Leviathan

Reader: Elise S
Age: 14
Title: Leviathan
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pub Date: 10/6/09
Galley: Yes
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: Impending war is hanging over Europe, pushing the Clankers (those who put all their faith in advanced machinery) against the Darwinists (those who create crossbred animals from DNA strands to fight with). Deryn Sharp, midshipman on a living airship, and Prince Aleksandar, heir to the Austro-Hungary throne both become involved, and their paths meet in very strange ways.
Recommend: Yes
Convince to read book: Okay, so Leviathan is one of the most amazing YA novels I've read this summer. For one thing: it's steampunk. For another: Scott Westerfeld's mind would be an awesome place to take a vacation to. The concept of the book is extraordinarily creative and executed beautifully. The characters are funny and relateable. I had just finished Mockingjay and expected to be in a reading slump, but Leviathan picked me right out of it! Now I can't find anything up to its standards though . . .
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The creativity of the machines and especially the fabrications was the best part. The author didn't treat the readers like we couldn't comprehend a more intricate plot. The
plot was engaging, with just enough historical references to WWI that I could recognize the time, and put the puzzle pieces together, but with a VERY distinctive stamp of fantasy on it.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: October seems like a long time to wait for the sequel.
Cover: The cover sort of confused me, as it didn't show the two sides of the conflict, which was one of the main points of the novel, and it only showed one of the main characters. I can't say I liked the first cover a lot better either, there needs to be more element of the Darwinists added.
Age Range: Under 12-17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it