Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale
Zeina Starborn spends her days dreaming of having adventures in the sky, above the smog-filled city of Ravenport, escaping the life of a Below. When invited to the annual Grand Birthday Bazaar celebrating the 12th birthday of rich Above, Jackson Willoughby, she is reluctant to go, but this leads to her winning a chance to visit the famous Willoughby Whale Hotel- a giant structure built on the back of a flying whale- with Jackson and his Uncle Hamilton. Although her father does not want her to go, Zeina seizes her opportunity and sets off on the journey of a lifetime, full of adventure, mystery and danger.
‘Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale’ is stunning- I couldn’t put down for a second! From a divided society to environmental issues, there is so much packed into this book, making it a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable story.
At first glance, Zeina and Jackson could not be more different. The Willoughbys are a powerful Above family with untold riches, living in opulence whilst Zeina lives on the airship platform, where her father works as an engineer. However, Jackson is not like the rest of his family, preferring to race velocycles to studying, owning sky whale hotels or taking over the family business. He is more cautious whilst Zeina is impulsive, boisterous and ready for action. Initially wary of each other, they grow to understand each other, becoming a team in the face of hardship and betrayal.
The importance of animal welfare and the dangers of pollution are at the heart of the story. Zeina and Jackson’s growing horror as they realise the truth of the whale hunt they are on- the cruelty and the STAN system used to control them- sits in stark contrast to the callous indifference of those leading the hunt whose only concern is the profits captured whales bring. The way power corrupts, misinformation and reporting bias are also explored through the story. It would make an excellent text for guided reading or for a class novel with plenty to reflect on and discuss whilst enjoying a fabulous adventure!
I am certain that there will be more stories about Jackson and Zeina as they continue their adventures on airships, their friendship now firmly established. Highly recommend this one!
Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale Hannah Durkan
Orion ISBN: 978-1510110649