Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sci-fi space adventure off to a high-flying start.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say this book offers an exciting and engaging journey with a strong female protagonist, Spensa, who faces significant challenges and emotional turmoil, set against a backdrop of thrilling sci-fi adventure. Many readers appreciate its relatable characters, humor, and moral messages, despite its mild violence and occasional swearing.
- engaging storyline
- strong characters
- emotional depth
- mild violence
- relatable protagonist
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
At the beginning of SKYWARD, would-be space pilot Sansa wants nothing more than to prove that she's capable of battling the alien hordes that want to destroy the human inhabitants of the planet Detritus. Everyone believes that Sansa's father was a coward and a traitor, but she's determined to demonstrate that they're mistaken and that she'll be able to restore her family's honor. Her biggest advantage is the discovery of a better spacecraft abandoned generations ago. If Sansa can refurbish M-Bot, she and her compatriots stand a chance of fending off extinction.
Is It Any Good?
Space battles don't always work well in prose, but this sci-fi adventure adds a human dimension that will keep the pages turning. Would-be pilot Sansa is an engaging protagonist: gutsy and determined, if more than a bit stubborn and quick to make snap judgments. The supporting cast is diverse and interesting.
Author Brandon Sanderson does a good job of choreographing the space battles, so that the reader knows what's happening and what the stakes are. But the book seems longer than it needs to be, and some of the revelations at the end feel rushed. Readers who enjoy Ender's Game wil likely appreciate Skyward and look forward to the saga's next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Skyward addresses the nature of courage and cowardice. What makes someone a hero or a traitor?
Skyward features a battleship equipped with artificial intelligence. Do you think computers will ever be able to think as humans do? What differences might there be between a human brain and a computer?
If humanity ever encountered aliens, what differences might there be between them? What qualities make a human?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : November 6, 2018
- Number of pages : 528
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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