Airborn

Author: Kenneth Oppel CAN

Publication: Toronto: HarperCollins

Pub. Date: 2004

ISBN: 0006392598

Pages: 321

Summary: Matt Cruse is a crew member on board the Aurora, a world-travelling airship, when he rescues the pilot of an air balloon who had been attacked. Before the pilot dies, he tells Matt about the stange beasts he saw flying in the sky. A year later his granddaughter, Kate deVries, books a passage on the Aurora, determined to prove that her granfather was telling the truth. Matt is taken by her spirit and together they get mixed up in several adventures. When the Aurora is boarded by pirates, it takes all of their ingeniuty and courage to fight off the pirates and prevent the airship from being detroyed.

Major Characters: Matt Cruse, Kate deVries, Capt. Walken (of the Aurora), Szpirglas (the pirate captain)

Comments: This book was so hyped when it was released that I was afraid to read it for fear that it would not live up to expectations. I needn't have worried. This fast-paced adventure has something for everyone, including daring heroics, humour, and even a little romance. An enjoyable read for both boys and girls, this book is certainly deserving of the Governor-General's Award that it won.

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Age Level: 13+

Rating: 5/5