Kaethe

Well done. I've so far enjoyed two other series by Westerfeld, so the combination of writer and subject matter meant it was likely I'd love this. And I did. Interestingly, although the two main characters are both fifteen, and the subject is war, this feels appropriate for middle grade readers. As with the Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space series, the art adds much more than just pictures. It helps set the period and the tone of the book, and heightens the effect of a Victorian Boy's-Own sort of adventure. 

I also think it would do very well read-aloud.

2009 November 8

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And now, here I am, reading it aloud. 

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Still reading it aloud. It's a wonderfully exciting story.

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Still reading it out loud. It kills us that we don't have more time each night, because we're only managing a chapter or so. Well, it's killing some of us. The Possum squeals with the excitement sometimes. The PandaBatwolf thingie is just confused much of the time. But she did love the flechette bats. And yesterday, to my amusement Betsy Bird recommended it as a way into WWI for younger readers. I'll not argue. I've done a lot of explaining and filling in the kids on their missing history.

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It was loved, And now we're keen for the release of the next one.

2010 Jan 8

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We've finally finished our re-read, and last night started Behemoth. Since I'm simultaneously reading Blue Noon to myself, let me just say that Westerfeld's prowess as a writer is definitely increasing. Man, I love this book.