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Nadya Skylung #1
Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue
From debut author Jeff Seymour and bestselling illustrator Brett Helquist (Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events) comes this breathtaking fantasy adventure, starring an extraordinary new heroine and set in an unforgettable world where ships can fly.
It takes a very special crew to keep the cloudship Orion running, and no one knows that better than Nadya Skylung, who tends the cloud garden that keeps the ship afloat. When the unthinkable happens and pirates attack, Nadya and the other children aboard--all orphans taken in by the kindhearted Captain Nic--narrowly escape, but the rest of the crew is captured. Alone and far from help, only Nadya and her four brave and loyal friends can take back the Orion and rescue the crew. And she'll risk life and limb to save the only family she's ever known. But . . . this attack was no accident. What exactly are the pirates looking for? Could it be Nadya they've been after all along?
It takes a very special crew to keep the cloudship Orion running, and no one knows that better than Nadya Skylung, who tends the cloud garden that keeps the ship afloat. When the unthinkable happens and pirates attack, Nadya and the other children aboard--all orphans taken in by the kindhearted Captain Nic--narrowly escape, but the rest of the crew is captured. Alone and far from help, only Nadya and her four brave and loyal friends can take back the Orion and rescue the crew. And she'll risk life and limb to save the only family she's ever known. But . . . this attack was no accident. What exactly are the pirates looking for? Could it be Nadya they've been after all along?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2018
9 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Seymour
8 books23 followersJeff Seymour writes hopeful, heartfelt fantasy that blends modern characters with timeless plots and offers something new and fantastic on every page. His debut middle-grade novel, Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue, was a finalist for the 2019 Colorado Book Award in Juvenile Literature, and his epic fantasy Soulwoven got over a million reads while being featured on Wattpad. Over eight years as an editor, Jeff has worked on over 100 novels, including books for New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In his free time, he plays more video games than he should, pretends he knows anything about raising children, and gathers ideas for stories everywhere he goes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 30, 2018
I treasured reading Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue! This book is a wonderful page-turner of an adventure, in an imaginative world that I absolutely fell in love with.
Nadya is a wonderful heroine. She is strong, smart, stubborn, competitive, lovable, and curious.
Beyond the rich characters, it was the world that I fell in love with most. I continued to feel surprised by new details about the enchanting universe and the characters’ special abilities that allow them to engage with their surroundings in unique ways.
This middle grade book is interesting, accessible, and engaging to kids, and the descriptive and imaginative writing makes it engaging for older readers as well.
This book holds appeal for all genders: with ships that fly through a sea of clouds, tinkering scenes that show kids can engineer magnificent inventions, and encounters with dangerous pirates, young people with a variety of interests will enjoy this book.
Nadya is a wonderful heroine. She is strong, smart, stubborn, competitive, lovable, and curious.
Beyond the rich characters, it was the world that I fell in love with most. I continued to feel surprised by new details about the enchanting universe and the characters’ special abilities that allow them to engage with their surroundings in unique ways.
This middle grade book is interesting, accessible, and engaging to kids, and the descriptive and imaginative writing makes it engaging for older readers as well.
This book holds appeal for all genders: with ships that fly through a sea of clouds, tinkering scenes that show kids can engineer magnificent inventions, and encounters with dangerous pirates, young people with a variety of interests will enjoy this book.
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July 9, 2018Read the second book in this series as a sensitivity read, but since that's not on Goodreads yet, I'm adding this one for my Goodreads challenge.
July 17, 2018
I love the mix of technology and magic in this story. The heroine and the whole crew are interesting both as individuals and for their relationships with each other. The setting is great the cloudships are super cool. Overall it reminds me of some of my steampunk favorites while still being unique.
March 14, 2018
Only after I finished reading this book did I realize that none of the action takes place on dry land. How cool is that? Nadya is a skylung who has special abilities that allow her to care for the plants and animals living inside a large balloon on a cloudship. She's hoping to be promoted to (temporary) first mate, but she has some stiff competition from the other kids on board. And then...pirates!
The worldbuilding in this book is outstanding, rich and full of hidden gems. The beautiful illustrations helped bring it all to life. Some of my favorite bits were the names of the countries and the constant revelations that there's more to things than meets the eye. I also loved the diverse characters in this novel. The relationships between Nadya and the other orphaned kids were so dynamic and the way each kid acted when faced with a tough situation was really believable.
There was a good balance of action and explanation for a first book in a series. I wish we'd gotten just a few more hints of what's to come in the next book, but I'll certainly be back for more.
The worldbuilding in this book is outstanding, rich and full of hidden gems. The beautiful illustrations helped bring it all to life. Some of my favorite bits were the names of the countries and the constant revelations that there's more to things than meets the eye. I also loved the diverse characters in this novel. The relationships between Nadya and the other orphaned kids were so dynamic and the way each kid acted when faced with a tough situation was really believable.
There was a good balance of action and explanation for a first book in a series. I wish we'd gotten just a few more hints of what's to come in the next book, but I'll certainly be back for more.
May 8, 2019
The story: Nadya wants to be first mate on the steampunk cloudship Orion, but competition is stiff, and she's desperate to find a way to pull out ahead of Tam, her competitor. But when Captain Nic is kidnapped by pairates, Nadya and Tam, along with the rest of the group of orphans crewing the Orian, will have to learn to work together or fail when the Captain needs them most. And possibly end up dead.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (kidnapping, piracy) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: I am a real fan of steampunk, and I liked not only the story here, but the world-building too. My problem is that the main audience for steampunk at middle school is boys, and they are not interested in reading a story about a girl and her troubles proving herself against a boy. (There's also a weird illustration of Nadya and her gills on the front cover.) Brett Helquist's illustrations are cool overall, but two empty cloudships hanging in the sky on the front cover is kind of "yawn", and let's face it--kids judge EVERYTHING by the cover. I wish book companies would employ a couple of kids (or ME) to give them opinions about covers, because this one isn't going to go anywhere. It's amazing to me how often this happens. it's almost like the company doesn't want to sell very many copies of the book.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (kidnapping, piracy) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: I am a real fan of steampunk, and I liked not only the story here, but the world-building too. My problem is that the main audience for steampunk at middle school is boys, and they are not interested in reading a story about a girl and her troubles proving herself against a boy. (There's also a weird illustration of Nadya and her gills on the front cover.) Brett Helquist's illustrations are cool overall, but two empty cloudships hanging in the sky on the front cover is kind of "yawn", and let's face it--kids judge EVERYTHING by the cover. I wish book companies would employ a couple of kids (or ME) to give them opinions about covers, because this one isn't going to go anywhere. It's amazing to me how often this happens. it's almost like the company doesn't want to sell very many copies of the book.
October 29, 2018
What a fun adventure story for kids! Nadya lives a wonderful life among the clouds with her friends. Though she has little memory of her parents, Nic, the owner of the ship, looks after her well. He looks after the rest of the crew too, all kids found around the world, all needing a home. One day, a dark fog overtakes their ship. Before they know it, sky pirates board the ship, take captive the 3 adults, and steal the ship! Now Nadya and the rest of the crew must repair the ship, fight pirates, and save Nic. Can a few kids do the impossible? You'll have to read the book to find out. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series. The story does feel familiar if you have read "The Fog Diver" by Joel Ross. But this book has its own charm and readers looking for an exciting story will not be disappointed.
August 29, 2025
RIVALRY REVIEW
the good: dude. love the chaos. love when rivals are antagonizing each other for no reason. you gotta pull out the insults and the "I hate you"s otherwise what is even the point truly. and then once nadya and tam started to understand each other, it was believable how much they cared, and I think it's great that both sides were represented so well.
the bad: I lowkey wish it took longer for nadya and tam to be on the same page. liked the beginning of the relationship, liked the end, but the middle could have been extended. where's the begrudging respect developed over pages and pages of small but meaningful interactions huh??
the unique: one of my favorite things ever is a 'your rival saves you from death' moment. sue me.
overall rivalry score: 8/10
the good: dude. love the chaos. love when rivals are antagonizing each other for no reason. you gotta pull out the insults and the "I hate you"s otherwise what is even the point truly. and then once nadya and tam started to understand each other, it was believable how much they cared, and I think it's great that both sides were represented so well.
the bad: I lowkey wish it took longer for nadya and tam to be on the same page. liked the beginning of the relationship, liked the end, but the middle could have been extended. where's the begrudging respect developed over pages and pages of small but meaningful interactions huh??
the unique: one of my favorite things ever is a 'your rival saves you from death' moment. sue me.
overall rivalry score: 8/10
May 28, 2018
It's another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, and I have a wonderful new book to recommend, perfect for the occasion. Jeff Seymour's debut middle grade novel is an absolute delight, and I am already eagerly waiting for a sequel.
Nadya Skylung is a member of the crew of the Cloudship Orion, which in this richly imagined world plies its trade from city to city powered by a cloud garden. Nadya's role is to help keep the plants in the garden happy and healthy. (Far more than just tending to them, as skylungs like Nadya communicate with the plants in a manner that is part telepathic, part empathetic, and much cooler than I can describe here.)
When pirates attack and seize most of the crew, Nadya and her friends much decide whether to follow orders and escape, or risk everything to save the only family she's ever known.
Nadya is heroic, headstrong, and a bit of a pain in the tush, and you won't be able to stop cheering for her, even when she stumbles and falls flat on her face. A very real, and very entertaining character, but the supporting cast is equally complex and fun.
While the plot of this novel is exciting, it is the whole world that will really pull you in. I read a lot of middle grade, and love many books, but only a few worlds over the years are so compelling I want to go live there for a while. Aside from those created by J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis, I can't think of any world more enticing than Jeff Seymour's. It isn't that it feels safe or comfortable, but then Harry Potter faces lots of danger and it doesn't make me want to visit less. There is just so much texture and depth behind every tidbit you learn about the cloudships and the cities, you want to explore and learn more.
But I guess we'll have to rely on Mr. Seymour. I hope we get to see more of Nadya and her friends, and learn more about this fantastical (and fantastic) world.
A real gem, I predict this will go on to be a favorite cherished book by middle grade boys and girls. It has that staying power which as a kid would have made me visit and re-read again and again.
*** Reposted from the My Comfy Chair review blog ***
Nadya Skylung is a member of the crew of the Cloudship Orion, which in this richly imagined world plies its trade from city to city powered by a cloud garden. Nadya's role is to help keep the plants in the garden happy and healthy. (Far more than just tending to them, as skylungs like Nadya communicate with the plants in a manner that is part telepathic, part empathetic, and much cooler than I can describe here.)
When pirates attack and seize most of the crew, Nadya and her friends much decide whether to follow orders and escape, or risk everything to save the only family she's ever known.
Nadya is heroic, headstrong, and a bit of a pain in the tush, and you won't be able to stop cheering for her, even when she stumbles and falls flat on her face. A very real, and very entertaining character, but the supporting cast is equally complex and fun.
While the plot of this novel is exciting, it is the whole world that will really pull you in. I read a lot of middle grade, and love many books, but only a few worlds over the years are so compelling I want to go live there for a while. Aside from those created by J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis, I can't think of any world more enticing than Jeff Seymour's. It isn't that it feels safe or comfortable, but then Harry Potter faces lots of danger and it doesn't make me want to visit less. There is just so much texture and depth behind every tidbit you learn about the cloudships and the cities, you want to explore and learn more.
But I guess we'll have to rely on Mr. Seymour. I hope we get to see more of Nadya and her friends, and learn more about this fantastical (and fantastic) world.
A real gem, I predict this will go on to be a favorite cherished book by middle grade boys and girls. It has that staying power which as a kid would have made me visit and re-read again and again.
*** Reposted from the My Comfy Chair review blog ***
August 26, 2018
I found this book to be an interest grabber from the start, and the story filled you in on background exactly when needed. The characters each had distinct personality, and anyone could relate to at the very least Nadya, who was the eccentric and easy to like main character. This imaginative story took me on quite the adventure and depicted life as a Skylung on an airship in fair detail. The only reason I would hold back on a rating would be the fact that the whole story (minus brief flashbacks) took place on a small ship in between continents. Though the addition of encountering other airships and even pirates helped to expand the setting, and the climax was well paced and provided entirely new possibilities.
August 24, 2018
My oldest likes to listen to a band that sings about being "the only airship pirates." Well, I found some more. Of course, these are in a cloudship, which is like an airship, but with a really interesting system of buoyancy. The pirates are definitely the bad guys, and the story is really about their victims, a bunch of kids with interesting talents. The story is exciting and tense, with real emotions about some really weird goings-on. Oh, and the kids use fall protection as they climb the rigging; they think about what it means to hurt someone, even in self-defense; and they take each others' prayers seriously. I think I found a treasure.
November 24, 2022
3.5 rounded up
The premise of this book is SO fun! I've never read anything with a setting and world like this and that part was fantastic. What I didn't like (and I recognize it's a middle grade novel) was that the main character spent the first 2/3 of the book angry at another character and within a matter of a couple pages they were able to clear up the misunderstanding and become best friends. Nadya was so whiny and angry all of the time, but I think her character could have benefitted from having some more positive thoughts in the first half of the book.
Anyway, it was a quick read and I enjoyed it for the most part but now I'd like to go find a similar setting with better writing...
The premise of this book is SO fun! I've never read anything with a setting and world like this and that part was fantastic. What I didn't like (and I recognize it's a middle grade novel) was that the main character spent the first 2/3 of the book angry at another character and within a matter of a couple pages they were able to clear up the misunderstanding and become best friends. Nadya was so whiny and angry all of the time, but I think her character could have benefitted from having some more positive thoughts in the first half of the book.
Anyway, it was a quick read and I enjoyed it for the most part but now I'd like to go find a similar setting with better writing...
March 7, 2018
I have a more detailed review forthcoming in School Library Journal, as I obtained an ARC. This book was basically Serenity/Firefly for middle grades students. I loved the fantasy elements and the world building. Nadya is a really neat and creative female fantasy character, and readers of all ages will love her. I found myself wanting to know more about some of the minor characters, but this book definitely lends itself to a sequel and/or series. I would definitely read the next installment. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys middle grades fantasy.
October 11, 2018
Really enjoyed this middle-grade fantasy novel. What a wonderful world the author created here--skyships like pirate barks with huge dirigibles lifting them into the air, and even more imaginative explanations for the "tech" that makes them fly and the beings who run them. This is a refresheningly imaginative world, and the author has peopled it with memorable characters and a young heroine who is believable and lovable and battling against really unfavorable odds. Two thumbs up!
May 28, 2018
I actually really liked this book. It was an imaginative story with interesting characters and a timeless feel. It was a cross of Airborn and Abarat and Firefly and Peter and the Starcatchers. With some fantasy thrown in that tied it all together.
June 30, 2018
Narrated by Nadya Skylung, Seymour's plot is a unique fantasy adventure.
Brett Helquist's black and white illustrations accent the action and help
with the flow of the story.
A good introduction to a series.
Brett Helquist's black and white illustrations accent the action and help
with the flow of the story.
A good introduction to a series.
June 6, 2018
Review to come, but this is a lively, fun new MG world with a charming narrator in Nadya!
August 16, 2018
Fun book for middle grade readers with a lively, brave female lead.
September 24, 2018
The prose was often overly descriptive--enough to take me out of the story a little--but the plot was gripping and the world is fascinating. I hope he intends it to be a series.
March 14, 2019
New things at every turn - Emotional and exciting!
Read
December 6, 2019Fiction S5214c 2018
January 2, 2020
Somewhat obvious plot - I kept finding my mind wandering.
January 8, 2021
Key and I loved this book! Lots of intrigue, excitement and such great characters! Couldn’t wait for the second one!
March 29, 2022
Really enjoyed this one. Enough that I want to find the sequel.
April 4, 2022
Really enjoyed myself. Beautiful artwork. Perfect for kids.
May 1, 2023
I enjoyed this book so, so much! I loved the creative world building and the characters, and just the fun feel. I stayed up way too late finishing it and I can't wait to read the sequel!
March 2, 2018
Nadya is bright, adventurous, and also a bit stubborn, which I loved. This book was filled with danger and adventure (at an appropriate level). Nadya and her friends experience fear, confusion, and loss when they're attacked by pirates but work together to save themselves. I would gladly take another ride on the Cloudship with these kids.
August 21, 2018
this audiobook review was written for and appears in AudioFile Magazine.
Hannah Jay narrates this skyborne adventure with a steampunk twist. The titular character has a fascination with creative writing; she employs poetic language to describe her life aboard the ORION, a cloudship populated by orphaned youth who round out the crew with their variety of magical powers. Jay's honeyed voice is well suited to Nadya's first-person storytelling, particularly her bouts of lyricism. When pirates attack the ship and kidnap the adult crewmembers, the story becomes increasingly tense, and Jay follows suit, narrating with near panic in her voice. The story does not end cleanly. Instead, the listener is left wondering what will happen next, keeping the potential open for a sequel.
Hannah Jay narrates this skyborne adventure with a steampunk twist. The titular character has a fascination with creative writing; she employs poetic language to describe her life aboard the ORION, a cloudship populated by orphaned youth who round out the crew with their variety of magical powers. Jay's honeyed voice is well suited to Nadya's first-person storytelling, particularly her bouts of lyricism. When pirates attack the ship and kidnap the adult crewmembers, the story becomes increasingly tense, and Jay follows suit, narrating with near panic in her voice. The story does not end cleanly. Instead, the listener is left wondering what will happen next, keeping the potential open for a sequel.
April 27, 2021
New arrivals at the library means a whole new crop of great reading!
Got my hands on these new series starters, and they're fantastic.
It features Nadya Skylung, a young girl with gills, who tends to plants in a dirigible-type ship to keep it afloat. When pirates raid the ship, she learns they are collecting skylungs like herself -- for some mysterious, unrevealed reason.
I've got the sequel on my TBR pile already!
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Got my hands on these new series starters, and they're fantastic.
It features Nadya Skylung, a young girl with gills, who tends to plants in a dirigible-type ship to keep it afloat. When pirates raid the ship, she learns they are collecting skylungs like herself -- for some mysterious, unrevealed reason.
I've got the sequel on my TBR pile already!
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
November 28, 2020
Love this story, characters, illustrations. It's an easy read and now I'm on the hunt for the 2nd book because this one ends with a big cliffhanger. Not fair! Lol.
January 10, 2022
It’s cute. Found it at the dollar store so great deal there. I’ll probably pass it onto my niece since she’s 10. But I would read the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews