This is the third book in an alternate reality created by world-renowned Kenneth Oppel. In this book, the airplane has not been developed but flying machines, gliders, blimps and balloons are the mode of air transportation. The first two books Airborn and Skybreaker have won almost every Canadian children's literary award. Combined they have won: Governor General's Award, Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award (twice), Red Maple Award (twice), Michael L Printz Honor Book (ALA). They have won 26 awards and been nominated for another 7. The interesting thing is, this was the first book in this series to come across my desk and was read as an independent story. It stands strong on its own and left me wanting to read the first two.

This story is part of the saga of Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries, two young people in love and pursuing higher education to realize their dreams - Matt of becoming a captain on an airship and Kate of becoming a world-class scientist and researcher, especially zoology in the stratosphere. It is also the story of the race to space. The French are trying to build a tower into space, and Matt and Kate are called home to Canada, to be part of Canada's attempt. Kate is outright invited to be a scientist on the Mission. Matt must go through a grueling training regime and compete with over a hundred people hoping to be an astronaut aboard the Canadian ship Starclimber. Matt is a skilled Skysailor but can he compete with so many older and more experienced men?

The story is part science fiction, part romance, and part social commentary. Oppel does an excellent job of weaving the different elements into a cohesive tale that is compelling and addicting. You reach a point in the book where you do not want to put it down. The greatest strength of the story is the incredible characters that seem so real, and the powerful narrative technique used by Oppel that makes you feel like you are there and part of the action. The story has a great pace that picks up speed as it moves along and finishes like a runaway train dragging us along with it, racing to the end.

This is a great novel and like the others in the series will probably win numerous awards.

(First Published in Imprint 2009-03-13.)

Another great, creative and imaginative story from Oppel. I don't know if more books are planned for this series, but I look forward to reading more from this great Canadian children's author in the future.

I found that this lacked the spark of the first two. That being said, it remains far superior to a lot of contemporary YA fiction due to the fact that it is written by a pro!

I love Kenneth Oppel's work! It just didn't seem to have the whizbang, boyish joy of the first two.

I cannot wait to see what he does next.

wow. i agree with one of the reviewers....i also thought that since the setting of the book was in space....it would ruin the whole thing....BUT IT REALLY DIDN'T! loved this book alot:P

Hopefully there will be another book coming out soon!:)

Although initially worried that the space setting would ruin the ambience and general feeling of the series, by the third page I was hooked. This book was amazing! Any one who loved the first two books will love this one!
Once again Matt and Kate are back and this time the setting for adventure is outer space. Kate is immediately invited on the expedition as she is known to be a high-altitude zoologist. Matt on the hand is invited along, but must prove himself capable. I won't say anymore on the plot as you need to read it for yourself!
For those of us "older kids" who love this series, a lot of things come to head with Matt and Kate's "romance" as they themselves call it. Kate becomes engaged to James Sanderson (it is rather comic that she can't even remember her fiancé's name, often calling him George), thus leaving Matt in the lurch. Throughout their adventure Matt is constantly struggling with his feelings for Kate and what he should do or say to her. It takes quite a grown-up feel over the previous two books in the series but is still all-age appropriate.
Overall, this book is well worth the time it takes to read it. I read it in a single four hour sitting it was so good.

So good!!

This time around Matt and Kate are on a special mission for the Canadian government. The space race is on and Paris is supposedly winning but Canada has a secret plan and they've gathered together a crew which includes our two protagonists.

This book is quite different from the previous two as it is mostly set in outer space rather than aboard an airship. The genre is also difficult to pinpoint as it is certainly science fiction but from a Victorian point of view, making it seem more fantasy. The world Matt and Kate live in is an alternate earth reality where society is similar to a mannered Victorian age yet they have a growing technology that it is very different from that developed on our Earth. It very much feels Jules Verne-ish.

Again, I enjoyed the book. This series is superb. This book is not as dark as Oppel's others but there is death and taut suspense making this (as his other books) more appropriate for a YA audience. Oppel's vision of an alternate reality's version of outer space was incredibly intriguing. Well-written, a page turner and wonderful characters familiar and new. Especially Miss Karr and her pet monkey Haiku, who are a nod to the Canadian painter Emily Carr, and her monkey, Woo.
The books in this series each has its own plot and can be read in any order but there is a relationship that develops throughout the books and mention of previous events so I do recommend reading them in order.

I've read all of Oppel's YA novels now except his first two books which are stand alones. I will be going back to read them but can't wait to see what Oppel comes up with for his next new book.