By Scott Westerfield

I’m sure you’ve read plenty of historical fiction about WWI, but you’ve never read one like this. I’m not sure it can even be classified as historical fiction. It’s more steampunk/sci-fi. But, it’s still set during WWI so I’m counting it as historical fiction. Please don’t be mad.

WWI is raging, but it’s not just Allies v. Central powers. It is Clankers v. Darwinists. The Clankers (the Central powers) use steam-powered mechanical giants to fight their side of the war. The Darwinists use genetically modified/engineered animals to fight.

I’m sure you think this is absolutely ridiculous. And yes, it is. On the surface, it’s probably one of the dumbest ideas that ever became a published series. But it is actually a really good book. It’s a lot more interesting than you would expect. Here’s a general rundown of the plot.

There are two main characters the Austro-Hungarian Prince Alek and the British airman Deryn, who’s actually a girl. They both have a lot of secrets and when they get caught up in the war, it’s a lot harder to hide them. When they finally meet, they end up on a crazy adventure all over the world.

Why should you read this book?

At first, you’re probably going to think that it’s weird. I definitely did. But, once you get into the book, you’ll really like it. It’s a fresh new take on WWI and you will not see other books like this one. If you are interested in steampunk, Darwinism, or WWI, you should try this book. You might really like it.

Who should read this book?

I read it in book club in 7th grade. In retrospect, it was maybe a little more suited to an older audience. But I still liked it. I think that a 7th grader could read this book and it wouldn’t hurt them, but an 8th grader might be able to appreciate it a little better.

General Stats:

• Genre: historical fiction/steampunk – WWI
• Book 1 of 3
• Age: 7th-8th grade and above
• My rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆