Oppel, Kenneth. Skybreaker.OPPEL, Kenneth. Skybreaker. HarperCollins, Eos. 384p. illus, c2005.0-06-053227-0. $16.99. (Lib. bdg: 0-06-053228-9. $17.89.) JS * In this sequel to Airborn, a winner of Canada's Governor General's Award Since their creation in 1937, the Governor General's Literary Awards have become one of Canada's most prestigious prizes, awarded in both French and English in seven categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Children's Literature (Text), Children's Literature (Illustration), and a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, 16-year-old Matt Cruse is now a student at the Airship airship, an aircraft that consists of a cigar-shaped gas bag, or envelope, filled with a lighter-than-air gas to provide lift, a propulsion system, a steering mechanism, and a gondola accommodating passengers, crew, and cargo. Academy, studying to become an airship captain. In the exciting opening chapter, Matt helps navigate a zeppelin-like airship through a fierce typhoon typhoon: see hurricane. and spots a legendary airship, the Hyperion, rumored to hold treasure as well as a rare collection of taxidermy taxidermy (tăk`sĭdûr'mē), process of skinning, preserving, and mounting vertebrate animals so that they still appear lifelike. . He and his girlfriend Kate de Vries de Vries. For some persons thus named use Vries. , along with a mysterious gypsy girl who holds a key to the Hyperion, and a dashing young airship captain, head off together to the skies of frigid Skyberia to try to capture this ship and its riches, despite the dangerously high altitude at which it is flying. Other perils they must contend with include pirates who are also after the Hyperion and deadly high-altitude creatures that are like a cross between squids and electric eels. The action rarely flags in this old-fashioned adventure tale, set in an alternative universe in the earlier part of the 20th century, and readers, especially those who read Airborn, will enjoy the thrilling ride. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT |
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