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This title in other formats:Leviathanby Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson
Staff Pick
Scott Westerfeld's newest novel takes a different direction altogether from his wildly popular Uglies series. Leviathan, set in a fictional period prior to WWII, is an excellent blend of fantasy, technology, and adventure, reminiscent of Kenneth Oppel's award-winning novel Airborn. The two main characters, Alek (a prince of Europe) and Deryn (a cross-dressing London commoner), give tangible form to a young view of politics, Europe, war, and great personal loss. Each teen joins the fighting, learning discipline and strategy without the customary adolescent explosion. Many mistakes are made, however, and lives lost — the consequences of which Alek and Deryn feel bitterly. Leviathan is a perfect holiday present for the 10- to 15-year-old. Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.
Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever. Review:"Launching a planned four-book series, Westerfeld (the Uglies series) explores an alternate 1914 divided between Darwinists, who advocate advanced biotechnology, and Clankers, masters of retrofuturistic mechanical engineering. Austria-Hungary's Prince Aleksandar is whisked away into the night by trusted advisers; he soon learns that his parents, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Countess Sophie, have been murdered and that he has been targeted by prowar Germans. Half a continent away, Deryn Sharp successfully passes as a young man to join the British Air Service; her bravery during a catastrophic first flight aboard a genetically enhanced jellyfish ('The creatures' fishy guts could survive almost any fall, but their human passengers were rarely so lucky') earns Deryn a post on the living airship Leviathan. The fortunes of war lead Aleksandar and Deryn to the Swiss Alps, where they must cooperate or face destruction at the hands of the Germans. The protagonists' stories are equally gripping and keep the story moving, and Thompson's detail-rich panels bring Westerfeld's unusual creations to life. The author's fully realized world has an inventive lexicon to match — readers will be eager for the sequels. Ages 12–up." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Review:"Enhanced by Thompson's intricate black-and-white illustrations, Westerfeld's brilliantly constructed imaginary world will capture readers from the first page. Full of nonstop action, this steampunk adventure is sure to become a classic." School Library Journal (starred review) Review:"The setting begs comparisons to Hayao Miyazaki, Kenneth Oppel and Naomi Novik, but this work will stand — or fly — on its own." Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Review:"Fans of Philip Reeves' Mortal Engines (2003) or Kenneth Oppel's Airborn (2004) will be right at home in Westerfeld's alternate reality." Booklist Synopsis:A brand-new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld! Synopsis:On the eve of World War I, the machine-loving Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their big steam-powered Clankers. Inspired by Darwin, the British have fabricated animals into warships. Their mothership is called Leviathan, and she is a whale-dirigible. The first book in a brand-new trilogy by the author of the New York Times-bestselling Uglies series.
VideoAbout the AuthorScott Westerfeld's teen novels include the Uglies series, the Midnighters trilogy, and The Last Days, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the sequel to Peeps. Scott was born in Texas, and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!
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