Odd and the Frost Giants

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Youth Fiction Lower Level

Odd has had a hard life. He is very unlucky for a twelve-year-old. His dad, a Viking, tragically dies in a raid. Soon after this, Odd injures his leg chopping down a tree, forcing him to walk with a crutch. The other Vikings do not seem to like Odd because of his disability. To make things worse, his mother remarries a mean Viking who is too busy with his own children to pay any attention to Odd. So Odd runs away to his father's old cabinin the woods, where he meets a fox, a bear, and an eagle. He soon finds out that these animals are the Norse gods Odin, Thor, and Loki. They have been banished from Asgard, the home of the gods, by the frost giants. Will Odd accept his call to adventure and help the gods regain their kingdom, and most importantly, their true forms? You will have to read to find out.

This is another great book written by Neil Gaiman, the author of the 2009 Newbery medal winning, The Graveyard Book.
Gaiman does a fantastic job creating a new tale that will also give the reader an introduction to classic Norse myths. Young readers who are interested in mythology or Percy Jackson will enjoy this exciting Norse adventure.

Recommended for grades 3-6.