Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue

June 4, 2018
Seymour’s debut middle-grade novel, the first of two set in a fantastical universe, follows resilient, sensitive protagonist Nadya Skylung. She is one of several orphans who comprise most of the crew family on the Orion, a cloudship that roams the skies. Nadya’s job is simple but specialized (she cares for the plants and animals that keep the ship aloft) and she has aspirations of one day rising captaining her own vessel. As in all families, however, there are squabbles—especially since Nadya and her crewmate Tam are both angling for the position of first mate. Those family bonds are stretched taut when pirates, rumored to be searching for Nadya, kidnap the adults. It’s up to the five youngest crew members to figure how to save the rest. Seymour creates a world with a complicated history and a looming darkness, and the narrative champions community, responsibility, and overcoming obstacles. A tense conclusion will leave readers curious about Nadya’s background and place in this absorbing universe, which is given further dimension in Helquist’s appealing black-and-white illustrations. Ages 8–12. Agent: Danielle Burby, Nelson Literary Agency.

Hannah Jay narrates this skyborne adventure with a steampunk twist. The titular character has a fascination with creative writing; she employs poetic language to describe her life aboard the ORION, a cloudship populated by orphaned youth who round out the crew with their variety of magical powers. Jay's honeyed voice is well suited to Nadya's first-person storytelling, particularly her bouts of lyricism. When pirates attack the ship and kidnap the adult crewmembers, the story becomes increasingly tense, and Jay follows suit, narrating with near panic in her voice. The story does not end cleanly. Instead, the listener is left wondering what will happen next, keeping the potential open for a sequel. S.P. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine