Airborn by Kenneth Oppel is set in a world very similar to our early 20th century, except that the sky is populated by large airships filled with hydrium, a gas lighter and safer than hydrogen. Matt Cruse is a cabin boy aboard one such ship, the Aurora. Throw in a rebellious young heiress, some pirates, and a hunt for a new species, and you have a perfect adventure, one that will give you just half a page to catch your breath before flying off to the next danger. It was so exciting that I actually snapped at poor when he tried to interrupt during the last chapter. But although the adrenaline level is kept high, this is a book for teens – just one kiss, and a tastefully low body count. I hear the next one is even better.