Skyward
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: November 2018
"Claim the stars." That's what Spensa’s dad, a pilot, told her all the time - until he was killed in battle. He fought for the Defiant, who are the last remainder of the human race. They are constantly fighting the Krell, enemy aliens about whom little is known, beyond their goal of exterminating humanity. The Defiant are forced to live in caves, restricted from seeing the sky or even venturing far outside their home caverns, to avoid Krell detection. Pilots, who live above the surface and fight for humanity’s survival, are regarded as heroes, almost to the point of sainthood. Spensa’s dad was regarded as a hero - until he broke ranks in battle, was shot down, and branded a coward. Spensa’s lifelong dream has been to become a pilot and clear her father’s name, but in the course of making her dream come true, she must come to realize that true history isn’t always written in the textbooks.
In Skyward, Sanderson uses the dialogue and well-crafted development of characters to convey messages such as “‘Be who you are’” and the complications of feelings of duty and destiny. Unfortunately, the quality of writing is sometimes less than the quality of the messages, with points where the language feels oversimplified even for a youthful audience. The plot has balanced moments of comedic relief and heavy reveal, along with unexpected twists. Skyward ends on a cliffhanger leading straight into its sequel, Starsight. I would recommend this book to middle grade to YA readers who enjoy a blend of mystery, fantasy, and science fiction without getting hung up on occasional variations in writing level.
D. K. Nuray, age 13
