Airborn is narrated by Matt Cruse, the 15 year-old protagonist and resourceful cabin boy on the airship Aurora. Set in a world that echoes ours, where oceans named the Pacificus and the Atlanticus are transversed by magnificent airships fueled by hydrium, Matt’s encounters with the dauntless Kate de Vries, notorious pirates, and mysterious creatures place him and his ship in peril. Witty dialogue and perfect pacing propel this story through twists and complications to its climax. Not relying on stereo-types, Oppel builds his diverse cast of characters from the ground-up, breathing life into them, giving them depth, and engaging the reader. Airborn provides a flawless mix of characters, swash-buckling action, humor, and a whisper of romance to deliver an enthralling adventure. It is a fantastic read for any age and is particularly accessible as a great guy read. (Bonus Tip: There is a fabulous (Yes, fabulous!) full-cast audio recording of this book available. I have listened to it twice and as a rule, I don’t do things twice. It is perfect for that road trip.)
Content Analysis:
Instances of mild violence consist of some animal attacks and death by pistol shot of some characters. Descriptions are brief. The two moderate instances involve animals attacking and killing characters with some brief detail provided.
Profanity includes a few mild, religious profanities and was noted five times. While not profanity, one character is called by a coarse name.
Sexual content is limited to a couple of chaste kisses.
Mature Subject Matter:
No mature thematic material is present.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
***
