REVIEW PRIZE WINNER
This is a book about a girl, Kurara, and the adventure she goes on. It shows a story of a friendship, a learning journey, a betrayal, a reunion and a mighty battle. The story is full of page-turning events, you’ll never stop reading it! It’s an easy read that can be read quickly yet is packed with beautiful descriptions that leave you with images dancing through your mind as the story unfolds. The book is full of fantasy, paper creatures entangled within real Japanese culture, from kimonos and hakamas to paper shikigami and floating cities! It jumps straight into action from the first flick of a page. Rebel Skies flows easily from the pages and into your mind creating an incredible, well-written scene to make you feel as if you’re really in.
The main characters are Kurara and Himura as well as some of their friends and ‘shipmates’, Sayo, Tomoe and Akane. Their personalities were laid out beautifully, from Tomoe’s bubbly and fun nature to Sayo’s slightly hostile and sour disposition; they were painted incredibly in lots of detail making it like they’re your friends too. The book was engrossing, leaving so much to love and sympathise with, I personally loved the ending as it was full of descriptive language and made me want to jump in the book and join them.
During the duration of the book, the characters faced challenges in their relationships with one another and had conflicts that made you want to read more and more; the characters all change throughout the story, whether it’s through loss and tragedy, revenge and power or going down as a hero. They all experience something and it makes for an amazing storyline! This book was written in the 3rd person and it gave the book so much depth, I loved the way the chapters flipped between Kurara’s and Himura’s perspectives with an occasional interlude giving an insight from the story’s villains and their devious plans. It also includes a beautiful backstory about Kurara’s past entwining two stories into one. I think this made the book so much greater as it gave it unique features and helped to make it easier to read with the changes of place and emotion. The settings were described in such detail it made it simpler to picture everything, from fights to discussions, I really enjoyed it!
Throughout the book there was loads of emotion and attitude which -in my opinion- really built up the story and characters, every twist and turn, every tear and heartbreak, every reunion and makeup, it was as if emotion had been soaked into the very pages. I thought it was an amazing story as it was packed with loads of detail and really made you sympathise or envy the characters. I really loved the book and if I were to make any improvements I think I would have Kurara say more to Himura during her angry rage in the palace and I’d make it be something that would really cut deep so Himura felt bad for what he did.
I love how Ann Sei Lin has taken inspiration from her life experiences and put them into the story and it gave the story so much more meaning than just a story in someone’s head, it really makes you want to go and explore these other places in the world. During the story I felt both engaged and as if I could dip in and out of it without losing key details or what was happening at the time. Some chapters were easy reads and basic story setting whereas others could be difficult in a way that made it impossible to put down with incomprehensible twists and turns that make it so captivating you dare not look away!
Although this is a fictional book I have learnt lots about Japanese people, their culture and their ways of life: their clothing, their lifestyles, their customs and their values.
Compared to other books I have read, I would say it is quite different from my usual genre but I have really enjoyed this and will definitely read more of this style and Ann Sei Lin’s work. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I think it’s important to say how amazingly this book has been written, I loved every minute of it!
– Manor CofE Academy

This book is action, its gripping and full of twists and turns. You never expect what is on the next page! The main character is Kurara and was working on a flying restaurant for most of her life. Then a mysterious man named Himum appears, and the ship is attacked by a monster (when they do not have a master). The book has Japanese culture all through out it and has some very surprising turns. It also shows the story of a man that is planning the downfall of the royal family and we find out that he is Kuraras’ friendly father. Lots of secrets are discovered and loose ends are found. Overall, a beautiful read.
– Arabella, St Peter’s 8-13

Kurara, who is a 14 year old girl, is a crafter, which means that she has the sacred ability of bending
paper to her will. But when the ferocious paper spirits, who are loyal to no-one, destroy Kurara’s home while showing no mercy, she decides to join the crew of an air-ship to become a spirit hunter. However, when Kurara finds out that her rare ability of bending paper to her will is a scared and treasured power across the empire, she realizes that the real battle is only just beginning. But which side will she choose?
This is an action-packed adventure full of friendship and survival. I found this book very easy to read
and I think it flowed very well. It is a gripping tale of loss, friendship and healing, however, in my opinion, the book started quite well but half way through it, it got a bit boring and I feel that the ending could have been a lot better. Overall, I enjoyed reading this story and found it quite an interesting plot, so I have decided to rate it 4 stars and would highly recommend it to children aged 11 +.
– Suhani, All Saints RC School

This book is about a certain type of people called crafters who use ofuda (a paper used by crafters) to make creatures, swords, stairs and more. However, there are also these types of paper creatures called shikigami, whose crafters can bind themselves using blood. The particular character that the book is based around is called Kurara, who is a shy girl that worked on the Midori. However, the Midori was destroyed by a shikigami and she and her friend, Haru, were guided by Himura, a crafter just like Kurara. He takes her to the Orihime and her journey begins there.
Something that surprised me in the book was Haru’s secret and how Kurara tries to uncover it, finding her own secrets as well. For me, the ending of the story was disappointing and I was hoping for more secrets uncovered at the end. The events followed on well from each other from the very beginning which was an element that I enjoyed. The main character was a girl, specifically a crafter, called Kurara. She was extremely shy and had one friend- Haru, who you soon find out is not all that he seems. In my mind, I don’t have a clear image of both of the characters. This is because many of the characters weren’t described in much detail, though the settings were. The character that I found most interesting was Himura because he changed his opinion over Kurara very quickly. Towards the end, there were many more conflicts than at the start, which developed over the course of the story.
The book was written in the 3rd person meaning that the setting was described in intricate detail. The feelings and attitudes of the characters were not described in that much depth which meant that you couldn’t get to know the characters as much as you’d want to. I found it was a really good story but a bit too gruesome for me at times. I thought the plot was extremely clever and I couldn’t have guessed what would’ve happened. My favourite moment was probably when Kurara realised Himura was one of her kind (a crafter). I wouldn’t have changed any moments in the story but some of the time the events were a bit violent for me.
I think that the reason that the author wrote this book is because it was a really good plot line that needed telling! I was excited to read it and after reading it I felt that I liked the book but it was darker than I thought it would be.
– Manor CofE Academy

This is a story about a servant girl that is on a mission to get back her friend. The magical world called Mikoshima is a beautiful place full of mythical paper creatures.
The story’s world is based on different Japanese cultures so it is handy to carry around a Japanese phase book while reading. Every time I picked up this book it was almost impossible to stop reading it, as I was always eager to find out what happened next. The way Ann Sei Lin gave detailed noun phrases on specific objects made a vivid image in my mind. My surroundings were blurred as my eyes seemed to be glued to the bold scripts.
I liked how there were twists and turns in this book that made my mouth drop and made it almost impossible to predict the following events.
In conclusion, I loved reading about the adventures of Kurara in this magical world and I am looking forward to reading the sequel to this outstanding book. I would rate this book 4 ½ out of 5 because I believe there is always room for improvement. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and fantasy.
– Harry, All Saints RC School

Rebel Skies is the first of three books in the trilogy, it is a teen fantasy adventure inspired by the country and culture of Japan. It was written by the fantastic author, Ann Sei Lin. 
You follow Kurara, a crafter (someone who is able to manipulate and control paper with their mind). The plotting and the character twists and turns will keep you hooked just as much as the action scenes.
Rebel Skies is set in the world of Mikoshima with locations such as Crescent Bay, Kumokiri Pass and more. The story shows how civilization has changed. Now people are separated by the sky and land cities, which are currently engaging in a century long war.
Overall, I give the book a 94/100 as it is as gripping as it is interesting, giving off the fascinating Japanese aura that I expected from a book such as this.
– Joshua, All Saints RC School

This book is about a certain type of people called crafters who use ofuda (a paper used by crafters) to make creatures, swords, stairs and more. However, there are also these type of paper creatures called shikigami, whose crafters can bind to themselves to using blood. The particular character that the book is based around is called Kurara, who is a shy girl that worked on the Midori. However, the Midori was destroyed by a shikigami and she and her friend, Haru, were guided by Himura, a crafter just like Kurara. He takes her to the Orihime and her journey begins there.
Something that surprised me in the book was Haru’s secret and how Kurara tries to uncover it, finding her own secrets as well. For me, the ending of the story was disappointing and I was hoping for more secrets uncovered at the end. The events followed on well from each other from the very beginning which was an element that I enjoyed. The main character was a girl, specifically a crafter, called Kurara. She was extremely shy and had one friend- Haru, who you soon find out is not all that he seems. In my mind, I don’t have a clear image of both of the characters. This is because many of the characters weren’t described in much detail, though the settings were. The character that I found most interesting was Himura because he changed his opinion over Kurara very quickly. Towards the end, there were many more conflicts than at the start, which developed over the course of the story.
The book was written in the 3rd person meaning that the setting was described in intricate detail. The feelings and attitudes of the characters were not described in that much depth which meant that you couldn’t get to know the characters as much as you’d want to. I found it was a really good story but a bit too gruesome for me at times. I thought the plot was extremely clever and I couldn’t have guessed what would’ve happened. My favourite moment was probably when Kurara realised Himura was one of her kind (a crafter). I wouldn’t have changed any moments in the story but some of the time the events were a bit violent for me.
I think that the reason that the author wrote this book is because it was a really good plotline that needed telling! I was excited to read it and after reading it I felt that I liked the book but it was darker than I thought it would be. Due to the fact that this is a fiction book, I didn’t learn much because it wasn’t true. Compared to other books I’ve read I would say that it would be startling for some younger readers and wouldn’t recommend it for under 10 years old. I would definitely read another by the same author as the style that was used was very detailed which I liked. For a star rating, I would give it a 3 and a half because it was a bit too gory for me!
– Manor CofE Academy

This book is fantastically unique and well thought out with the plot line and though the ending left me quite frustrated, it was still an amazing story at best, with the emotions seeping through to your brain as you can really imagine the characters in real life with their personalities. I like the plot twists with Kurara being a shikigami herself and then Himura selling Haru’s core for his own needs (even after the deal they made!). It twists my insides to think about it but my anger can wait for the sequel has arrived and I really am curious to see how it continues on with Kurara learning more about her past while trying to keep Haru and herself away from the Princess and Haru’s ‘master’.
– Millie, All Saints RC School

I find it amazing the amount of escapism this book offers. From the beautiful beliefs of the Sorabito to the cute and terrifying Shikigami, I found this book a great way to drift away into another world. The writing style focuses on the small details which really brings the world alive and each character has a developed personality which is gradually revealed to the reader, making it feel as if you are actually meeting the characters for yourself.
While many people I know thought that the beginning was too confusing, I thought that it helped the reader to sympathise with Kurara because she too was thrust into a new world which she was unfamiliar with.
Overall, I would recommend the book to anyone who remotely likes fantasy and just wants a fun and interesting story,
– Clara, All Saints RC School

Rebel Skies is a book that follows Kuara as she travels across the Mikoshimian Empire.
This book is set in ancient Japan and has a bit of a steampunk theme. When the battle between the sky cities and the groundlings nears Kuara’s home, it is destroyed by “shikigami”. These are creatures made of paper. The plot thickens as Kuara is whisked aboard an airship to become a shikigami hunter. As she trains to use her ability to bend paper she realises it means a lot more than she knew.
This book has a strong but beautiful storyline. I liked the fact that this book is set at pace, it makes the reader feel more caught up in the story. I also liked that we see from multiple characters’ points of view, it really helps you to understand the emotions and thoughts of the characters. It is obvious that Ann Sei Lin has put a lot of time and thought into all of the elements of this story. Also, many of the words used in this story I had not heard before. For example, I had not heard the words “obi” or “hakama”, so the glossary of words at the back of the book was useful.
I would give this book five stars. It is written well and it has a strong thread that flows throughout the whole story. This book is touching, imaginative, and adventurous.
– Lucy, St Peter’s 8-13

COMMENDED REVIEW
This book is about a girl named Kurara who can secretly bend paper to her will and has been a servant on the Midori for as long as she remembers but when something terrible happens to her best friend, Kurara must escape and embark on a magical adventure to save him. The events that took place were far from ordinary, with giant paper spirits roaming around. I was hooked from the first page, as the opening of Rebel Skies threw me straight into the story.
The main character was Kurara as well as her new found friends Tamoe, Sayo and Himura. Tomoe was bubbly and fun right from when Kurara met her though Sayo and Himura take a little time to warm up. They were all described in just the right amount of detail for the story. There was conflict between Himura and Kurara, particularly on the topic of a Skikigami’s (paper spirit’s) free will.
Rebel Skies was written in third person and this meant that the story drifted more smoothly between Kurara’s and Himura’s perspectives. Each scene was described beautifully and I could easily build pictures in my head. It was an amazing story right down my street and entertained me to the last page. I really enjoyed it when their airship was attacked by the eagle Skikigami, as well as the turn the story took afterwards.
Whilst reading Rebel Skies. I didn’t want to put it down and when I finished I felt sad the book was over. I’m desperate for a sequel. The ending left me hanging with so many questions! Compared to other books I’ve read, it’s much more original and truly a great plot
and story. I loved it! I would definitely recommend it to others, especially people who enjoy a good magical, mythical adventure.
– Manor CofE Academy

The blurb of this book made me laugh – the idea of ‘bending paper’ being a powerful protagonist trait is quite funny, so not a great start.
The prologue and the first two chapters were a bit strange too; they felt slightly like a parody of themselves/YA literature as a whole. I think it was the very forced introduction of abstract ideas like ‘Crafters’ and ‘shikigami’ that made it feel like this.
As the book progresses, however, those terms begin to work. One I would like to point out is the scene where two soldiers are talking, and quite naturally mention that Prince Ugetsu was attacked by a shikigami, and saved by Sorabito people. This exposition is almost seamless – it’s one of my favourite lines in this book; it’s almost completely natural and tells the readers loads of things in a single short scene.
The characters that we meet are mostly well written – I really liked Sayo, Kurara and, funnily enough, Madame Ito, not because they were good people, but because they were nuanced; they made mistakes and got angry. Madame Ito especially is evidently under a lot of stress and pressure to get the servants of the Midori working hard and well – of course she’d be cruel to them and beat them. Like I said, not good, but nuanced.
Haru, Himura and Tomoe felt a bit wooden. It made sense with Haru – he wasn’t exactly present for most of the book. His character was more of an emotional trigger for Kurara’s character to work around rather than an actual person. Tomoe felt very one note – the always happy one who would every now and then switch to serious for no real reason – however, she served to show how serious Sayo is, and how totally unimpressed she is of Tomoe.
Himura, however, was a bit of a let down. I wanted him to be an interesting character – he had views about shikigami that clashed with Kurara’s, which did result in interesting interactions – but when he learned that she was a shikigami, his reaction felt plastic, like it was only meant to move the story along. It didn’t make sense that he would think she lied, and least of all his stubbornness to not believe her. It felt like it was just building animosity between the two, to eventually reveal him as an (underwhelming) antagonist nearing the end of the book.
The clash was there with his unnecessary expectations of her, his difficult to please personality – it made more sense than some family obligation mentioned in passing every now and then.
I absolutely loved the setting, though. Writing wise, the descriptions were excellent, and the action was exceptionally good – Himura falling through the air in the prologue was breathtaking – I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I think what stands out the most, however, is the setting design. The world the book is set in is obviously eastern Asian inspired, and paired with the gorgeous writing, it really wins! I was really immersed in the story once it picked up.
The question posed at the middle of the story is very interesting, too. What it means to be human, and how something so different from a human could feel – how a human would process that. It was good, but also mixed in with Himura’s strange, flimsy reasoning as to why shikigami can’t feel or be human (his parents told him something once). 
Overall I’d put this at 11+. It’s a very good read – I liked it very much.
– Lilah, All Saints RC School

I didn’t particularly like this book because I found the storyline very confusing and I thought the fantasy world that it is set in is very confusing. But everything else was very good.
– Harry, All Saints RC School

Rebel Skies is a good book because it was well thought-through and quite easy to read and understand. The story really flows nicely and I hardly ever have to go back to reread a section.
The story is about giant evil paper spirits that rule the world. Relatively near the start of the book there is a big plot twist as the main character, Kuara, finds out that her friend was actually an “evil” paper spirit.
I have experienced a whole range of emotions in this book as there are a number of plot twists. I quite like Kuara as she is coping fine with a lot of things around her.
– Lucas, Bootham School

I have so far read about half of this book and I am quite enjoying it. I am immersed in this new fantasy world, full of sentient magical creatures made of paper and a beautiful and unique magic system. This book is filled with heart-warming friendships, suspenseful fights and intellectual growth. The writing style in this book is also magnificent. Lots of vivid description allowed me to imagine the gorgeous and exceptional world.
The main character, Kurara, is determined, rebellious and a brave little soul, and we go along on her journey of growth. We learn what she learns and watch her sprout in this completely new world. However, I did feel that the characters did not have much backstory – making them quite bland. For example, Haru did not tell Kurara much about her past, and Kurara is expected to just give Haru all of her trust. We were introduced to a lot of characters in this book, many are quite flat. This caused me to find the book harder to read and comprehend, however the powerful description made it more fun to read.
Although I have to write this review now (because of the deadline), I definitely hope to finish ‘Rebel Skies’, as I am desperate to know what happens to Kurara next!
– Olivia, All Saints RC School