Reviews for Starclimber

School Library Journal (starred review)
This sequel to Airborn and Skybreaker continues the fabulous adventures of Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries. In classic steampunk fashion, this book blends the best of Victorian society and science fiction.... Starclimber is a thrilling roller-coaster ride of a book, full of humor and derring-do and guaranteed to keep readers up long past midnight.

The Times (London)
"Canada has given the world a growing number of great adult novelists, from Margaret Atwood to Robertson Davies, but until recently no children's authors. Kenneth Oppel, the boyish-looking man sitting opposite me in a London café, is the first .... If you have a boy who is a reluctant reader and only into gaming, Oppel is a godsend. He writes books that will enchant any child of 8+ who loves the Indiana Jones movies, Jules Verne or Tintin.... " To read the full review, click here.

Quill & Quire (starred review)
Readers will be enraptured by this gripping tale, which delivers fast-paced fantasy and rich psychological drama.... The protagonists' experiences of social injustices add to the text's philosophical meatiness, making it much more than a simple adventure story. Even as they explore the natural world, Oppel's satisfyingly complex characters examine what it means to be human.

The Globe and Mail
The climax is relentlessly suspenseful, another Oppel trademark, and no reader who comes to the book for sheer excitement will be disappointed. Even more impressive, though, is the cumulative depth and subtlety Oppel has brought to the characters of Matt and Kate over the three volumes of this playful series.

The Horn Book
Oppel's books are equally notable for their action-packed plots and superb characterization, a combination that is not always easy to find in the fantasy/science fiction genre. Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries are back for their third adventure...and, not surprisingly, their relationship is pushed to the limits right along with their adrenaline.... True to form, Matt and Kate rise to the challenges, emerging victorious in life—and in love.

Kirkus Reviews
Matt Cruse, hero of Printz Honor–winning Airborn (2004) and its sequel, Skybreaker (2006), returns for another thrilling adventure.... Once again, Oppel has assembled intriguing characters, especially Matt's fellow astralnauts, who populate a fast-paced narrative that features enough unpredictable plot twists to keep readers riveted to Matt's story to the finish.

Canadian & US editions