Publication Date: 24th Oct 2024
Purchase Link (Canada): https://a.co/d/7OiVBIY (Canada)
Purchase Link (USA): https://a.co/d/abVrfJ6
Purchase Link (UK): https://amzn.eu/d/2BKDkj5
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217402251-skyfleet
Storygraph Book Page: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b4187899-258e-4ea2-8e83-9cad557dd26a
Genre: Middle Grade Adventure, Sci-fi
4 Stars
One Liner: I read it in one sitting!
Book Blurb:
When the skies turn deadly, a young
heroine must rise from the ashes...
Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain has faced incredible
challenges since the crash that took her parents and paralysed her legs. Now,
with her best friend Ricardo Lopez about to be sent away and a swarm of mutated
insects closing in on the Skyfleet base, the stakes have never been higher.
Something monstrous is driving the mutabugs north from the contaminated meteor
site known as the Cauldron, and the only plane capable of stopping it - the
Firehawk - lies in pieces in the hangar.
Determined to honour her parents' legacy, Amberley
hatches a daring plan. With Ricardo's help, they stow away on a supply train,
trading his most treasured possession for the parts needed to repair the
Firehawk. After secret test flights, the legendary jet is ready for action.
Now, Amberley and Ricardo must confront the deadly swarm and save their home,
discovering their inner strength and the true meaning of friendship along the
way.
Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs is a
thrilling tale of adventure and resilience, perfect for middle-grade readers.
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in the third-person POV of Amberley and Ric with snippets from other characters as letters, notes, and journal entries.
I admit I didn’t fully read before requesting to join the tour for this book. I saw the cover with a dashing plane shaped like a bird, noted the names of the kiddos, and jumped to grab a copy. (Also, my friend, Rosh, read a few books by the author and liked them, so I wanted to try this one).
The book starts slowly as it establishes the setting and the dangerous situation right away. Though the world-building is not detailed, there is enough to imagine the scenario. Also, all the fighter jets (like Firehawk and Dogstar) are clearly described with an illustration and notes (make, model, pros, cons, pilot, etc.).
Amberley and Ric are easy to like though they have
traits one would not want in children – stealing, breaking rules, sneaking out,
etc. They do get caught and are reprimanded by elders but that doesn’t stop
them. Moreover, we actually empathize with the kids instead of the adults in
this case. I could feel their frustration, fear, and grief at how things were
being handled.
Also, the rep is great. Amberley is in a wheelie
chair due to paralysis from the accident. Ric cannot see and wears a special
eye device with IR vision. However, these limitations are not a hindrance.
Amberley was born to be a pilot and trained by her parents since a baby.
Similarly, Ric was trained to be a mechanic and is such a smart lad that he can
convert any piece of scrap into something useful.
Of course, the adults aren’t bad. Here, the enemies
are mutabugs, cockroaches, and other dangerous creatures that have become
near-invisible by absorbing the radiation over the years. A scary situation,
right?
Screwball Sydney is such a fab character. She’s
eccentric and the kind of person you would want in your corner, of course, with
an assurance that she won’t do something reckless. Rafe is another interesting
character. Skipper Maddox was good too but Sydney wins hands down (and so does
her pet wombat, Mascot).
As with most MG fiction, this one too relies on kids
putting themselves in risky situations (even if it is for the greater good). We
can see both (adults and kids) perspectives and know they did what they did.
I don’t know much about mechanics and jets so can’t
say if the technical details are accurate. But then, this is set in the future
with advanced technology, so anything is possible! On this note, I found it
cheeky that a certain jet gives Steampunk vibes (no points for guessing who it
belongs to).
The ending is hopeful and positive on different
levels. I like how this is presented and balanced with the note at the
beginning.
To summarize, Skyfleet is a pacy adventurous,
exciting, dangerous, and heartwarming story about two kids trying to prove
their worth and helping their community during adversity.
Thank you, TheWriteReads, Tiny Tree Books, and
author Victoria Williamson, for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary
and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***
About the Author – Victoria Williamson
Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland,
and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as
an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a
teacher trainer in Malawi.
As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese,
she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she
works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a
range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down
Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.
She is currently working as a full time writer of
Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a
focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds
and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive
worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.
Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a
school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl
and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship
between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school
visits, and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
***
This has been a stop on the #Skyfleet blog tour by TheWriteReads.
Thanks for stopping by!
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