Airman

Airman

by Eoin Colfer

Finished another RA favorite book, Airman, a historical novel by Eion Colfer based on his imagination coupled with a bad skydiving experience. The story is set in the 1800's at the time when the idea of flight was being developed into a reality around the world.  Declan Broekhart and his wife, pregnant at the time, are adventurers and take a hot air balloon for a ride, but they are shot down to the ground, which leads to their son, Conor, being born.  A number of years later, the family relocates to the Saltee Islands ruled by King Nicholas.  While young Conor spends his days trying to learn about aeronautics, trying to build a machine that can help him fly, the evil Marshall Bonvilain leads an effort to kill the King.  Conor is trapped in jail after being set up for killing the King, but this is not known by his family or the King’s daughter, Isabella, Conor’s friend and confidante.  Conor is placed in the dungeon as Bonvilain plots to take over the island, which has a mine full of diamonds.  Good vs. Evil is the subject of this young adult book.  Conor is led to believe that his family thinks he killed the King, while his family thinks he died in the fight over the King’s life.  The book has glimmers of Count of Monte Cristo with a bit of mistaken identity and injustices for the innocent.  Unlikely friendship, love and diamonds are all part of this one as well.