Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

This book falls under the steampunk genre; it's a little bit science fiction mixed in with some historical fiction. I was already a fan of Westerfeld's work (see: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras), and I thought I've give this one a try. It is set right around the time of World War I and follows Alex, a now-orphan prince as his parents were just murdered by the Germans. Alex and his advisors and trying to escape while remaining anonymous. Meanwhile, there is a side plot that follows Deryn, a tom-boy who wants to be in the British Air Service; however, she must disguise herself as a boy since girls were not allowed in the military. These two stories combine into a great tale of war and friendship. There is a sequel to this book as well (look for that post later!).

ps: There are some EXCELLENT illustrations in this book, too.

Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan. New York: Simon Pulse, 2009.