Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin

Rebel Skies is a spirited and unique YA adventure set in a world of flying ships, floating cities, cumulous whales, and lethal origami.

Rebel Skies is a spirited and unique YA adventure set in a world of flying ships, floating cities, cumulous whales, and lethal origami.

Inspired by Japanese history and culture, the story centres around Kurara, a Crafter (a rare breed in her world), who can manipulate paper and bring it to life. Along with her brother, Haru, she lives on the airship, Midori, and neither has much of a future beyond servitude. Crafters are coveted by the Emperor’s daughter and it’s rumoured she uses their powers for her own nefarious purposes. When a gigantic paper beast known as a shikigami attacks the Midori, Kurara and her brother narrowly escape but are saved by an older Crafter named Himura. He immediately recognizes Kurara’s latent talent for manipulating paper and convinces her to let him hone her powers. Since Haru has been injured, Kurara can’t leave her sibling behind, and much of the story is driven by her desire to heal her brother and keep him safe. Himura convinces Kurara to join him on an airship that hunts deadly shikigami and soon our hero is witness to the rebellion against the Empire, all the while discovering the true nature and potential of her unusual skills.

Rebel Skies is targeted to a YA audience, but feels more like middle-grade. In fact, younger readers will be swept up by the paper monsters and familial bonds that drive the urgency of Kurara’s actions. Under the weight of the complex world building, the plot lags a little in places, but then Sei Lin will throw in an unexpected twist to pull you back to the action. With the cinematic descriptions and fantastical set pieces, fans of Studio Ghibli could imagine Rebel Skies told in that distinctive visual style.

The first in a trilogy, Rebel Skies is a thrilling read that will appeal to younger teens looking for authentic characters and fresh and evocative storytelling.

ANN SEI LIN is an author and librarian with a love for all things fantasy. Although London is now her home, she spent several years living and working in China and Japan, and is originally from Singapore. She received an undergraduate degree in Japanese Literature and completed an M.A. in Creative Writing, for which she was awarded a Distinction. When not writing, she is studying, gaming or doing origami.

Publisher: Tundra Books (February 13, 2024)
Hardcover 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 360 pages
Ages 12-17
ISBN: 978-1-7748-8398-3

Andy Tolson

Website

Andy Tolson has been a boy magician, propmaker, filmmaker and writer. At the National Post and Maclean's Magazine, he was a photojournalist and editor. His first novel, Noisemaker, was published in 2022 by Moose House Publications. His debut middle-grade novel, How To Kidnap A Mermaid, will be published by Nimbus Publishing, fall 2024. He lives in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Andy will be focusing on reviewing middle-grade novels for TMR.