In a land where magic is outlawed and all but gone, young orphan Bert discovers he has some of these rare abilities, if he can only figure out what they are. A pirate father and daughter rescue Bert from near capture by corrupt Prince Voss, who seeks magic to put him back in political power. With the pirates' help d that of Bert's mysterious friend Norton rt is determined to stop the cruel prince's nefarious plans. Here is an exciting steampunk novel for middle-graders that includes a well-paced, action-oriented plot and sure-fire elements like pirates, treasure hunting, and aerial zeppelin battles, not to mention crumbling castles and orphans with magic. Field-tested with an enthusiastic fifth-grade class, Winter's first novel is dark in tone but contains bits of mischief to leaven the story. This soaring fantasy adventure, where friends save friends and villains are vanquished, will be a hit with fans of Kenneth Oppel's Airborn (2004), Brandon Mull's Sky Raiders (2014), or Joel Ross' The Fog Diver (2015).

Thirteen-year-old orphan Bert has accidentally bonded with a magical spirit, but cruel Prince Voss wants the spirit's power for himself. Bert joins an airship pirate and his metal-legged daughter to prevent Voss from capturing the spirit and claiming dominion over the world's magic. Enhanced by its likable heroes, this fast-paced adventure is a satisfying blend of steampunk, magic, and intrigue.

An orphan boy is swept up in an adventure with magic and pirates.Bert Rumsey is teased for his interest in adventure and magic by other children in the boarding school where a mysterious man in a cloak left him as a small child. A school visit to a museum devoted to a kind of revisionist history—meant to affirm the government of Penvellyn's position that magic never really existed—sets off a chain of events that has Bert fleeing for his life, beset by a wound that connects him to both a magical power and a magical spirit. Professor Roberts, a former explorer-turned-pirate, and his daughter, Finch, help Bert to escape the clutches of Prince Voss, whose hunger for power has taken him into a dark, forbidden study of magic. Debut author Winter moves the characters somewhat breathlessly from one dramatic moment to the next while carefully reserving a few surprises about Bert's relationships that add poignancy and depth to the narrative as they are revealed. Cinematic action scenes include a fight atop a train being lifted by cables up a mountain and a battle between airships along with some swordplay and hand-to-hand combat. A reanimated army of creepy skeletons in the shell of a wrecked airship ups the spooky element. The book seems to subscribe to the white default.A quick and absorbing combination of swashbuckling, steampunk, and supernatural mystery. (Fantasy. 9-12)