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Aug 03, 2014ariannadossa rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
In this brilliant novel Kenneth Oppel applies a dystopic lens on the average adventure, romance story. After a strange occurrence with Benjamin Malloy, a researcher who was rescued and dies shortly after aboard the Aurora Airship, 14 year-old Matt questions what Mr. Malloy was mumbling about just before his death. It is now a year later and the memory of the strange occurrence is of no meaning to Matt. He works aboard the Aurora most of the year as a cabin boy. His current destination is Australia and Matt hopes to accompany the captain as head sailmaker. This job holds great pride for Matt as his father was once a sailmaker also. A day into the journey Matt greets the young Kate DeVries and her chaperone Miss. Simpkins, who arrive by ornithopter. Matt instantly falls for the beautiful, kind and adventurous Kate. As Matt and Kate briefly see each other and become closer, Kate reveals a big secret that Matt is destined to be a part of. Kenneth Oppel keeps a slow pace throughout the beginning of the book, but then the story becomes overwhelmingly adventure packed. The reader will enjoy his uncanny ability to define the main characters, Matt and Kate, thoroughly and descriptively. The story is narrated from Matt’s perspective which is not often seen in a book for ages 12-14. If you enjoy this book then you should try reading the next one in the series Skybreaker. It is somewhat slow paced and the storyline, not quite as interesting. Airborn was much better. -Arianna Dossa