The Kite

David Lang arrives in a small prairie town to take up his first teaching position during the Great Depression. The young instructor faces the challenge of connecting with his students while adapting to life in the close-knit rural community. The story centers on David's relationship with Daddy Sherry, an elderly kite maker who lives on the outskirts of town. Their unlikely friendship develops through conversations about life, death, and the art of building kites that can touch the clouds. Through interactions with the townspeople and his students, David navigates personal growth, professional responsibilities, and the social dynamics of Depression-era Saskatchewan. The presence of Daddy Sherry and his kites becomes increasingly significant as events progress. The novel explores themes of wisdom passed between generations and the tension between staying grounded while reaching for greater heights. Mitchell's work captures the essence of prairie life while examining universal questions about purpose and human connection.

There appear to be very few online reader reviews available for W.O. Mitchell's "The Kite." The limited reviews mention the following: Likes: - Character development, especially of young protagonist David from ages 11-14 - Themes of grief, coming-of-age, and father-son relationships - Descriptive writing about prairie life in Saskatchewan Dislikes: - Slow pacing in the first half - Unclear resolution to some story threads - Limited character development beyond the main characters Available Ratings: Goodreads: Not enough ratings to show average Amazon: No reviews found WorldCat: No reviews found Note: This book should not be confused with Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" or with the children's book "The Kite" by Margaret Wild. The lack of reviews may be due to this being one of Mitchell's earlier and less well-known works compared to his novel "Who Has Seen the Wind."

Who Has Seen the Wind by W. O. Mitchell A boy's journey through childhood in rural Saskatchewan reveals the cycles of life and death through encounters with both townspeople and nature.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery An orphan girl's life unfolds in rural Prince Edward Island as she forms connections with her adoptive family and the community.

The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence An elderly woman in Manitoba reflects on her life experiences through memories that connect her past to present-day events.

Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese A residential school survivor finds his path through life in northern Ontario through hockey and personal discovery.

The Mountain and the Valley by Ernest Buckler A sensitive young man grows up in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley while struggling to find his place between rural traditions and artistic aspirations.

🌟 W.O. Mitchell wrote The Kite in 1962 while serving as fiction editor for Maclean's magazine 🌟 The book explores the complex relationship between a young boy and his elderly grandfather, reflecting Mitchell's own experiences growing up in small-town Saskatchewan 🌟 The novel's themes of aging, dignity, and death were considered groundbreaking for Canadian literature at the time, particularly in addressing euthanasia 🌟 David, the young protagonist, was inspired by Mitchell's son, who helped his father fly kites while he was developing ideas for the story 🌟 Mitchell incorporated elements of his celebrated "freefall" writing technique in The Kite, where he encouraged writers to write without self-editing, allowing memories and emotions to flow naturally