This adventure novel won the Printz Honor in 2005 and an ALA Award for Notable Children's Recordings in 2007 for its full-cast audio production. I recently had the chance to rectify that and listened to Airborn by Kenneth Oppel on audio, thanks to a free download from SYNC last summer. Ever since then, I have had great respect for Oppel but somehow missed many of his later releases as my kids grew up. My son went on to read the next two sequels, too (you can read my review at that link, plus other middle-grade recommendations). Whilst the story is fast-paced, and the characterisation strong – I particularly liked the character of Tui, a bold and out-spoken girl from New Zealand – there are perhaps not as many questions answered as I would have liked there is much to be learned of the background behind these winged teenagers, which I suspect will be explored in further novels.Ī strong debut, and I look forward to following the adventures of this Flight further.A long time ago in a land far, far away, my sons were still children, and our family loved to read middle-grade books together! One series that my son and I both enjoyed began with Silverwing: How One Small Bat Became a Noble Hero by Kenneth Oppel.

Flying is no easy feat, and Pawley has put a lot of thought into the biology of her icarian race.

Together, in the Californian desert, they must learn how to control their newly-sprouted limbs and master the art of flight, before they are hunted down.Īdrenalin-fueled and engaging, this is an action-adventure that should appeal to fans of the CHERUBS series, and James Patterson’s Maximum Ride. These seven teenagers are drawn together, to become a flock (or rather, a flight). With the entire event captured on video and broadcast across the world, Tyler does not have much chance to enjoy his new mutation – instead he’s running for his freedom, pursued by the sinister Evolutionary Corporation and heralded by the impassioned Angelists.īut Tyler is not alone, because across the world other teenagers – all recently turned 17 – are experiencing similar “wing births”. But it all goes horrendously wrong, when the swelling along his spine ruptures into a glorious pair of wings. Despite suffering from recent, almost debilitating back pain, he’s not about to let that stop him from experiencing his first solo sky dive.

Many of us have dreamed of flying, and for American teenager Tyler Owens, that desire is about to become heart-racing reality. Air Born first found its wings via Wattpad, where Pawley established quite a readership – and with good reason – before self-publishing her book, then having it picked up and refined by local publisher, Steam Press, and it can now be found in bookstores across New Zealand. Pawley is a young writer, hailing from Auckland, New Zealand.

Airborn book review