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Quick answer: If your child loved Airborn, read its sequels Skybreaker and Starclimber, then try Mortal Engines, Leviathan and Cogheart. All send young heroes on airships, sky pirates and steampunk adventures.
Kenneth Oppel's novel follows Matt Cruse, a cabin boy on a giant airship, who meets a girl in search of a mysterious creature. It blends adventure, romance and sky pirates in a world of floating cities. The books below share that sense of wonder and invention. Most are for ages 10 to 14, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skybreaker | Kenneth Oppel | 10–14 | the sequel |
| Starclimber | Kenneth Oppel | 10–14 | the finale |
| Mortal Engines | Philip Reeve | 10–14 | steampunk worlds |
| Larklight | Philip Reeve | 9–13 | space adventure |
| Leviathan | Scott Westerfeld | 10–14 | alternate history |
| Cogheart | Peter Bunzl | 9–13 | clockwork mysteries |
| The Golden Compass | Philip Pullman | 10 and up | parallel worlds |
| Treasure Island | Robert Louis Stevenson | 10 and up | pirate adventure |
| The Invention of Hugo Cabret | Brian Selznick | 9–13 | illustrated novels |
| Boneshaker | Cherie Priest | Teen and adult | steampunk adventure |
| Around the World in Eighty Days | Jules Verne | 10 and up | classic travel |
| Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea | Jules Verne | 10 and up | classic sci-fi |
| Peter Pan | J.M. Barrie | 8 and up | flying adventure |
| The Screaming Staircase | Jonathan Stroud | 10–14 | ghost-hunting fun |
| The Amulet of Samarkand | Jonathan Stroud | 10–14 | funny fantasy |
1. Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel
Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries search for a legendary ghost ship in the clouds. The second Airborn book, with more daring.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
The third book takes Matt into space on a risky mission. Bold and imaginative.
Best for: the finale.
3. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
Cities roll on wheels and eat smaller cities. A strange and gripping world with a revenge plot.
Best for: steampunk worlds.
4. Larklight by Philip Reeve
A Victorian family in a space house meets giant spiders. Pulpy fun with illustrations.
Best for: space adventure.
5. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
In an alternate World War I, a prince and a girl meet aboard a living airship. Gorgeous illustrations by Keith Thompson.
Best for: alternate history.
6. Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
A girl, a clockwork fox and a mechanic boy chase a mystery in Victorian London. Charming and clever.
Best for: clockwork mysteries.
7. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Lyra travels north with her daemon Pantalaimon to rescue lost children. Rich, bold and thoughtful.
Best for: parallel worlds.
8. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
A boy finds a pirate's map and sails for treasure. Fast, fun and classic.
Best for: pirate adventure.
9. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
An orphan in a Paris train station repairs an automaton. Told in text and drawings.
Best for: illustrated novels.
10. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
A mother goes into a walled, gas-filled Seattle to find her son. Steampunk zombies for older readers.
Best for: steampunk adventure.
11. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Phileas Fogg bets that he can circle the globe in eighty days. A fast, charming classic.
Best for: classic travel.
12. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
A professor boards the Nautilus with Captain Nemo. Long, inventive and strange.
Best for: classic sci-fi.
13. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
A boy who never grows up takes the Darling children to Neverland. Magical and sad.
Best for: flying adventure.
14. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
Teen ghost hunters in London fight ghosts. Funny, spooky and fast.
Best for: ghost-hunting fun.
15. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
A young magician summons a sarcastic djinn. Witty and dark.
Best for: funny fantasy.
How to Choose
For more Oppel, read Skybreaker and Starclimber. For sky adventures, Leviathan. For stranger worlds, Mortal Engines. For classics, Treasure Island and Around the World in Eighty Days. Share them as family read-alouds where possible. Airship stories are a good gateway to older adventure novels by Verne and Stevenson. Share them aloud with older children, and look for audiobooks with sound effects if your child enjoys them. A set of the Matt Cruse trilogy makes a good gift.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Airborn about?
Matt Cruse, a cabin boy on the airship Aurora, helps rescue a dying man and later meets his granddaughter Kate, who searches for strange winged creatures.
What is the age range?
About 10 to 14, though adults enjoy it.
Is Airborn part of a series?
Yes. It starts the Matt Cruse trilogy.
Did it win awards?
Yes. It won the Governor General's Award for children's literature in Canada.
Is it steampunk?
It is closer to adventure fantasy set in an alternate world with airships.
What is the Aurora in Airborn?
A luxury airship that carries passengers across the Pacific, and the setting for the early part of the book.
Is Airborn scary?
It has some tense scenes with pirates and storms, but is suitable for most children aged ten and up.
Is there a map or illustrations?
Some editions include a diagram of the airship, which many readers enjoy.
Who is Kate de Vries?
A wealthy, curious girl who is searching for mysterious flying creatures, and Matt's friend.
Is there a movie of Airborn?
No film has been released.
Who is Kenneth Oppel?
A Canadian author known for Airborn, Silverwing and This Dark Endeavour.
Should I read Airborn before Skybreaker?
Yes. The books follow one story, and Skybreaker refers to events in the first.