The Kite Fighters

Rating:
Summary: A good, short read
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: Who needs fantasy when real civilizations have been so diverse? Park's book brings medieval Korea to life through the eyes of two young brothers, one a talented kite maker, the other a skilled flyer. The story never set my pulse racing (which is the only reason I don't give it 5 stars --- I'm fond of thrillers), but hundreds of little details that make the boys' lives different from ours, yet the same, are effortlessly conveyed.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable story, rich detail, a bit predictable
Review: Who needs fantasy when real civilizations have been so diverse? Park's book brings medieval Korea to life through the eyes of two young brothers, one a talented kite maker, the other a skilled flyer. The story never set my pulse racing (which is the only reason I don't give it 5 stars --- I'm fond of thrillers), but hundreds of little details that make the boys' lives different from ours, yet the same, are effortlessly conveyed.