The Kite Rider

In her children’s novel The Kite Rider (2002), Geraldine McCaughrean parallels a journey of discovery in ancient China with the emotional and spiritual journey undertaken by the protagonist while working with the framework of real history.

Haoyou, a boy living in thirteenth-century China, recalls the first time his father, Gou Pei, took him on board a boat with him. Excited to see his father “test the wind,” Haoyou worries when his father twists his ankle slightly – ending his voyage because of an injury would be extremely unlucky – but Pei continues. Normally Pei does not test the wind himself, but he is forced to do so after an argument with the boat’s first mate, Di Chou. As a result Pei is tied to an enormous kite and sent sailing up into the wind. The winds are very rough that day, and Pei is killed while testing the wind.

Haoyou discovers that Di Chou planned to kill his father because he wishes to marry Haoyou’s mother. Di Chou comes to claim her, but she resists; enraged, Di Chou sets fire to their home, forcing them to flee. With nowhere else to go, Haoyou’s mother, Qing’an, takes Haoyou and his aunt Mo to live with Haoyou’s great uncle Bo. Bo has little affection for his family, seeing them only in terms of personal opportunity. When Di Chou approaches Bo, asking to marry Qing’an, Bo, seeing this as an opportunity to make a profit from the family connection, consents to the marriage. At this time in Chinese history, Qing’an has no say in the matter.



Not happy about this, Haoyou discovers that his cousin, Mipeng, is also opposed to the marriage. Mipeng is very intelligent and Haoyou likes her immediately. Deciding to combine their efforts, they plot to stop the marriage from happening. They ply Di Chou with alcohol and take him to a boat with which they have made arrangements, intending to send him on a long journey that will keep him away for months.

When they arrive at the boat, however, the captain informs Haoyou that he cannot leave until someone tests the wind for him, and asks Haoyou to do it. If Haoyou refuses, the captain will not take Di Chou on the trip. Haoyou reluctantly agrees and is strapped to the kite. The experience is harrowing, but Haoyou survives, and Di Chou is taken away.

The next day a man, the Great Miao Jie, arrives at Bo’s house and tells Bo he wishes Haoyou to work for him at the Jade Circus. Miao tells Bo he saw Haoyou testing the wind the day before and wants to feature the stunt in his circus. Bo refuses, but Haoyou’s rude behavior towards the Great Miao makes him angry. When Miao offers Bo money for Haoyou, Bo accepts, ordering Haoyou to go with Miao. Haoyou tells Miao that he can only go if Mipeng comes as well. Taken aback, Miao eventually agrees to this condition, and the cousins both leave with him. He decides that Mipeng will be employed as a medium, telling fortunes for paying customers.



Haoyou is put to work testing the wind for the Jade Circus, quickly becoming famous as the kite rider. He earns a wage performing but sends all his money to Bo to pay for his mother’s care and expenses, not knowing that Bo gambles all the money away. Meanwhile, Mipeng and Miao have a mutual attraction and slowly fall in love.

Haoyou even performs the stunt for the conqueror Kublai Khan. The kite riding takes a toll, however; Haoyou loses sight in one eye. When he finally gets a break, he goes home for a visit. He finds that Bo has forced Qing’an and Mo to work in a dangerous gambling house. Haoyou puts his foot down and insists that his mother and aunt be freed from this work. Bo acquiesces and Haoyou lives there with Qing’an and Mo.

Years later, Miao and Mipeng, now married, come to visit Haoyou. They want Haoyou to take up kite riding again, but Haoyou is reluctant to take the risks and to leave his mother again. Bo, hearing that they wish Haoyou to perform again, demands more money. Haoyou tells him under no circumstances will he perform again, but Bo assaults Mipeng and begins to choke her, threatening to kill her if Haoyou does not do as he is told. Haoyou gives in, but he has a plan. In the middle of the night, while Bo is asleep, Haoyou, Mipeng, Qing’an, and Mo leave Bo’s house traveling to join the Jade Circus, leaving Great Uncle Bo alone. They work for the circus for as long as they live, never returning.