Airborn

OAirborn is a satisfying rip-roaring adventure, centred on the airship Aurora, an enormous and grandiose cruise-liner.

On board are Matt - a cabin boy determined to honour his father's memory and rise through the ranks; Kate - a feisty heiress intent on defying convention by following in the footsteps of her scientist grandfather; and Vikram Szpirglas - a dastardly air-pirate, who hijacks the Aurora, leaving both passengers and ship marooned on a desert island.

Oppel writes with clarity and passion, particularly in his descriptions of the environment, and the plot cracks along at great pace. However, there is also a reflective quality to his writing and he is not afraid to tackle difficult issues such as class and death.