Matt Cruse brought me out of my literary rut. Uninspired, I spent month after month rereading all of my favorite books, wholly disinterested in the tired plots. This changed after I picked up my copy of Airborn while studying the shelves of my school library. It was quite handsome, a tall, hardcover book with bold lettering. Now, I know that it’s unwise to judge a book by its cover, but I select them by their spine all the time. This spine had me enamored. Written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel, Airborn was a novel I could not put down.
First of all, it was fictional, but what kind of fictional? The main protagonist is young Matt Cruse, a cabin boy aboard the floating airship, Aurora, which is held aloft by the made up element known as hydrium, which is lighter than helium and smells distinctly of mangoes. Aboard the ship, he meets a wealthy passenger name Kate de Vries, who is a brilliant combination of zoologist, feminist, and photographer. These two become very close, and make a very good team in discovering new species in the sky and fighting off evil pirates. The novel also has a very interesting setting, in what I guess to be is a late 1800s or early 1900s era. Just from that short description, it seems that the book hovers around historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, adventure, and some kind of weird steampunk thing. Some may think that the large mixture of genres is possibly overwhelming, but to me it’s perfect.
Airborn got me hooked on books written by Oppel. I finished off the whole trilogy in about five days, and I loved Skybreaker and Starclimber just as much. I also began the Silverwing and Boundless trilogies, as well as Half Brother. They were so unique and endearing. I mean, what world does Matt even live in? Wherever it is, I want to go pronto. Kate de Vries opened up my interests to so many things; animals, science, traveling, and voicing my opinion as loudly as I can. After reading Airborn, if I find myself in a situation where I would usually just quietly follow the directions from a person who has no authority over me, I instead stand up for myself and speak up. I know it’s cheesy, using a “what would Kate do” concept, but it really helps. I feel that Kate was a character who contributed most to the multiple morals of the story. Of course, Matt was just as great as Kate, although not in all of the same ways. Oppel did a fabulous job of conveying to me just how Matt was feeling, even when I didn’t particularly agree with it. His fierce jealousy where Kate is concerned is a good example of that.
As was mentioned earlier, Airborn really got me interested in reading new books again. I had become extremely addicted to my phone, something that I hated to admit. I always feel like such a hypocrite, scoffing at people staring at their screens in public when at home I spend hours at a time gaping at mine. Nowadays since I’ve discovered Oppel, I no longer spend such an excessive amount of time on my phone because I’m working through his latest book. Airborn is great for reluctant readers with its constant action, suspense, and wonder. It seems to take place in an alternate universe with mysterious giant animals of flight and transcontinental voyages through the sky. Matt’s dry, sometimes cynical humor coupled with his prowess in the air and lack thereof on the ground makes him one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a long time.
I struggle to think of any negatives that come with this novel, because in my eyes there are none. It wasn’t only loved by me either. Airborn has received a Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award and the Canadian Governor General’s Literary award for children’s literature, not to mention the fact that it’s a Maryland Black-Eyed Susan book. I strongly recommend this book, along with anything else written by Oppel as he hasn’t disappointed me yet. If a dazzling, swashbuckling adventure is what you want, then pick up Airborn as soon as you can.
Kayleigh B.
ReplyDeleteAirborn
Matt Cruse brought me out of my literary rut. Uninspired, I spent month after month rereading all of my favorite books, wholly disinterested in the tired plots. This changed after I picked up my copy of Airborn while studying the shelves of my school library. It was quite handsome, a tall, hardcover book with bold lettering. Now, I know that it’s unwise to judge a book by its cover, but I select them by their spine all the time. This spine had me enamored. Written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel, Airborn was a novel I could not put down.
First of all, it was fictional, but what kind of fictional? The main protagonist is young Matt Cruse, a cabin boy aboard the floating airship, Aurora, which is held aloft by the made up element known as hydrium, which is lighter than helium and smells distinctly of mangoes. Aboard the ship, he meets a wealthy passenger name Kate de Vries, who is a brilliant combination of zoologist, feminist, and photographer. These two become very close, and make a very good team in discovering new species in the sky and fighting off evil pirates. The novel also has a very interesting setting, in what I guess to be is a late 1800s or early 1900s era. Just from that short description, it seems that the book hovers around historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, adventure, and some kind of weird steampunk thing. Some may think that the large mixture of genres is possibly overwhelming, but to me it’s perfect.
Airborn got me hooked on books written by Oppel. I finished off the whole trilogy in about five days, and I loved Skybreaker and Starclimber just as much. I also began the Silverwing and Boundless trilogies, as well as Half Brother. They were so unique and endearing. I mean, what world does Matt even live in? Wherever it is, I want to go pronto. Kate de Vries opened up my interests to so many things; animals, science, traveling, and voicing my opinion as loudly as I can. After reading Airborn, if I find myself in a situation where I would usually just quietly follow the directions from a person who has no authority over me, I instead stand up for myself and speak up. I know it’s cheesy, using a “what would Kate do” concept, but it really helps. I feel that Kate was a character who contributed most to the multiple morals of the story. Of course, Matt was just as great as Kate, although not in all of the same ways. Oppel did a fabulous job of conveying to me just how Matt was feeling, even when I didn’t particularly agree with it. His fierce jealousy where Kate is concerned is a good example of that.
As was mentioned earlier, Airborn really got me interested in reading new books again. I had become extremely addicted to my phone, something that I hated to admit. I always feel like such a hypocrite, scoffing at people staring at their screens in public when at home I spend hours at a time gaping at mine. Nowadays since I’ve discovered Oppel, I no longer spend such an excessive amount of time on my phone because I’m working through his latest book. Airborn is great for reluctant readers with its constant action, suspense, and wonder. It seems to take place in an alternate universe with mysterious giant animals of flight and transcontinental voyages through the sky. Matt’s dry, sometimes cynical humor coupled with his prowess in the air and lack thereof on the ground makes him one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a long time.
I struggle to think of any negatives that come with this novel, because in my eyes there are none. It wasn’t only loved by me either. Airborn has received a Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award and the Canadian Governor General’s Literary award for children’s literature, not to mention the fact that it’s a Maryland Black-Eyed Susan book. I strongly recommend this book, along with anything else written by Oppel as he hasn’t disappointed me yet. If a dazzling, swashbuckling adventure is what you want, then pick up Airborn as soon as you can.