Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, he spent his childhood in Victoria, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has also lived in England and Ireland. Oppel is married to Philippa Sheppard, and has three children: Sophia, Nate and Julia. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. The author has won several literary awards, including the 2004 Governor General's Literary Award for English language children's literature (for Airborn) and The Times Children's Novel of 2005 (for Skybreaker, named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association).