Doncaster Book Award - Read Reviews

Doncaster: Discover the Spirit

Airman
by Eoin Colfer

So far we have received 41 reviews of Airman. You can read them below - or why not add your own review?

from Year 13, Adwick Park Junior School:

The best book I have ever
read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

Clayton from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

I thought the book was great and would gladly read it again.
But it was sad when Bonvilain locked Conor in the crazy section
in jail because he was never crazy at all. Though it was
perfect when Conor joined the battering rams and escaped by a
balloon as a butcher.

Marks out of 10: 9

Kyle from Year 10, Ridgewood School:

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Every word
leaves you hanging on your seat. Impossible to put down.

Marks out of 10: 10

Clayton from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

I thought it was absoulutaly fantastic and I would love to read
it again.
IT WAS SO GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

craig from Year 11, Montagu School, Mexborough:

This book is for older more advanced readers, it needs to be
read in more detail as the language is more formal and older.
It is about a boy being put in prison for a crime he didn't
commit. He uses his wits and imagination to get the trust of
the prison warden to break out. He learns tai chi and karate to
protect his inventions and puts it to good use to overcome the
king's killer. He manages to do this whilst his dad thinks he
killed the king and totally despises him.

Marks out of 10: 8

Callum from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

This book is about a very clever boy who saw a crime scene
and was framed for it. He is now with his clever designs trying
to escape from prison and revenge the person who did this too
him.
I liked the ending as he was thought to have returned from
the dead when he hadn’t and it was very thrilling.
My favourite character was Conner because he came up with
flying machines.
I disliked the bit where he was in a cell being tortured
just before he was sent to the diamond mines.
I would recommend this book because it is a thrilling
adventure story and it is on about science and planes for all
those people who like them.

Marks out of 10: 10

Benjamin from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

I loved this book, 'the Artemis Fowl's get too complicated
explaining stuff wheras this is totaly different the best book
I have read! I recommend this book definatly for all ages!
Well.... all ages older then 10 years

Marks out of 10: 10

Natasha from Year 6, Edlington Victoria Primary School:

Airman is a very descriptive book. The description paints a
very realistic picture in your head. It is quite slow going yet
it makes you feel like your are really there. You can feel the
night breeze, touch the the river water and smell the salty
spray of the sea.

Marks out of 10: 7

Ryan from Year 6, Hatchell Wood Primary School:

This book is so brilliant,it has great action spots but at some
points it can get a bit boring,but its worth reading,100%.

Marks out of 10: 10

joshua from Year 9, Danum School Technology College:

i read the first 3 pages of this book and i had a gut feeling
that it wasnt going to be that much of a good book....
...i was right.it was terrible.
the description wasnt that good the action wasnt very well
described. it slide from action to no action like a pendulum on
a grandfarther clock.

to be honist i wanted to throw it away but i new i couldnt.i
had to read it for the dba.
i recomend that u should if a) you are stupid b) u dont belive
me or c) you want to review

Marks out of 10: 2

from Year 6, Mallard Primary School:

I think that airman is a pretty good book and I would bye this
book.The thing I didnt like was it took to long to read.I liked
it because it was cosy when you got to get into the story.

Marks out of 10: 8

jake from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

i think this book is good because it leaves you in suspense

Marks out of 10: 7

Jessica S from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

I thought this book was amazing! I got into it straight away. I
really felt upset when Connor got locked up, especially as he
was framed for murder!!! I couldnt put it down. I loved the end
and hope Eoin Colfer writes more books on Airman if he hasnt
already. I have gone and bought 2 of his books on Artemus Fowl
which I've got to start soon. I cant wait to read them!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

Alex from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:

I found this book a very good adventure book

Marks out of 10: 10

Mary from Year 9:

I really loved reading Airman; it was extremely well written.

The first time I tried to read it, my mother accidentally took
the book back to the library, so I had to wait a couple weeks
to get it again, and by then I had decided to listen to the
audio book as well as read it(not both at once, though).

I was struck that it has a slight resemblance to The Count of
Monte Cristo, but for younger readers, and it has a happier
ending...but yes, it's a wonderful book.

With everything that happened to Connor, I was experiencing
laughter, tears, and sorrow, through all of his trials,
especially the part where he was dressed up as soldier, and the
cage was put on his head, where his father hated him...I could
literally feel what was happening to Connor, including the
horrible feel of the cage. *shudders*

Any story I read that can make me truly experience what is
happening to the characters is a book that I love, because
everything is so real to me as well.

So yes...I absolutely loved Airman, and if you thought it was
good, read Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series as well; it's
perfectly delightful, a must-read on my list. :)

Marks out of 10: 10

Holly from Year 5, Adwick Park Junior School:

Airman was probably the best book I ever read! I could not put
it down- literally! :):):):):)

Marks out of 10: 10

Emily from Year 7:

Airman is one of the most exciting books I have ever read. by
the end I really loathed the villain, Bonvilain and was on
conner's side all the way. The description was amazing! If you
don't know what to read next and haven't, read Airman.

Marks out of 10: 10

Thomas from Year 6, Hexthorpe Primary School:

I think this book is good because l like Eoin Colfer's books.
I've read lots of his books before he wrote this one. If this
book was one of his other books l would give it a 10. I've
given this one 9 because l think it's a lot to read for a kid.
l think he could make his next book a bit of a smaller book. I
would say this book is for 11 and over.

THIS BOOK IS VERY GOOD THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS BOOK.

Marks out of 10: 9

Tristan from Year 6, Hayfield Lane Primary School:

This is probably the best book I have ever read! if I could, I
would rate Airman seventeen out of ten. It has wonderful
dialoge, great story, and spectacular... well, everything. :)

Marks out of 10: 10

Artur from Year 8, Adwick Park Junior School:

The book is... is...
Eoin Colfer is, without any form of doubt at all, the best
author the world has ever faced, and then I count with
Shakespear and Wilde...
During these last years he has given the world fantastic books,
and of course "Airman" is no exception. The characters, the
story, the plot, the descriptions...
The only reason why I do not give this book full points is
because I reckon Eoin Colfer´s "Artemis Fowl" to be better -
that is the ONLY REASON.

Marks out of 10: 9

Mikal from Year 10, Adwick Park Junior School:

How can this book not win? It is the best book ever written in
history. There is not a number big created to fully score this
book. I have read all Eoin Colfer's books(they are all
amazing), but this one is boundary shattering. I love the end
when he busts through the window tells his
story,...............................................

Edited so as not to give the ending away

Marks out of 10: 10

Ben from Year 9:

Great book. Very enjoyable read. Even the down points are
entertaining.

Marks out of 10: 10

daniel from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

The best book I have ever read. AMAZING! I recomend this for
any one over 10.10 out of 10!!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

from Year 5:

This was pretty much the best book I have ever read. It is
exciting but can be a bit slow moving at times but there are
great characters and a truly amazing plot. I loved
it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anybody over the age of 10 should read this book 100%

Marks out of 10: 10

from Year 5:

Marks out of 10: 10

Millie from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:

Airman is a very adventurous book. I think it is more a boys
book. I, as a girl, enjoyed. The main character is Connor.
The reading age is probably 10-14. Flying is Connor's destiny.
Some words I have never met before which were in the book are:
pugilism, gypsum and ricocheting.

Marks out of 10: 8

Rebecca from Year 10, Balby Carr Community Sports College:

Conor Broekhart was born to fly
Or, more accurately, he was born flying
It's no wonder he became what he became...

Conor Broekhart was born in a balloon in the middle of a
Parisian exhibition. When he is eight years old, he saves
himself and Princess Isabella when a tower catching fire, using
the Saltee flag to fly to safety. When he is fourteen, he
witnesses two brutal murders and is thrown into prison,
disowned by his own father. He must learn to survive, with the
help on his friend, the blind composer Linus Wynter. Of course,
for anyone other than Conor Broekhart, or as he is now known,
Conor Finn, escape from the Little Saltee prison is impossible.
But Conor was born in the air, and the air will help him make
his escape.

The book is split into three parts - Broekhart, Finn and
Airman. Each part sees Conor learn more about himself and his
world. This is my favourite book on the longlist so far, and is
a great read. I would recommend this book to anyone in
Secondary school because it is a long read with some technical
parts. You can really root for Conor and loathe Bonvilain. I
would give this book ten out of ten, because it is a great
change to the Artemis Fowl novels and a great book in itself. I
was tempted to pull an all-nighter with this book as it is so
good.

Marks out of 10: 10

lea from Year 10:

a very interesting read. young science-fiction readers will
surely enjoy the atmosphere that the book creates as well as
the mature change of the characters as the book progresses. I
will recommend it to anyone who is interested to know more
about facing challenges and sufferrings in life.

Marks out of 10: 8

Jack from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:

Airman is a story based upon a boy called Connor Broekhart.
Connor was born to fly. It was meant to be. He was even born
flying. The only thing standing in his way was an evil man
called Bonvilain. Bonvilain is a man who has a problem with the
Broekhart family. Bonvilain wanted to be king, but the
Broekhart family always seemed to get in his way. No one liked
Bonvilain at all. So Bonvilain decided to kill the king,
Nicholas, and his spy, Victor Vigny. He blames their deaths on
Connor. Connor's dad, Declan, who is a VIP, gets brought into
believing Bonvilain. Declan has no choice but to send his son
to where he believes is prison. Bonvilain gets the duty to send
Connor away, but instead, he hides him in a place with all
sorts of nasty people and only the odd nicer person. There are
creatures called battering rams who Connor has to fight against
every morning. All this time, no one knows about where Connor
actually is. They all think he is in prison, they couldn't be
more wrong. Bonvilain renames Connor to Connor Finn so no one
gets suspicous about who he is. Then, Bonvilain pretends that
Connor is dead and leaves Declan feeling really guilty. Connor
loved flying so much that he even planned on the wall of his
cell a way to fly out of the horrible place, but will his plan
work, with Bonvilain in the way? Can he reveal the whole truth
to his parents and get Bonvilain killed? Read the book to find
out. I have to say, I didn't expect this book to be as good as
it was. I really enjoyed reading the book and would recommend
this book to kids aged between 8-12. I would rate this book an
8/10 and I hope it gets through to the shortlist.

Marks out of 10: 8

Esther from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:

Oh. My. Gosh! This HAS TO be my all-time favourite book! Of
course, after I read a really good book, I say it's my
favourite, but then I forget about it after a while, but
really, this book was fantastic. It tells the tale of Conor
Broekhart, in the late 1800's, who was born in a hot air
balloon. I loved everything about Conor. His determination, his
brain, his courage! Hugo Bonvilain is the 'bad guy' in this
book, and I can't say I hate him, for without his villainous
plans, I would never have loved this book. Bonvilain murders
the king, Isabella's father. Isabella is a very good childhood
friend of Conor's. When Bonvilain murders the king, he frames
Conor, but with Conor dressed differently and looking
differently, so Conor's father did not recognize him. Bonvilain
told Conor's father that he was dead. Therefore, Conor thought
his father was angry and wanted to kill him, while Conor's
father thought Conor was dead. He is sent from Great Saltee to
Little Saltee, named a lunatic. After years of planning, he
flies to victory,and of course, to trouble. I loved Conor and
Isabella's reunion, and I wish I were there, I seriously do. Or
I wish they could be here. Either way, this book is an
excellent read and I'm recommending it to you now, so read it,
or you'll be sad because you will have just missed a quarter of
your life!

Marks out of 10: 10

bethany from Year 5, Sunnyfields Primary School:

this book is sssssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooo boring it
just carries on and on and on and nothing really happens on it
its just so boring! i wont put you off this is just my opinion

Marks out of 10: 2

Christian from Year 10, Hayfield School:

I think this book is great since it was a good adventure book
and it even taught me new stuff like the glowing coral.

So like they say the more you read the more you know

Marks out of 10: 10

Bethany from Year 5, Sunnyfields Primary School:

This book is quite boring. I didn't like this book because it
just went on and on.

Marks out of 10: 3

Amanda from Year 13:

I read Airman like 3 times! it really is an awsome book.. its
alot like Artemis Fowl But with a different twist. One of Eoins
Colfers best if you ask me...

Marks out of 10: 10

syasyababe:

I'm from Singapore and Eoin Colfer has inspired me deeply. The
Artemis Fowl series was a real page-turner and his adventures
gave me real satisfaction like never before.

When I heard that Mr Colfer had written a new book, I
immediately went to check it out. The sypnosis seemed quite
boring but from my experience with the Fowl books, I trusted
Airman and bought it without a doubt.

It turned out to be a great book. Conor still is no match for
Artemis but I've never read anything like it before. It was
new, different and fresh. The plot was sturdy and the vocab was
educational.

I was totally absorbed in the story and cried when my dad
bought it for my birthday. It was the greatest gift I had ever
received.

Many thanks to Mr Colfer for writing the book. Love it to the
end!