Embark on a shared journey of conversation and discovery with Trumbull County Reads, our annual countywide reading initiative. An engaging series of special events, book discussions, expert speakers, and more activities centered around the featured books and their themes of history, mystery, and aviation are planned throughout the fall!
Trumbull County Reads is a collaboration of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, Newton Falls Public Library, McKinley Memorial Library, Kinsman Free Public Library, Hubbard Public Library, Girard Free Library, and Bristol Public Library.
To Slip the Bonds of Earth
To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower has been selected as the Trumbull County Reads 2026 featured book.
December 1903: While Wilbur and Orville Wright’s flying machine is quite literally taking off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, with its historic 57-second flight, their sister Katharine is back home in Dayton, Ohio, running the bicycle shop, teaching Latin, and looking after the family. A Latin teacher and suffragette, Katharine is fiercely independent, intellectual, and the only Wright sibling to finish college. But at 29, she’s frustrated by the gender inequality in academia and is looking for a new challenge. She never suspects it will be sleuthing…Returning home to Dayton, Wilbur and Orville accept an invitation to a friend’s party. Nervous about leaving their as-yet-unpatented flyer plans unattended, Wilbur decides to bring them to the festivities…where they are stolen right out from under his nose. As always, it’s Katharine’s job to problem solve–and in this case, crime-solve. As she sets out to uncover the thief among their circle of friends, Katharine soon gets more than she bargained for: She finds her number one suspect dead with a letter opener lodged in his chest. It seems the patent is the least of her brothers’ worries. They have a far more earthbound concern–prison. Now Katharine will have to keep her feet on the ground and put all her skills to work to make sure Wilbur and Orville are free to fly another day.
About Author Amanda Flower
Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and three-time Agatha Award-winning author of over 50 mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she has been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World.
Her first Emily Dickinson Mystery, Because I Could Not Stop for Death, was an Agatha Award winner and Mary Higgins Clark Nominee. Her first mystery featuring the Wright Brothers, To Slip the Bonds of Earth, was an Agatha Award and Ohio Book Award winner.
A former librarian, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their adorable cats. Visit Amanda Flower's website for more information.
Kinsman Free Public Library Events:
Book Discussion
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Read this historical mystery featuring the little-known sister of Orville and Wilbur, Katharine Wright, as she investigates a sudden murder at the town's annual Christmas party. The answer will not only catch a murderer but also lead to the thief who stole her brother's plans for their successful flying machine. Join with other local readers to discuss at KFPL. No registration required.
Virtual Author Visit
Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Watch a livestream of author Amanda Flower’s presentation being held this evening at Warren Library. If you cannot make the trip to Warren for the event, join us at KFPL! Registration is required and open to all ages. Please register and submit a question for the author by Monday, October 19th.
The Story of Flight
Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Discover the story of Katharine Wright, the lesser-known sibling whose support helped fuel Wilbur and Orville Wright's success. Decorate and fly a kite, weather permitting, and compete in a paper airplane aeronautics competition. Registration required by Friday, October 23, recommended for ages 5-12 years.
Pick up a free paper copy of the Trumbull County Reads 2026 Event Guide at any library in Trumbull County!