Kenneth Oppel returns to his very slight Steampunk roots in this action-packed tale of a boy, a train, a bunch of bad guys, a circus, and a monster or two. Like "Airborn," the plucky young hero, Will Everett, has a spirit of adventure and a willingness to do what it takes. Page-turning isn't enough of a phrase to explain the nonstop adventures, tied into a teensy bit of mystery, that you will find here. It was the first book I've read in a while that I stayed up for -- reading into the night because I had to know what would happen next. I like Oppel's writing. This is the third book of his that I have gobbled up. His characters are engaging and intriguing, his plots a little unexpected, and his prose is clean and accessible without being simplistic. In fact, for the mature reader, there are little tidbits -- allusions to other stories, to real historical people and events, a kind of circular setup to the tale -- but it is all subtle. Nothing hits you over the head. The story, like the characters, is also not fully black and white, but very shaded with gray. Reading Oppel's work is a real treasure. I was glad to have another opportunity to explore this fun, interesting author.
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