At long last Matt Cruse is at the helm...
Though it's only a summer job piloting a humble aerocrane, he's thrilled to be small part of so...
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Aug 26, 2008
mary shelagh
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Jul 15, 2010
Janeen-san
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This book is amazing--it has everything a bookworm could want. Romance, adventure, spaceships...and monkeys.
Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries are about to set off on the ultimate quest...in outer space!
Matt Cruse, after weeks of going through grueling outer-space training, desparatly hopes to be the one picked to go into outer space--along with many other young men. Will he be chosen?
With a dash of luck, he and Kate clamor aboard the Starclimber, the first space ship.
A More...
Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries are about to set off on the ultimate quest...in outer space!
Matt Cruse, after weeks of going through grueling outer-space training, desparatly hopes to be the one picked to go into outer space--along with many other young men. Will he be chosen?
With a dash of luck, he and Kate clamor aboard the Starclimber, the first space ship.
A More...
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Dec 30, 2008
Jennifer
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Reviewed by LaLeesha Haynes for TeensReadToo.com
STARCLIMBER is the sequel to Oppel's AIRBORN and SKYBREAKER. This was a fantastic science fiction book for young adults, and will follow in their path of award-winning writing.
Matt is an accomplished young man who has many incredible opportunities to prove himself as he climbs out of his childhood. Kate is a feisty young woman with her sights set on a future filled with women's liberation and scientific research.
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STARCLIMBER is the sequel to Oppel's AIRBORN and SKYBREAKER. This was a fantastic science fiction book for young adults, and will follow in their path of award-winning writing.
Matt is an accomplished young man who has many incredible opportunities to prove himself as he climbs out of his childhood. Kate is a feisty young woman with her sights set on a future filled with women's liberation and scientific research.
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3 comments
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Aug 29, 2008
Molly
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Dear Ken Oppel,
You never disappoint. Thanks for that.
Love,
Me
4 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Dec 10, 2010
Suna
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How wonderful to realize you're holding something brilliant for young people of Philip Pullman-esque proportions.
That compliment I've so far only given to the Hunger Games series and I have yet to see whether the third book bears up.
But this is - pun intended - stellar stuff.
It is the sort of series that I immediately have to go read again, with the perspectives added along the way.
From Airborn onwards, the books have always been gloriously inventive, exhilarating, humo More...
That compliment I've so far only given to the Hunger Games series and I have yet to see whether the third book bears up.
But this is - pun intended - stellar stuff.
It is the sort of series that I immediately have to go read again, with the perspectives added along the way.
From Airborn onwards, the books have always been gloriously inventive, exhilarating, humo More...
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Mar 04, 2010
Ann
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STARCLIMBER is the third book in the Airborn Series. If you have not yet read books 1 & 2, please be warned that the following review contains spoilers for those two books.
So, yet again, Oppel has managed pull me into the tales of Matt Cruise with the first chapter - and I'm hooked from that point on; not wanting to set the book down, but rather anxious to read the next chapter, and the next, and the next...
After Matt has taken on two airborn adventures in bo More...
So, yet again, Oppel has managed pull me into the tales of Matt Cruise with the first chapter - and I'm hooked from that point on; not wanting to set the book down, but rather anxious to read the next chapter, and the next, and the next...
After Matt has taken on two airborn adventures in bo More...
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May 24, 2010
Serena
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Jan 21, 2009
Bonnie
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It's finally here! Or at least it will be by February 24th. The 3rd book in the Airborn series. Our pilot in training Matt Cruse is paired again with heiress Kate DeVries as they train to be the first in space. Fast paced action combined with Jules Verne imagination make this a great read for young adults.
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Mar 11, 2009
Beth
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The third installment of the Airborn series does not disapoint. Matt and Kate are back in another thrilling adventure. I could never get tierd reading about their adventures. This one has a lot of the same elements that I loved in the first two books. I love these characters and the amazing alternate history that Oppel has created. I was happy to see some old favorites back again too, like Captain Walken and Chef Vlad.
The plot is full of action and conflicts from the begining as Matt face More...
The plot is full of action and conflicts from the begining as Matt face More...
Jun 05, 2011
Karen
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"From Earth, from this very terrace, the view of the stars was wondrous enough. Imagine how much more you could see thousands of miles beyond it..."
Third in the Airborn series! Matt Cruse and Kate DeVries are back, this time aiming for outer space. In their alternate world, the ship they will take is called the Starclimber -- literally the ship that will climb a thin wire into space. The wire is anchored far below the surface of the Earth, and the other in is attached to a roc More...
Third in the Airborn series! Matt Cruse and Kate DeVries are back, this time aiming for outer space. In their alternate world, the ship they will take is called the Starclimber -- literally the ship that will climb a thin wire into space. The wire is anchored far below the surface of the Earth, and the other in is attached to a roc More...
Mar 24, 2011
Smilingplatypus
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Disclaimer: I love Kenneth Oppel. This is not my favourite of his books, though. It's still a great adventure story, set as it is in a parallel universe of steampunk space travel. (You heard me.) If you're willing to overlook a few contrived plot devices and a couple of elements that feel recycled from the first two books in this series, then it's fabulous fun.
Matt and Kate are back, joined by a particularly colourful cast of characters. I particularly enjoyed Evelyn Karr, obviou More...
Matt and Kate are back, joined by a particularly colourful cast of characters. I particularly enjoyed Evelyn Karr, obviou More...
Feb 19, 2011
Lj
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Jan 01, 2011
Linda
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The space race is on in this third fantastic adventure of Matt Cruse and Miss Kate DeVries. The French are building a Celestial Tower to reach the stars and the action starts immediately when Matt defuses a plan to blow it up. Because of his quick thinking and quicker actions, the Canadian Prime Minister calls Matt home to enroll in a secret 3 week course- to become a member of Canada's first flight into space: an astralnaut. Hundreds apply, only 3 are chosen. Kate is invited along because of he
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Oct 06, 2010
Andrew
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Jun 25, 2010
Lady
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Although initially worried that the space setting would ruin the ambience and general feeling of the series, by the third page I was hooked. This book was amazing! Any one who loved the first two books will love this one!
Once again Matt and Kate are back and this time the setting for adventure is outer space. Kate is immediately invited on the expedition as she is known to be a high-altitude zoologist. Matt on the hand is invited along, but must prove himself capable. I won't say anymore o More...
Once again Matt and Kate are back and this time the setting for adventure is outer space. Kate is immediately invited on the expedition as she is known to be a high-altitude zoologist. Matt on the hand is invited along, but must prove himself capable. I won't say anymore o More...
Jun 28, 2009
Ningerbil
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This is the third book in Oppel's "Airborn" series. This book was a fun read, but I thought the first two were superior. Fans of the fast-paced, near non-stop action of the first two might find the pacing slow. Personally, I thought the pacing was fine; it was slower and more deliberate, and got more into the relationships and interactions, especially between Matt and Kate. I also liked how some things which seemed inconsequential in the beginning turned out to be important at the end.
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May 15, 2009
Jaclyn
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Imagine finding the wreckage of the Titanic, or King Tut's tomb, or being the first man to walk on the moon. It must have been exciting, terrifying, stomach-wrenching. Kenneth Oppel somehow manages to capture the thrill of exploration in every book in this series, and Starclimber was a worthy end to the trilogy.
Matt Cruse is selected for training to be one of the first astralnauts, the crew of the Starclimber, a rather fascinating little spacecraft that runs on a cable. Kate deVri More...
Matt Cruse is selected for training to be one of the first astralnauts, the crew of the Starclimber, a rather fascinating little spacecraft that runs on a cable. Kate deVri More...
Apr 21, 2009
Fred
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If you're looking for a dramatic, thrilling, breathlessly romantic young adult novel that you can recommend to any kid in any classroom in America without offending teachers, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more appropriate title than Kenneth Oppel's Starclimber.
But it's the 3rd of a trilogy. Read Airborn and then Skybreaker first. They're all excellent. And so is Oppel's story. He published his first novel before he was 20 and now has at least two terrific series to his credit More...
But it's the 3rd of a trilogy. Read Airborn and then Skybreaker first. They're all excellent. And so is Oppel's story. He published his first novel before he was 20 and now has at least two terrific series to his credit More...
Mar 02, 2009
Laura
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Matt Cruse is out of his element, in more ways than one. Whether he's trying to gain traction in the grueling astralnaut training program that will determine who will pilot the first vehicle into outer space, or attending posh garden parties to meet his sweetheart Kate's parents and society friends, Matt can't quite seem to fit in. And then comes the part of the story where he is very literally out of his element, as Matt goes on another of his wild adventures. But the ship in this one is a l
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Jul 09, 2010
Sara ♥
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Fabulous third (and I assume final) book in the Matt Cruse series! Airborn was pretty good and Skybreaker was really good, butStarclimber... WOW. LOVED IT! I just wish I'd been able to get the audiobook, since I'm in love with Full Cast Audio... But oh well! It was a really easy read in print.
So.... in this book, Kate and Matt have yet ANOTHER adventure—this one even more extreme than the last! SPACE! (The final frontier... these are the voyages... *cough* Sorry, what?) Will More...
So.... in this book, Kate and Matt have yet ANOTHER adventure—this one even more extreme than the last! SPACE! (The final frontier... these are the voyages... *cough* Sorry, what?) Will More...
Apr 18, 2009
Libby
rated it:
Based in an alternate reality with some linking characteristics to late 19th century Canada, Oppel's Airborn series is well suited for the intended young adult audience. The story has the right blend of compelling action and interesting characters to catch and keep a teenage reader. However, the strength of Oppel's writing is that he tricks his readers into thinking and learning about scientific principles as they read. Although the books include imaginary flying machines and fictional specie
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Nov 26, 2011
Greymalkin
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I enjoyed the first in the series and the second was rocky but had some really interesting moments.... but I really didn't care for this one. I do respect the painstaking care that the author put into making this alternative steampunk-ish space exploration plausible. However it felt like he just borrowed heavily from deepwater exploration, down to the creatures and space fauna, without really putting his own spin on it. Also the two ostensible heroes, Kate and Matt were just awful to be aroun
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Oct 27, 2011
Fire
rated it:
It was good. I found the ease of spacetravel a little unlikely, and the fact that the same captain and chef from the first book miraculous ended up being a part of the exceptionally small crew, it was nice to have some familiar characters while i read.
I don't know if they've been doing this in the whole series without me noticing, but when I read the name Evelyn Karr, I realized that she was based of of Emily Carr, one of my favourite artists. Now that i think back on it, i think i recall More...
I don't know if they've been doing this in the whole series without me noticing, but when I read the name Evelyn Karr, I realized that she was based of of Emily Carr, one of my favourite artists. Now that i think back on it, i think i recall More...
May 29, 2010
Traci
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Holy smack, this book was good. I had actually dragged my feet a bit getting to this one because book 2 of the series was a bit of a chore to get through, but DANG. This entry into the series starts with a bang, literally, and does not let go. I listened to the Full Cast Audio production of this book, which was amazing, btw, and at one point I was driving and had gotten to a particularly exhilarating part near the end... I thought I was going to have to pull my car over to finish it because I
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Sep 23, 2008
Elisabeth
rated it:
I have very much enjoyed this series (Airborn, Skybreaker, and now Starclimber)and was overjoyed to find the third wondrous installment the other day. I think it's the best one so far. I was very happy with the ending, and although there is not as much man vs. man conflict in the plot, it is still as gripping as any other in the series. I am a big fan of Kenneth Oppel, and I highly reccomend this series, or else the Silverwing Saga. Enjoy!
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May 11, 2011
Jeffrywith1e
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The Lost World and Starclimber
After finishing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World I jumped right into the third and last book chronicling the adventures of Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries, Starclimber., by Kenneth Oppel. Both books share similar themes: they are pulp adventures set in around the same time, they feature the discovery (or rediscovery) of new and dangerous animals. Yet these two books are very opposite in their writing styles. And one pays homage to the other in a huge way, More...
After finishing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World I jumped right into the third and last book chronicling the adventures of Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries, Starclimber., by Kenneth Oppel. Both books share similar themes: they are pulp adventures set in around the same time, they feature the discovery (or rediscovery) of new and dangerous animals. Yet these two books are very opposite in their writing styles. And one pays homage to the other in a huge way, More...
Jan 27, 2010
Merand
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I began this book with great anticipation. I LOVED Oppel's previous two books in this series. They were fun, exciting, and interesting. They were books I wished I had written. It isn't that these adjectives don't apply to Starclimber, just not with the depth of sincerity and passion that his previous books inspired. Perhaps it was the action didn't have enough drama or the characters were petty and frustrating. I'm not sure but what I'd come to expect from Oppel, I just didn't find. It wa
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Jun 18, 2009
Courtney
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Maybe he thought he was going to spend the summer in Paris piloting airships to help build the modern-day Tower of Babel, but thats not what happened. Set on an alternate-reality Earth, Canadian Matt Cruse once again finds himself in the action. The Parisian's are building, and building quickly. But their tower isn't reaching for a higher power; it's trying to get to space. Remniscient of our own frenzied space race, Oppel's various nations race while self-pronounced "Babelites" bo
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Aug 04, 2009
Susan
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Aerial adventurer Matt Cruse has returned to the skies, only this time his journey will take him into outer space and the stakes are raised: a life will be lost on the voyage. You might say the Airborn series is facing the same challenge of many children's series before it, in that the material gets darker and more sophisticated as it goes along, faster than perhaps the original core readers are quite ready for. For instance, the slightly crushy friendship between Matt and Kate has picked up man
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Jan 16, 2010
Josie
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