The steampunk theme is always attractive to me, I didn't manage to finish reading it but from the first few chapter, I can see the steampunk world the author created. I like the background setting, the whale hotel in the sky gave me a lot to imagine. But i am not very fond of the characters. The personality of Zeina is not very appealing to me, and not very strong. However, it's a good book for children to read I think, the writing is smooth, I can see young readers who like fantasy stories might like it.

Verbal review for Association of Derbyshire Librarians in Schools, and recommended for the longlist for the Derbyshire School Book Awards 2023(@DSBA Reads)

Woah! What an adventurous read with depth and layers. The world building weaves in to the character building, the plot, the climax and the the fun. Truly a treat for middle grade readers and up. I absolutely couldn't put it down and love that the readers are never talked down to in this dystopian/fantasy/sci-fi tale. Plot reveals are teased and then quickly articulated, keeping the reader feeling the joy of figuring things out without the narrative slowing down to make sure the reader got it. With themes of friendship, have and have-nots, family, trust, innovation, environmentalism, and making a difference, this book is never preachy, but there if discussion is desired.
I don't usually ask for arcs that I know do not have a Muslim character or are not Muslim authored, but for some reason this book appealed to me, and I am grateful that I got to read it. I can't wait to share a physical copy with my own children, and my library visitors.

This was an exciting new adventure set in a dystopian world aimed at middle graders.

There was plenty of action and intrigue, with delightful main characters that flourish as the tale continues, and a very creative world brought to life on the pages. The novel masterfully deals with many themes we are facing today in subtle ways that are relevant to the story. There was a good mix of genres; fantasy, steampunk, and adventure, keeping the story constantly moving.

I just wasn't in love with it or madly enraptured by it, but it was a good story to read and others will find this highly enjoyable and well suited to their reading hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Children's Book for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Zeina is such a brilliant character - she isn't perfect and sometimes makes the wrong choices but does own up to her mistakes and looks out for her friends.
I loved the originality of this book. The story was fantastic, the pace was great. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to see what Hannah Durkan writes next!

Fantastical airborne adventure in a suffocating steampunk world where people have taken to the air on sky whales to escape the smog.

A boy from above & a girl from below are thrown together as the world they thought they knew begins to unravel.
Utter brilliance!

I will admit this was a book that I picked up based on the cover - its fantastic, that and the title immediately had my interest. I did not anticipate just how much I was going to love this multi-layered, steampunk-esque adventure story. The world of Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale is richly imagined and well developed, from the layering of the city of Ravenport based on rich/poor and the smog line and the environmental impact of that smog, to sky hotels built on the back of Sky Whales, to Smog rats that are pirates in all but name - and just the image of these great Whales moving through the sky was so magical. Zeina is a fantastic character, and I immediately connected with her from the beginning, and her voice and personality just shine through the entire story, and I love the development both she and her somewhat unexpected partner in crime Jackson undergo, both individually, but also learning to work together despite coming from different backgrounds and having different goals and expectations.

This book has all the charm and adventure to capture it's audience, but the layering goes much deeper, and deals with so many topics from class divides, inequality, the impact of exploration and environmental damage and so many more, all wrapped up in a fantastic story and memorable characters. A stunning debut, and I am excited to see what the author will do going forwards.

Zeina Starborn has grown up in the smog-filled city of Ravenport, dreaming of adventure in the skies, inspired by her idol, airship pilot Vivianne Steel. When she accidentally meets the wealthy but timid heir to the Willoughby Hotel empire, Jackson, she receives an amazing opportunity to visit the Willoughby Whale hotel - normally out of reach to a 'Below' like her. When they get to the hotel, it is even grander and more exciting than Zeina could've imagined, but it is a closely guarded secret how they have they tamed the sky whale to accept the hotel built on its back. When Zeina receives an even more exciting offer from Vivianne Steel herself, she can't resist dragging the reluctant Jackson along into a perilous voyage involving sky whales, smog rats and treachery.

I loved the 'sky whale' concept, combining steampunk technology with fantasy creatures, and Zeina is a wonderfully intrepid and determined character. The story also touches on important themes like air pollution, wildlife conservation and wealth inequality.

'Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale' is a thrilling, vividly-imagined adventure, perfect for fans of Vashti Hardy and Annaliese Avery. I know my Year 5 book club will love it!

There's a clear and visible divide between the rich and the poor in the city of Ravenport - the smog line. Belows live their lives enshrouded by veils of smoke, forced to wear respirators when stepping outside. Aboves live in flats high in the sky, where they can enjoy clean air and clear skies. They can also afford to spend holidays staying in sky hotels - luxurious places built on the backs of 'tamed' sky whales.

Zeina Starborn spends her days dreaming of a sky adventure. When she wins the chance to visit the famous Willoughby Whale, the eleven-year-old daughter of an engineer jumps at the opportunity and embarks on a journey of a lifetime. After years of dreaming, she's finally going to meet her idol - the famous explorer Vivianne Steel! Even having to spend time with Jackson, spoiled heir to the Willoughby fortune, can’t dampen her excitement. But not all that glitters is gold... Soon, a series of clues makes her question everything she’s been told about this dazzling world of inventors and explorers. Will Zeina and Jackson be able to put aside their differences to uncover the secret plot around them?

Fans of Cogheart and Brightstorm are bound to enjoy this sky adventure. Hannah Durkan created an exciting world filled with flying whales! Both the setting and the characters were really well-developed. Bigger issues like class divides, child/inmate labour, treatment of indigenous peoples and the ethicality of human exploration are subtly introduced and add an extra layer to the story. They invite important discussions at home and in the classroom. 'Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale' is a promising debut from Hannah Durkan - inventive and imaginative. I'm really curious to see what she'll write next.

How gorgeous is this cover by George Ermos?

Absolutely fantastic! This reminded me of the Dr Who episode with the creature carrying a world on its back, an episode which I loved.

It’s absolutely packed with adventure, sky whales, pirates (by a different name), famous adventurers, the divide between social classes, it literally has it all, and it never stops!

I just devoured this story, absolutely thrill packed , fun and exciting!! I need more!

My thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Children's Group for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Not come across this author before but will look out for more books in the future. The older children enjoyed the world building especially and the younger just wanted to fly on the whales. Very well written and pleanty in in for all ages to enjoy.

I really liked this book it was well written with a compelling and important storyline and well developed characters. The world building was also incredible for a children's book. This was such an interesting read that had the message about saving the whales interwoven throughout it - except the whales in this story are metal and fly through the sky. I think the message is portrayed in such an imaginative and original way and I tink children will really appreciate the creative take on it.
I loved it.

This debut has so many adventurous elements and they all weave together into a fantastic story. Ravenport is a fantasy city divided in many ways….the aboves and belows, under the smog and the upper atmosphere.
Zeina is feisty and smart, wanting to prove herself in many ways. She longs for opportunities to help her father engineer on the airships, and she is hopeful of a chance to see a sky whale- a dangerous but beautiful creature. Humans have created hotels on top of these majestic whales, using technology to calm and relax them.
Zeina meets Jackson, an above, and they form an unlikely and tense friendship. When the pair are sent on the trip of a lifetime to the Willoughby Whale Hotel, Zeina is thrilled and seeks adventure and fun constantly. Jackson, suffers from airsickness and wants calm and quiet. When they meet explorer extraordinaire, Vivienne Steele, Zeina is mesmerised and agrees to accompany her crew on their next whale hunt.
Events conspire to bring truth to light in this book and readers are left guessing constantly about who to trust, where to turn and how to get home.
A wonderfully written debut and would be ideal for fans of Vashti Hardy! Brilliant world building, amazing modes of transport and the idea of saving whales; ones that sail through the sky! Wonderfully imaginative and inventive!

I was not entirely sure what to expect from this adventure but soon found myself lost in the thick smogs of a dystopian world of contrasts. Rich and poor – Aboves and Belows, spend lives and indeed continents apart from each other. They only meet at the smog line or when one is a servant or employee to the other.

Whilst the rich cruise in airships or the famed hotels built on the backs of colossal living sky whales up in the upper atmosphere, the poor work in smog and can only dream of escaping.

Zeina Starborn, 11year old daughter of an airship engineer, is lucky. She lives with her father in his workshop on the 50th floor of the Willoughby Towers and gets to see the airships and clear skies. She dreams of voyaging beyond her daily life spent in the smog and being like her heroine, the famed adventuress, Vivianne Steel. She also desperately wants to travel by airship and visit the Willoughby Whale, the largest and most luxurious of the celebrated sky whale hotels. The hotels built on 'tamed' whales' backs cruise in the upper atmosphere and visit the sights of the four known continents.

When Zeina literally bumps into Jackson Willoughby, the son of Lord and Lady Willoughby, the owners of the biggest and grandest of all the sky whale hotels, the Willoughby Whale Hotel, the adventure starts to weave itself into a series of events that make Zeina's dream become a reality. For Jackson, who doesn't really know his parents, just wants to keep his feet firmly in his earthbound velocycle, it soon becomes a nightmare. For both, there will be lessons in trust, friendship and the values that matter.

Crammed with delightfully tense, murky and high flying, suspense-filled action and adventure, this has plenty to involve the active mind. A plot filled with pirates known as Smog Rats that terrorise the airships and the rich in the floating palaces to spies and those with more deadly plans had us guessing to the end.

The book does, of course, have messages too. It is redolent of the situation we find in our world, with the environment and the endangerment of species and the treatment of indigenous peoples across the ages and continents.

An excellent read. And one to provoke discussion at home and in the classroom.