Death by Airship

Published as part of the “Orca Currents” series of high-interest novels with contemporary themes for reluctant readers, Arthur Slade’s adventurous and amusing novel Death by Airship offers middle school readers a swashbuckling literary voyage filled with plenty of pirates, pickles, and perfunctory explosions.

Prince Conn will never be king. And that’s just fine with him. He’s happy to sail the skies in his airship Cindy, and he and his crew of cheery misfits plunder merrily amongst his father’s kingdom – the One Hundred and One Islands – without much worry or concern. However, their carefree lifestyle comes to a screeching halt when Prince Conn’s siblings and fellow heirs to the pirate throne start dying off in extraordinarily elaborate ways. As tragic fires, violent cannon attacks, mysterious poisonings, and volcano tumbles claim the lives of his many brothers and sisters, Conn not only moves up in line for the throne, but he also becomes increasingly likely to suffer the same fate as the rest of his family.

With a plot paced at full throttle without ever letting up, author Slade keeps readers highly engaged and entertained from start to finish. Readers are introduced to Prince Conn without any hesitation as the story begins with his wooden airship on fire and at risk of falling two hundred fathoms through the sky. This initial chapter aptly sets the tone for the high-speed hijinks met throughout the novel and provides a quick yet useful glimpse into the fantastical world ruled by Conn’s often colourful and sometimes dysfunctional family. Comedic supporting characters, such as a kung-fu fighting kindergarten teacher and a pirate named Odin, his beard decorated with daggers, add to the already enjoyable story offering age-appropriate jokes and puns weaved into witty dialogue that speaks with an effective pre-teen charm and tone.

Filled to the brim with humorous dialogue and vivid action sequences, Death by Airship is sure to become a favourite with adolescent readers across all genders and reading levels. By including twists and turns aplenty, many chase scenes, and an awkward burgeoning romance, Slade has ensured all the pieces are in place for a truly boisterous pirate adventure. Death by Airship is a novel that jumps off the page, leaving a vivid impression in the memories of its readers.