The Kite Fighters
Young-sup knows how to fly a kite. It is in his heart. His older brother Kee-sup knows how to build a kite.
Both brothers have their own unique gifts. The Kite Fighters is the story of these two brothers as they discover
and learn to appreciate each other's gifts.
This story is set in Korea in 1473. Details of the time period are conveyed through family details: such as the
honor that exists for the eldest brother, the role of Kee-sup and Young-sup's mother in their family, the polite role of language
in society, and the presence of the young king in the story. The historic details grow out of the story itself
- they do not overwhelm the plot or feel unnecessary. According to Siegel, "This tale gives readers a better understanding
of how ancient traditions of honor and respect rule the boys' family."
Barbara Park's stories weave elements of history and a historic setting into the stories of people during the time.
It is her characters that make the reader care about the story - they are realisticly and thoughtfully portrayed. It
is through the characters that readers come to understand more about the history of the time period.
Particularly touching in The Kite Fighters is the relationship between the brothers. Both brothers are struggling
to discover who they are while working to fit within the 15th Century framework of their own family. Young-sup wants
the responsiblity and leadership role that his older brother Kee-sup has, while Kee-sup prefers to work with his hands and
have the freedom that Young-sup has. Not only must the brothers learn to understand their own roles and identities,
they must learn to relate to each other in terms of the other's role and identity. Many readers will identify with the
frustration Young-sup feels over Kee-sup gettting the majority of his father's attention and respect when Young-sup
craves it so much. In the following exerpt, Kee-sup crafts a kite for his brother:
"Kee-sup was making the pattern of stripes subtly different from his own tiger kite, so that the kites looked similar
but not the same. Like brothers."
Park, Linda Sue. The Kite Fighters. New York: Clarion Books, 2000. ISBN 0395940419.
