Airman - Hardcover

Colfer, Eoin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1423107500 ISBN 13: 9781423107507

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008

Synopsis

Conor Broekhart was born to fly. In fact, legend has it that he was born flying in a hot air balloon at the world's fair.

In the 1890's Conor and his family live on the sovereign Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. Conor spends his days studying the science of flight with his tutor and exploring the castle with the king's daughter, Princess Isabella.

But the boy's idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a conspiracy to overthrow the king. When Conor tries to expose the plot, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life as he and the other prisoners are forced to mine for diamonds in inhumane conditions.

There is only one way to escape Little Saltee, and that is to fly. So he passes the solitary months by scratching drawings of flying machines into the prison walls. The months turn into years, but eventually the day comes when Conor must find the courage to trust his revolutionary designs and take to the skies.

About this title

About the Author:

Eoin Colfer is the New York Times best-selling author of the Artemis Fowl series, Half Moon Investigations; The Supernaturalist, Eoin Colfer's Legend of Spud Murphy and Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth, and The Wish List. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.

From AudioFile:

John Keating reads this story--part adventure and part modern fairy tale--with an Irish lilt that reflects its setting on an island off the coast of Ireland. Keating excels at character portraits, each perfectly matched to convey the sense and sound of a hero or villain. Conor Broekhart, born while his mother was aloft in a hot-air balloon, is raised in kind King NickÕs court until heÕs framed for the murder of the king and removed to a terrible island prison. Coarse, brutal inmates and guards, made memorable by Keating, contrast with the kindness of earlier characters and make listeners root for ConorÕs success. Keating shifts easily between accents indicating class and transitions rapidly from narrative to character portrayals. The storyÕs villain has an especially chilling voice. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1423107500
• ISBN 13: 9781423107507
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 416