Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Published on: November 6, 2018 by Delacorte Press
Spensa's world has been under attack for decades.
Now pilots are the heroes of what's left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa's dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with that of her father's—a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa the daughter of a coward, her chances of attending Flight School slim to none.
No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars.
I came across Skyward while browsing my local bookstore. The awesome cover art drew my eye first. After I read the synopsis, I knew I had to have this book. Skyward is a sci-fi novel set in the far future. The remains of humanity have been stuck on a planet called Detritus for decades. They’ve been at war with an alien species that they call the Krell. Their threat led the people of Detritus to live in deep underground caverns. To fight the Krell—and hopefully escape the planet—the people created the Defiant Defense Force. Pilots who fly for the DDF are like heroes, as everyone else holds them in high regard.
The protagonist of Skyward is seventeen-year-old Spensa Nightshade. Her greatest desire has long been to become a pilot for the DDF. Spensa’s chances of attending Flight School are slim, though. Her father was a pilot who got killed after deserting his team during a crucial battle. Over nine years have passed, and Spensa is still despised for being the daughter of a coward. Spensa is not one to give up, though. And an accidental discovery in a hidden cavern strengthens her resolve.