into question in this book by the recently named Newbery Medalist, set in Seoul, Korea, in 1473. Two brothers anticipate the annual New Year's Kite competition, wondering how to balance convention and love for one's talent. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-When Young-sup holds a kite in his hand, he knows exactly how to make it fly. His older brother, Kee-sup, struggles to launch his kite, but he knows exactly how to construct one that is beautiful in form and perfectly balanced. One day, the young king of Korea suddenly arrives with all of his attendants on the hillside where the brothers are playing with their matching tiger kites. He requests their help in learning to fly one, and then asks Kee-sup to make a kite for him. The boy is deeply honored and works diligently on it, a dragon flecked with real gold paint. Meanwhile, Young-sup is determined to win the kite-fighting competition at the New Year's festival. He practices on the hillside where the king frequently joins him, and their growing friendship leads to an interesting collaboration and a thorny challenge to tradition in Korea in 1473. The final contest, in which Young-sup flies for the king, is riveting. Though the story is set in medieval times, the brothers have many of the same issues facing siblings today. They play and argue, they compete for their father's attention, and eventually develop a greater understanding of one another. The author has drawn her characters with a sure touch, creating two very different boys struggling to figure out who they are. With ease and grace, Park brings these long-ago children to life.
Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (March 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395940419
• ISBN-13: 978-0395940419
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #660,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Multiculturalism

More About the Author

Linda Sue Park is the author of the Newbery Medal book A Single Shard, many other novels, several picture books, and most recently a book of poetry: Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems). She lives in Rochester, New York, with her family, and is now a devoted fan of the New York Mets. For more infromation visit www.lspark.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anagha's Book Review, January 19, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Kite Fighters (Paperback)

The Kite Fighters, by Linda Sue Park, is a wonderful book. Linda has written this story really well. She really takes you into the story, and makes you feel like you are there. When one of the characters accidentally broke a pot, I felt like I could hear the sound of the pot breaking. Her way of writing is very interesting. She only uses a few words to describe what is happening in the story, but in those few words she tells you so much that you feel like you read a paragraph. Linda also uses many descriptive words. Here is a passage from the book that I think is very descriptive, "I was so angry that I felt like there was a thunderstorm in my head. There was nothing anyone could do to remove the flood of anger that was thundering in my head."

This book is about a young boy, Young-Sup, who lives in Korea. He is a master at kite flying. He knows every thing there is to know about kites. He wants to fly in the kite competition. According to tradition, though, the oldest son always represents the family. That means hat Kee-Sup, his older brother, will fly instead of him. Young-Sup gets very angry. What will he do about it? Who will fly in the kite competition? Read this book to find out.

This book is fantastic. It is one of the stories that you just can't put down until you are finished. OK, this is a great book, but if you are looking for lots of action, this is not the book for you. I still think it is the best. The main character is a lot like me. He sometimes feels that nobody likes him and I do to. What I really liked about the book is how the author describes the scenes.

This book fits into the realistic fiction genre. It talks about a young boy who lives in Korea. Many of the facts are true.

This book is for 9 year olds because the main character's feelings are like many 9 year olds feelings.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good, short read, May 8, 2004

By 

Keith L - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kite Fighters (Paperback)

"The Kite Fighters" is a good little story that can be read in as meager an amount of time as an hour. It even has a lesson or two embedded in its well-written chapters. It is set in the little written about Korea, in the 15th century.

As the story begins, two brothers, Kee-sup and Young-sup, are flying the kite that Kee-sup was given for New Year's. Kee-sup is no good, but to Young-sup it comes naturally. Soon Kee-sup discovers that he has a talent for making beautiful kites, while Young-sup has that talent of flying them. Their flying of kites leads to a friendship with the young King of Korea, and Kee-sup makes the King a kite while Young-sup teaches him to fly it, and they become good friends (Moral: Because someone is big and important it doesn't mean that they aren't human and can't be a friend).

Then, with an impending New Year and the kite fighting competitions, the King asks Young-sup to fly his kite for him in the contest and see if he can win. Young-sup's father then comes in and says that Kee-sup (who can't fly, by the way), as the eldest, would be the right one to fly it. Does Young-sup get to fly the kite in the end? Does he win the kite-fighting competition? Read this book and find out.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book, June 21, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Kite Fighters (Paperback)

This book is about two brothers named Kee-sup and Young-sup who live in Korea. They both love to fly kites but only Young-sup can launch a kite successfully alone.Because Kee-sup is the oldest son,Young-sup is always in second place and he finds it unfair.One day when both brothers were at the hillside flying their kites,they met the king(who was only at their age) face to face and formed a special friendship together.The king wanted to join the kite-flying competition but he knew that everyone would let him win on purpose and so he asked Young-sup to represent him in the competition.But would Young-sup beat the rest and Kim Hee-nam who the champion for the past two years? Read and you will find out.