I’ve been a big fan of Eoin Colfer and especially the Artemis Fowl series for quite some time, so it was with mixed feelings that I approached Airman.  On the one hand, it was another Eoin Colfer book and that couldn’t be bad, right?  On the other hand, while I enjoyed his standalone The Supernaturalist okay, I wasn’t crazy about it, so I didn’t want to get my hopes up.  But, Airman did not disappoint!

I wouldn’t say it’s better than the Artemis Fowl books (my younger readers would no doubt rebel if I did!) but it is more mature, with a richer, fuller feel to it.  It’s set in a quasi-historical 1890’s, on the Saltees Islands off the coast of Ireland.  It’s got steampunk elements to it, but no magic so not sure why it gets categorized as that.  Maybe because it feels more like an adventure novel than a historical?  It is definitely not one the kids would need to be nudged into reading, if they like a good adrenaline rush.  I was never really one of those kids obsessed with airplanes and flight, though I did attempt to leap off a few picnic tables whilst madly flapping my arms.  However, this book has rekindled my desire to hang glide or at least get out on a zipline again.  For those who are interested in the technicalities of flight, this book would probably be a dream come true!

The bones of the story are that a bright young boy, friends to the princess and beloved of the king, witnesses a plot to take the king’s life and ends up framed for his murder and imprisoned in a horrible prison as a result.  The full machinations of the plot are complicated enough that at least one goodreads reviewer missed a turn and as a result found the book unsatisfying.  All I can say on that front, is have faith in the author and don’t despair–the apparent holes will get stitched up in time.  It is a little darker and more intense that Mr. Colfer’s other books, I think, and it’s painful to watch the main character, Connor Broekhart, struggle to survive in the prison environment and be changed through that experience.  But, life for reading kids is not so gentle as we might like and there are lots of wonderful points of emotional healing and growth, as well.  It’s shelved as MG and I think plenty of middle schoolers will enjoy it, but this is one I wouldn’t hesitate to put in the hands of the most reluctant high school boy, as well.

So, a very positive review from me!  Let’s see what Apricot-kitty thought of it:

“Brrrr!  Too much water!  Every time that poor boy went down into that bell to mine in the frigid waters, I thought I’d shiver right out of my bed!  I also didn’t particularly like the flying parts.  Even a cat would have trouble landing on her feet from that high up!  In fact, I’m afraid the entire story made me tired, and in desperate need of a long nap in the sunshine.”

Didn’t I mention that it has a few unpleasant bits?  Those would be especially uncomfortable for people who don’t like tight, enclosed spaces, being underwater, or flying.  But then, the title kind of gives away the flying one, doesn’t it?  What about you?  Did you ever convince yourself that you could fly, as a child?  Or were you a wise one and stayed sensibly on the ground?

For more reviews, spotlights, interviews and giveaways, stop by Shannon Messenger’s blog, and happy Marevlous Middle Grade Monday!

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