Frankenstein, his family, and the passions that ultimately consumed him. He now resides in toronto with his wife and children. Love, loyalty, loss, and obsession, all linger at the heart of kenneth oppel s this dark endeavour. Half brother 2010 by canadian young adult novelist kenneth oppel is a historical fiction book that follows an adolescent growing up with a chimpanzee who is part of his fathers scientific research. At home i was envious of her complete absorption in the book, but also excited because i knew i would get to read it next. Born on vancouver island, he has lived in nova scotia, newfoundland, england, ireland, and now lives in toronto with his wife and children. Sailing toward dawn, and i was perched atop the crow s nest, being the ship s eyes.
Some of his bestknown titles are inkling,the nest, airborn, a 2005 printz honor book, and silverwing. Instead, airships of the day use a fuel called hydrium and resemble hot air balloons more closely than they do airplanes of today. Kenneth oppel was born in the year 1967, in the mill town of port alberni located on vancouver island, bc. This book made me think about so many different things such as the way we communicate and what it means to be human. Its about the way families are made, the way humanity is judged, the way easy choices become hard ones, and how you cant always do right by the people and animals you love. Books author public speaking events resources contact back teacher study guides media bright ideas faqs books author public speaking events resources teacher study guides media. I just recommended kenneth oppel s new childrens book, half brother, to my 86 yearold grandmother. When ben tomlins mother brings home his new baby brother, an eightdayold chimpanzee, ben is far from thrilled. His novel half brother won both the canadian library associations childrens book of the year award as well as its young adult award a first in the two awards history. Oppel was born in port alberni, and spent his childhood in victoria, british columbia and halifax, nova scotia. He attended at the same time as actors andrew sabiston and leslie hope, fellow writers john. Half brother is a bit of a departure for you from your other books, such as airborn and silverwing. Airborn by kenneth oppel is a story of possibilities. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards.
His relationship with his father is quite complicated, however, he loves his younger brother zan. Kate is very mysterious at first but takes a liking to matt. In crisp, precise prose that gracefully conveys a wealth of detail, oppel the silverwing saga imagines an alternate past where zeppelins crowd the skies over the atlanticus and the pacificus, and. Additionally, the world contains fictional animal species such. From the printzhonorwinning author of airborn comes an absorbing ya novel about a teen boy whose scientist parents. Airborn is a 2004 young adult novel by kenneth oppel. This work of fiction portrays what the world might have been like had the aircraft as we know it not been invented. Though i get where the description is coming from half of the story set in an airship with all its cogs, pipes, goggles and engine noise classifying the work as steampunk is a bit of a stretch. His other books include half brother, this dark endeavor, such wicked intent, the boundless, the nest and every hidden thing. Half brother was inspired by very real events from my own world. Kenneth oppel, author of the bestselling silverwing trilogy.
Kenneth oppel is the governor generals award winning author of the airborn series and the silverwing. He is a slow learner, whose grades arent the highest. Born on vancouver island, kenneth oppel has lived in nova scotia and newfoundland, as well as england and ireland. Discussion guide half brother by kenneth oppel author interview about the book when ben tomlins mother brings home an eightdayold chimpanzee, ben is far from thrilled. Kenneth oppel books list of books by author kenneth oppel. Kenneth oppel is the bestselling author of skybreaker and airborn, a printz honor book. Kenneth oppel is one of the most highly regarded authors of middlegrade fiction writing today. The apprenticeship of victor frankenstein, a gripping narrative of the early years of mary shelleys dr.
Publication date 2010 topics experiments, chimpanzees, habits and behavior, humananimal communication, history, fiction. All aboard for an actionpacked escapade from the internationally bestselling author of airborne and the silverwing trilogy. Kenneth oppel has 51 books on goodreads with 256624 ratings. This reading guide for kenneth oppel s airborne series includes discussion questions for each book in the trilogy. Each chapter of the novel study focuses on one, two, or three chapters of airborn and is comprised of five of the following different activities. This dark endeavour and airborn are my two favourite books, ever books i. He lives in toronto with his family and can be found online at. They liked their presents a didgeridoo for isabel because shes musically inclined, a. The novel is set in an alternate history where the airplane has not been invented, and instead, airships are the primary form of air transportation. It is only after matt meets the balloonists granddaughter that he realizes that the mans ravings may, in fact, have been true, and that the creatures are completely real and utterly mysterious. Her grandfather was saved by matt in the first part of the book. I knew it must be good when i heard that violet got in trouble at school for reading too much. Last year a new book, half brother, appeared for ten to fourteenyearolds and extended the range of what oppel has attempted.
Kenneth oppel airborn for philippa, sophia, and nate contents 1 ships eyes 2 up ship. Matt cruse matt is the main character in kenneth oppel s airborn. See all books authored by kenneth oppel, including airborn, and half minute horrors, and more on. Half brother isnt just a story about a boy and a chimp. I am a big fan of kenneth oppel s airborne series, and i can tell you that this book is about as different from those books and from his silverwing books as anything could be. This is the case with kenneth oppel s airborn, an alternatehistory, adventure fantasy. Even if he is only a cabin boy, he aspires to greater responsibility. Today well look at another canadian writer, kenneth oppel. Kenneth oppels airborn won a printz honor award, and the canadian. Meettheauthor recording with kenneth oppel about half brother. This 2005 printz honor title reads just like watching a movie. When yearold ben tomlins parents tell him hes going. Cruse is awfully young to work aboard a luxury airship.
However, despite the fact that opel was born in port alberni, he spent a bigger part of his childhood days in victoria, bc, and halifax, nova scotia. I picked up half brother yesterday and finished it this morning. He is willing to risk anything for zan even it means jeopardizing other relationships. Net login register for bookmarks and favorites menu. One year later, the aurora is once again taking off from lionsgate cityall of the passengers are on board, the cargo is loaded and tied down, and the ship dumps water ballast to rise into the air matt has just finished up a week of shore leave with his mother and two little sisters. There is something particularly poignant in the plight of captive primates. He also lived in newfoundland and labrador, england, and ireland in 1985, oppel wrote his first book colins fantastic video adventure, while at st. Matt cruse is a cabin boy on the aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. We were two nights out of sydney, and there d been no weather to speak of so. I first encountered his work in the airborn series and loved his voice, imagination, and ability to write pageturning science fiction. I am often wary of prequels to classic novels, but i have to admit. If you like a lot of action in your reading, youll love airborn, by kenneth oppel. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the awardwinning aerial adventure that started it all winner of the governor generals award, a michael l.
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