Comment

Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Fraser Valley Regional Library.
Apr 13, 2016TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
4/5 stars. Leviathan is a young adult novel written by Scott Westerfeld with illustrations by Keith Thompson. It plays with many genres including steampunk and dystopia while viewing the story through an alternate history lens. The fast paced story makes an interesting twist on the First World War, asking, what would happen if massive robots and monsters were commonplace at the time. The book has wonderful imagery thanks to Westerfeld’s writing, creating a vivid alternate world in the reader's mind. THis is backed up by the wonderfully detailed and appropriate illustrations by Thomson scattered throughout. It is rare, but a nice change to see illustrations in a young adult novel. These illustrations really allow the correct image from Westerfeld’s story to be conveyed to the reader's imagination. The two main characters of the novel are polar opposites, an aristocratic german boy and a poor british girl. The story follows these two alternate paths colliding, with excellent development for both characters. I am hooked by this book and will undoubtedly read the next in the series. @Joaquin of the Hamilton Public Library Teen Review Board Leviathan is a fascinating historical fiction, steampunk novel written by Scott Westerfeld. This is the first book in the Leviathan trilogy. This book starts at the beginning of WWI following the Ferdinands murder. In this world, it’s a malevolent clash between Austrian and German steam powered creations and British fabricated war creatures. This story is from the first person view of 2 teens. Alek is the son of the murdered Austrian royals. Despite being unable to inhert anything, he finds himself in hiding with a small group of soldiers. Deryn is a British girl pretending to be a man on the fabricated British airship Leviathan. Both have a secret that must be protected with their lives. When a disaster brings them together it is a question of how long before each secret is revealed and how things will change. I enjoyed reading this book immensely and I recommend it to anyone looking for something new and interesting. The storyline and world are believable, well thought out and explained so it is a joy to experience. This book masterfully holds readers attention with it’s incredible storyline style and unique, believable characters. Score: 4.6/5.0 - @Penultimate of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library This book is amazing! Scott Westerfeld does a great job of intertwining two lives that would never meet under normal circumstances. Set at the beginning of World War I in an alternate history, the world is divided into two factions: the Darwinists and the Clankers. Prince Aleksander lived in Austria-Hungary, and now is forced to run from his home, chased by traitors of his own country. Deryn Sharp has disguised herself as a boy to get into the royal air force. Their lives collide when the Leviathan, the greatest airship owned by Great Britain, crashes in Switzerland, almost on top of the ancient castle where Alek is hiding out in. The excitement doesn’t stop as their journeys continue together. - @dragonflame of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library