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3.5 

The Boundless

By Kenneth Oppel & Jim Tierney
The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel & Jim Tierney digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life!

When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can Will and Maren reach Will’s father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

“Canadian railway history, fantasy, a flutter of romance—and a thoughtful examination of social injustice—collide in this entertaining swashbuckler from the author of Printz Honor–winning Airborne” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

238 Reviews

3.5
“This started off so well. Thought it was would be a fun story about solving a murder on a fantastical train and it was, for a while. But then it just got a bit icky. The white main character puts on make-up to make himself look like an Indian child so he can hide from some dangerous people. Why the author thought brownface would be a good idea to include in his story, I really don’t know. And it was only published ten years ago in 2014, how did this get approved?! I then also noticed other things like mentioning how hard it must be to be a girl getting cat called and how hard life must be to third class person or someone who is half Native American etc. None of it was done very well. It was like the story wanted to be a fun, murder mystery with elements of magic aimed at teenagers but also a hard hitting reality check for certain people. It didn’t get the balance right at all. It was a shame because there were some fun elements to this story and I think many 9-15 year olds would love it.”

About Kenneth Oppel

Kenneth Oppel is the author of numerous books for young readers. His award-winning Silverwing trilogy has sold over a million copies worldwide and been adapted as an animated TV series and stage play. Airborn won a Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award and the Canadian Governor General’s Literary Award for children’s literature; its sequel, Skybreaker, was a New York Times bestseller and was named Children’s Novel of the Year by the London Times. He is also the author of Half BrotherThis Dark EndeavorSuch Wicked Intent, and The Boundless. Born on Canada’s Vancouver Island, he has lived in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Canada; in England and Ireland; and now resides in Toronto with his wife and children. Visit him at KennethOppel.ca.

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