Reviewed by Shravan
July 13, 2024
The books in this series are all about fantasy creatures and a sci-fi setting. And honestly, I think that combination worked out extremely well. This series by Kenneth Oppel was really fun for me to read, and I can highly recommend it to anyone who is 10+. The reason for this is that it can be a bit inappropriate, and it has violence and death as well.
This series is about a boy called Matt Cruse and his companion, Kate de Vries. They go on journeys to space, pirate islands, and the top of the world. Together, they discover mythical, fantasy creatures, like the cloud cat, or the creature called “etherian,” which can live and thrive in space.
There were a lot of moments where you had no idea what was going to happen next, and the books were really detailed. They were just super enjoyable to read, and I read these books several times. I am sure that anyone who reads these books will enjoy reading them, and there were so many factors that went into that.
In the end, it has to be 5 Stars. Every single aspect of the books made it this way, and I don’t think there was really anything wrong with the books in this series.
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Books in this Series
Common Questions About Airborn
What age is Airborn appropriate for?
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel is recommended for ages 8-10 (Grades 3rd-5th). It's a really thrilling steampunk adventure with some perilous situations, but nothing too dark for confident readers in this range. I think it's a great choice for a 4th or 5th grader who loves adventure and wants something a bit different from typical fantasy.
What order should I read the Airborn books?
Read them in order: Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber. Each book follows Matt Cruse on increasingly ambitious aerial adventures — the stakes keep getting bigger and the world keeps expanding, which makes reading in order really rewarding.
What genre is Airborn?
Airborn is a steampunk adventure set in an alternate world where airships rule the skies. It blends science fiction, adventure, and natural history with a touch of romance — think Jules Verne for middle-grade readers. The world-building is super detailed and the flying sequences are some of the most exciting action scenes I've read in kids' books.
How many Airborn books are there?
There are 3 books in the Airborn series by Kenneth Oppel: Airborn (which won the Governor General's Award), Skybreaker, and Starclimber. It's a complete trilogy, so you get a full story with a satisfying ending. If your kid enjoys the adventure-meets-sci-fi vibe, the Leviathan series has a similar feel.
Airborn is recommended for ages 10 - 14 (Grades 5th - 9th).