The Kite Rider Audiobook By Geraldine McCaughrean cover art

The Kite Rider

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Kite Rider

By: Geraldine McCaughrean
Narrated by: Cynthia Bishop, the Full Cast Family
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.00

Buy for $20.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel
A soaring story that will sweep listeners from the docks of China to the court of Kublai Khan as young Haoyou learns to ride the winds strapped to a great scarlet kite in the traveling circus of the Great Miao.

But other winds swirl about Haoyou, winds of revenge and deceit and greed. And no matter how high he flies, there is always greedy Uncle Bo, holding him like an anchor, waiting to drag him down.

A breathtaking historical novel from two time Whitbread Prize winner Geraldine McCaughrean.

©2002 Geraldine McCaughrean (P)2004 Full Cast Audio Action & Adventure Fiction China

Critic reviews

"With her exuberant, nonstop plotting and supremely colorful setting, McCaughrean grabs hold of readers' imaginations and doesn't let go." (Publishers Weekly)
"McCaughrean fully immerses her memorable characters in the culture and lore of the ancient Chinese and Mongols, which make this not only a solid adventure story but also a window to a fascinating time and place rarely used as a background in children's fiction." (Booklist)
All stars
Most relevant  
I enjoyed learning about early Chineese culture and how one family survived the'system'. I found it fascinating!

Good Listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Set in China under Mongol rule this is the story of a young boy who leaves home after his father dies, to support his family by flying on a giant kite in a circus. Nasty Uncle Bo is always wanting his paws on the boy's money, and when the circus is asked to perform for the Khan, an old oath the circus master has sworn raises the spectre of murder and political intrigue. The book compellingly evokes this unusual historical/cultural setting and raises many themes and issues (freedom vs. obedience, respect vs. truth, prejudice, etc.) while the plot remains simple enough for sophisticated listeners as young as 5 or 6. Peak appeal for this book is probably about age 10-11, but the adults in our family really liked it as well.

While the narration is for the most part well done, we all found the voice of the young protaganist in this full-cast version to be two-dimensional and rather intrusively amateurish. That's the only complaint about what is otherwise an excellent rendition of a unique and compelling book.

Unique historical section; great story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

If you could sum up The Kite Rider in three words, what would they be?

Sad, compelling, historical

What did you like best about this story?

This story was sad and sometimes the main character frustrated us. He continued to make bad decisions and we wanted to crawl in the book to stop him. But as our family studies the middle-ages, we enjoyed this book to help round out our understanding of this time period.

Great book to listen to with your child.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
We got this for our GATE 3rd grader for a 1000 mile trip. It was our first Audible.com book. We ran out of the public library's books on tape for kids. Excellent cultural color and mature themes of blind obedience, fate, honor, love, etc. My son thought some parts were enthralling, but a bit intense (for his 8 years). He has since picked up her other books in print and has ploughed through with enthusiasm.

Great story; excellent writer

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
loved it. my kids would ask for, "one more chapter...please" a fabulous performance. A great historical fiction book.

loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.