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Synopsis

Matt Cruse has been accepted at the Airship Academy, his days as cabin boy over for the moment. He has difficulty settling down to life on land, but is helped by the fact that Kate is in Paris too. During a training flight aboard the freighter Flotsam, Matt helps save the ship when it is caught in a deadly storm over the Indian Ocean, and thrust to dangerously high altitudes. There, Matt spies a frozen airship, drifting aimlessly at 20,000 feet — it’s the legendary ghost ship Hyperion. Rumoured to be carrying great wealth, the Hyperion left harbour fifty years ago, but never reached her destination. No wreckage was ever found ! until now, as Kate and Matt embark on the most dangerous of treasure hunts!

Skybreaker, is the sequel to Oppel’s Airborn, a fantasy novel for young adults written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It continues the adventures of young airship student Matt Cruse, and scientist-in-training, Kate de Vries.

Now a first year student at the Airship Academy, Matt is sent on his first assignment, aboard the cargo ship The Flotsom, a far cry from from the comfort and relative luxury he experienced during his time as cabin boy on The Aurora.

20,000 feet up and fighting they’re way through a storm the crew, spot the legendary Hyperion zeppelin, driven by greed, The Flotsom’s captain pushes the airship too far, and it’s only Matt’s skills that saves the day.

Upon his return, Kate, convinces Matt that they should try and salvage the Hyperion, and joined by Captain Hal Slater, and gypsy girl, Nadira they soon set off on another adventure.

Romantic tensions, identities uncovered, secrets revealed, sky pirates attacks all push the storyline on to it’s exhilarating conclusion.

As with Airborn, it’s not just the exciting plot that shines, Oppel has also crafted wonderful characters, engaging hero’s in Mat and Kate, who’s friendship (and romance drive the emotional content of the story, and complex bad-guys in the villains.

Skybreaker is a cracking read, and I can heartily recommend it.

Further Information

Kenneth Oppel stated during a recent Canadian book tour that the next book in the series is to be entitled �Starclimber,� and will be about the first airship journey into space. Due to be released at some point in 2008 Matt Cruse and Kate DeVries will return along with other main characters.

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