Matt Cruse is cabin boy aboard the Aurora, an airship which truly is lighter than air. Since the discovery of hydrium, a gas that renders even the heaviest vehicle as light as a feather, airships travel all over the world in the same way as planes do today. Matt himself was born on an airship and it is there that he feels most at home. Matt has high hopes for promotion to junior sailmaker on this voyage - until Kate de Vries, one of the wealthy passengers, arrives on the scene. She's feisty and brave, and won't let social distinctions get in the way of her friendship with Matt. And all their bravery is required when one night, in the middle of the ocean, they are boarded by pirates and caught up in adventures beyond all imagining ...

A terrific, rollicking adventure ... filled with irresistible optimism and zest -- The Times A real rip-roarer. -- The Sunday Times This is gripping stuff. -- The Bookseller brilliantly done ... Airborn's contained world is totally absorbing, cleverly plotted, a terrific read. -- The Irish Times a tightly plotted, fast-paced adventure with engaging and humorous characters -- TES A successful 'boys' own' story which manages to avoid being a 'boys only' story. -- The School Librarian Silverwing trilogy: 'cracking stories, brimming with adventure, redolent of great mythical sagas of the past, alive with invention, thoughtful - at times profound and probing - and never faltering when it comes to thrills and page-turning power.' -- Carousel Oppel's achievement is to have created much more than an action adventure involving bats ... He explores their collective dreams and aspirations, as well as their individual characters. Sunwing is a truly spell-binding sequel which combines breathtaking suspense with humorous character development. -- Literary Review As in Brian Jacques's popular Redwall series, the intertwining storylines, evil villain and intense action will keep young readers enthralled, but Shade is a more complex character than most Redwallian heroes. Shade's dangerous adventures make a memorable impact. -- The Horn Book magazine capable of enthralling both 9-11s, as well as an older audience. -- Achuka website

Kenneth Oppel wrote his first novel at the age of 15, and enterprisingly sent it to his favourite writer, Roald Dahl. Publication soon followed, and since then he has written more than a dozen books, including an adult novel, The Devil's Cure, and the bestselling fantasy novels, Sunwing and Silverwing, for which he won many prizes in his native Canada. He now lives and works in Toronto with his wife and two young children. His book 'Silverwing' was the winner of the Mr Christie's Book Award, the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award, and the Blue Heron Award.