Airborn by Kenneth Oppel Date of Publication: 2004 ISBN: : 0006392598 Number of Pages: 336

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Adventure, Fantasy
THEMES: Good versus Evil, Appearance versus Reality, Survival, Life versus Death, Coming of Age, Loyalty, Friendship, Family, Prejudice

SUMMARY:
The story begins with a prologue of sorts, where the reader is introduced to Matt Cruse, the young cabin boy on the massive airship, The Aurora, in a parallel earth of the early 1900’s. While on watch, Matt notices a damaged balloon sailing in the same flight lane, and ends up performing a brave rescue of the elderly, injured balloonist. The two form a bond of sorts in the short time before Ben Molloy dies, and the dying man tells Matt about some mysterious creatures he apparently witnessed before his balloon was damaged.

When we next meet Matt, it is a year later, and he is still on the airship, hoping to be promoted so that he can follow in his dead father’s footsteps, and watching for the mysterious creatures. When his promotion falls through, he has little time to be upset, for soon he meets the lovely, wealthy, young Kate DeVries, granddaughter of Ben Molloy, and learns that she has come to find the creatures in her grandfather’s journal. As if this weren’t exciting enough, the Aurora is suddenly boarded by the infamous airship pirate, Captain Szpirglas, and sent on a course for destruction. Once again Matt manages to save the day, and when the airship becomes stranded on an island in the mysterious Sisyphys Triangle, Matt and Kate discover Ben’s creatures and the pirates’ lair. Can they manage to escape the dangerous “cloud cat” creature, survive the evil pirates, and save the damaged and hostage Aurora?

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• loves classic adventure tales
• likes pirate stories
• likes stories with a male and a female protagonist
• likes touches of romance
• is a reluctant reader
• likes constant action
• likes science
• likes flying, airships, etc.
• is interested in the Titanic
• wants to be an explorer or be on Survivor
• enjoys stories set in the past, or what could have been the past
• has lost a parent or is dealing with grief
• likes Ken Oppel

WHAT ELSE?
This book has been awarded the Governor General’s Medal and the Red Maple Award. It was also chosen as a CLA Book of the Year Honour Book. It is popular with boys and girls alike, and has a sequel called Skybreaker (Fall 2005). Airborn has been optioned for a movie as well.

Two minor characters end up killed in the story, both in rather sudden and shocking manners, so be aware. Also, Matt’s dealing with his grief over his father’s death, and the slow revelations of how it occurred, might be upsetting to some readers who have experienced something similar. It also might be very cathartic, however.

RELATED LINKS:
Author's website
Website for the Airborn Novel
Airborn Literature Unit   (by Martha Martin)
Airborn Novel Guide