In his latest novel, Leviathan, Scott Westerfeld has given us a thrilling alternate history of World War I. The story begins on the night that Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated, which forces his son Aleksandar to flee from home. At the same time, a young Scottish girl named Deryn has disguised herself as a boy in order to join the British Air Service. In Westerfeld’s world, Europe is divided between two cultures: the Clankers and the Darwinists. The Clankers, who reside in Central Europe, have mastered the art of machinery and have giant walking machines that can tramp through any forest. The Darwinists, who reside in Britain, have learned to combine the DNA of different animals to create new and bizarre creatures. The Leviathan is the Darwinists’ giant airship, which is made from the body of a whale combined with dozens of other species. While Aleksandar is trying to make it to his family’s hidden fortress, Deryn is serving on the Leviathan. Eventually their two very different worlds collide. The ending is a cliffhanger, and I have no doubt there will be a sequel. I can’t wait for it. This book has great characters, page-turning excitement and a fascinating, alternate version of the First World War. All of this is enhanced by the wonderful black-and-white illustrations of Keith Thompson. I read the novel recently on a plane, and it made me forget there was a screaming two-year-old sitting in front of me! Leviathan is a great read and a great Christmas gift for both teens and adults. ~Torrie