Reading Level:Older Kids
Min./Max. Grade Level:10-12
Lexile:800

Booklist Review:
Author of the popular Artemis Fowl series, Colfer ventures into slightly different territory in this fantasy, which has the heft of historical fiction; a subset of characters whose physical attributes reflect their evil natures; dry humor; visceral horror; and swashbuckling action that keeps the story from becoming overly dark. Born in the basket of an air balloon, Conor Broekhart is sure he is destined to fly. But at 14, he accidentally witnesses the murder of his tutor and the sovereign of the tiny Saltee Islands where he lives, and everything changes.Villainous Marshall Bonvilain throws him into prison, convincing him that his family believes him guilty of the crime. Thus begins his new life as inmate Conor "Finn," who devotes his considerable abilities to breaking out of prison. Colfer grapples somewhat awkwardly with a few literary issues here: should he, for example, allow his hero to commit murder? There are also huge time gaps that are distracting and occasionally stall momentum. Readers may not notice, however, with so much else going for the book. -- Zvirin, Stephanie (Reviewed 02-01-2008) (Booklist, vol 104, number 11, p38)

School Library Journal Review: /* Starred Review */
From the popular author of the "Artemis Fowl" series (Hyperion/Miramax) comes a swashbuckling adventure and spectacular fantasy for somewhat older readers. Born in a hot-air balloon at the Paris World's Fair in 1878, Conor Broekhart is destined to fly. Until the 1890s, he lives an idyllic life on the Saltee Islands off the Irish Coast, with Princess Isabella as his best friend; Good King Nick like a father to him; and a science tutor, Victor Vigny, who shares his obsession with making a flying machine. Everything changes when Conor witnesses Marshall Bonvilain murder the king with Victor's pistol, and he is labeled a traitor and thrown into prison, which is a brutal hell of nightmarish torture where inmates must mine for diamonds under impossible conditions, and he must plan an escape if he is to survive. Grippingly written, this is a fast-paced, highly entertaining tale of flying machines, criminals, martial arts, swordplay, princesses, poisons, and evil villains. The themes are as sweeping as the Airman's wings in full flight: justice, revenge, romance, good triumphing over evil, realizing one's dreams, blackmail, regicide, conspiracy, corruption, betrayal. While the often dark and gruesome subject matter is not for the faint of heart, the moral underpinnings of the story are solid. Give this not only to fans of "Artemis Fowl" but also to those who delight in flying through Kenneth Oppel's "Matt Cruse" books (Eos).—Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME --Connie Tyrrell Burns (Reviewed January 1, 2008) (School Library Journal, vol 54, issue 1, p116)

Publishers Weekly Review: /* Starred Review */
Colfer's (Artemis Fowl ) epic adventure story is winningly voiced by Keating, whose distinctive brogue transports listeners to the remote Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. The narrative begins with hero Conor Broekhart's birth in a hot-air balloon over the 1878 Paris World Fair, showcasing Keating's talent with a French accent, too, as he smoothly slips into the role of Victor Vigny, the aeronautic enthusiast who later becomes Conor's beloved tutor in fencing, fighting and, most importantly, the science of flight. The story turns on Conor's clash with Hugo Bonvilain, the Machiavellian leader of the island kingdom's armed guard, and Keating's sneering characterization gives the villain real menace. Two Americans also feature in the story, and Keating's only bobble here is that these two voices occasionally sound a bit similar, but this is merely a quibble in an otherwise masterly reading of a gripping tale. Ages 10-up. Simultaneous release with the Hyperion hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 12, 2007). (Jan.) --Staff (Reviewed January 28, 2008) (Publishers Weekly, vol 255, issue 4, p65)

Kirkus Reviews
/* Starred Review */ Set at the end of the 19th century, this savage, enthralling melodrama pits a young would-be aviator against a high official so fiendishly clever and evil that his name—Bonvilain—seems a drastic understatement. On the Saltee Islands, a tiny kingdom off the Irish coast, 14-year-old Conor's idyllic life with best buddy Princess Isabella takes a brutal turn when Bonvilain secretly throws him into the diamond mines as part of a murderous plot to overthrow the local monarchy. Against steep odds, Conor survives and, several years later, engineers an aerial escape that leads to a wild climactic melee. Laced with explosions and sudden violence, well-stocked with ugly customers and replete with cliffhangers, this high-flying page-turner will keep readers riveted to their seats from opening gunshot to final sword thrust. (Science fiction. 12-15) (Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2007)

Subject Headings:Flying machines
Prisoners
Adventurers
Inventors
Islands
Aviation
Nineteenth century
Saltee Islands (Ireland) -- History -- 19th century
Ireland -- History -- 1837-1901
Adventure stories

Information from Novelist

I felt really compelled to keep reading once I got into this book, which surprised me because it's not the top of my list for Colfer's books -- I like the Artemis Fowl series, but didn't expect to find myself so thoroughly engrossed in a steampunky YA novel about flying machines and espionage. Then again, now as I write this, steampunk, flying machines and espionage sound pretty good.

Well, it turns out they are. Above all, this novel has sheer strength of story -- you just want to find out what happens so you keep turning pages -- and even though it owes a lot to the Young People's edition of The Count of Monte Cristo, I think it stands up well on its own, even against Colfer's more popular books. The ending isn't blindingly original, but the action sure is satisfying. :) ( )

Airman is a wonderful book full of adventure staged by a young inventor that wishes to be the first man to fly. Conor Broekhart is a young boy living on the island of Great Saltee. He was born in an air balloon and always loved heights. His father is capain of the Saltee sharpshooters and is a personal friend of the island's king, Nicholas. One day, Conor was going to ask his teacher, Victor Vigny, about some of his glider plans but when he reached his apartment, he saw Vigny being shot by Bonvilion, the marshall. Bonvilion saw young Broekhart and decided that he should not be allowed to speak against him so young Conor was thrown in jail as a spy. The rest of the story is filled with sharp wit and loads of action. It's an excellent read for people of all ages. ( )

Conor Broekhart was born to fly. Or, more accurately, he was born flying. Little wonder he became what he became. In an age of discovery and invention, many dreamed of flying, but for Conor flight was more than just a dream, it was his destiny. In one dark night on the island of Great Saltee, a cruel and cunning betrayal destroyed his life and stole his future. Now Conor must win the race for flight, to save his family and to right a terrible wrong . . . Swashbuckling new fiction from the amazing Eoin Colfer, ideal for readers aged 10+.

Princesses, Pirates & Flying, oh my! Okay, so there aren't really any pirates, but 'greedy, sneaky, back-stabbing guards', didn't have the same ring. For me Airman was good, but slightly boring. Rightfully, this could be my own fault though. When I read a book I'm interested most in the progression of the story as well as the interaction between the characters, so when a book has sections - like this one does - where the character is by themselves for pages at a time, I get a little restless. Having said that though, the book and the story were solid.

Like most others the reason I know of Eoin Colfer is because of his very highly acclaimed series Artemis Fowl which I happen to LOVE, and like in Artemis Fowl, in Airman he takes a world that we already know (Little Saltee & Great Saltee are real!), and transforms it into a world of imagination, be it gnomes, fae and the like (as in Artemis Fowl), or princesses, kingdoms and greedy guards (as in Airman). His worlds are always ones that I would find myself fortunate to live in!

The characters in Airman are well thought out and developed, we learn a lot about all of them, except one, and that's the only downfall (other then the time the character spends alone) to the book. Isabella is the King's daughter, and Conor's love interest, and through out the entire book we learn very very little about her. But through the middle of the book, during the time Conor spends on Little Saltee, other then him remembering her we learn absolutely nothing about her. So it would have been nice to learn more about Isabella, since she was in her way, a main character. ( )