The Invention of Wings

From the celebrated author of The Secret Life of Bees, a #1 New York Times bestselling novel about two unforgettable American women. Writing at the height of her narrative and imaginative gifts, Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world. This exquisitely written novel is a triumph of storytelling that looks with unswerving eyes at a devastating wound in American history, through women whose struggles for liberation, empowerment, and expression will leave no reader unmoved.

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Published May 5, 2015

400 pages

Average rating: 7.98

439 RATINGS

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Readers say *The Invention of Wings* by Sue Monk Kidd is a richly detailed, emotionally engaging historical fiction that vividly portrays the intertwi...

K Olson

Jan 14, 2025

6/10 stars

I was really excited to read this book as I had heard and read such great things about it. I would give it 3.5 stars if that were an option. The writing is beautiful, I found though that the story dragged at points. I also had a hard time with what seemed like current day values being imposed on history. It helped me to keep reading when I saw that Sarah was based on a real woman who was an abolitionist.

KikiStoneCreek

Jun 03, 2023

8/10 stars

I didn't realize until the end of the book that it was based on real history. A compelling read that was hard for me to put down. I highly recommend this book!

ArtStardust

Oct 31, 2025

8/10 stars

This book was fabulously written, with vivid and violent depictions of what slavery was like in Charleston prior to the Civil War. The characters and story haunted me and I couldn't put the book down. Sue Monk Kidd is a truly underrated author.

Tarajo

Feb 08, 2025

8/10 stars

I grabbed this on a whim and honestly had no preconception of what the book was about. i really enjoyed the characters and the story. i didn't know until i reached the end that it was based on real sisters who were involved in the abolition movement. it must have been very hard coming from a prominent slave owning family in the south and standing up for the cause of not only freeing the slaves but equality.

I think i will be picking up some of the non fiction books recommended in the back of the book to learn more about the sisters.

DaileyBean

Aug 14, 2024

8/10 stars

Great story. I really enjoyed it.