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Interviews | January 3, 2012

Jill Owens: IMG Naomi Benaron: The Powells.com Interview

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Naomi BenaronRunning the Rift is the most recent winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, as awarded by Barbara Kingsolver. It's also an... Continue »
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eBook editions

Odd and the Frost Giants

by Neil Gaiman and Brett Helquist

Odd and the Frost Giants Cover

 

Staff Pick

A Neil Gaiman story at any length is a treat. Odd and the Frost Giants is like the perfect finger food: brief but intensely, deliciously satisfying. If you aren't a fan of Norse mythology when you open the cover, you will be by the time you close it.
Recommended by Chris Bolton, Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back.

In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy.

Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle — three creatures with a strange story to tell.

Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined — a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.

It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter.

Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever...

Someone just like Odd.

Review:

"In this simple but well-done tale, Newbery Medal-winner Gaiman (The Graveyard Book) introduces Odd, a boy with an injured leg whose Viking father died at sea. Odd befriends the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Loki, who have been transformed into animals and exiled from Asgard. The gods, having previously tricked and bested the Frost Giants, are now receiving some of their own medicine. Showing great ingenuity, Odd figures out how to reach Asgard and then convinces the Frost Giant that ruling Asgard isn't so great (after all, admits the giant, his prize, the beautiful goddess Freya, 'only comes up to the top of my foot. She shouts louder than a giantess when she's angry. And she's always angry'). The gods and the giant, though powerful, come across as self-involved and vaguely simpleminded, clearly in need of a resourceful young fellow like Odd to help set things straight. Although less original than Coraline or The Wolves in the Walls, this enjoyable story should appeal to Gaiman's younger fans. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8 – 12. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Children will enjoy Odd's quiet heroism and the simple adventure; adults will love the squabbling gods and the strong women (and the Frost Giant's response to feisty Freya!). All in all, another winner." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Review:

"[D]eft humor, lively prose, and agile imagination....Yet more proof that there isn't much Gaiman can't write well, be it comics, picture books, or novels for any age." Booklist

Review:

"Swift-moving yet thoughtful, a book to share aloud — and then again. Helquist's eight full-page drawings, distinguished by their sturdy characterizations and angular drafting, deftly evoke Gaiman's wintry Norse world." Horn Book Magazine

Review:

"[A] thoughtful and quietly humorous fantasy that younger Percy Jackson fans will enjoy....Readers will...enjoy Odd's interaction with the animals, Gaiman's simple and graceful writing, and the satisfying conclusion." School Library Journal

Review:

"A fun, quick read. Kids will love the story, while adult readers of Gaiman's earlier works will enjoy the return of some familiar mythological characters." SFSignal.com

Synopsis:

Newbery Medalist Gaiman and illustrator Helquist team up for a new fantasy novella in which a young boy must free Asgard — the city of the gods — from the evil Frost Giants. Illustrations.
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Video

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the author of many highly acclaimed and award-winning books for children and adults, including the New York Times bestsellers Coraline and The Graveyard Book. He is also the author of the picture books The Wolves in the Walls and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, both illustrated by Dave McKean; Blueberry Girl, illustrated by Charles Vess; and The Dangerous Alphabet, illustrated by Gris Grimly. Among his many awards are the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Bram Stoker Award. Originally from England, Gaiman now lives in the United States.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
b-bro, January 9, 2012 (view all comments by b-bro)
Odd was a fairly good book, I am just ordering one for my brother, who is about 11 years old, (that is about when I first read it.) but as you get older there are much better uses of your time.
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b-bro, January 9, 2012 (view all comments by b-bro)
Odd was a fairly good book, I am just ordering one for my brother, who is about 11 years old, (that is about when I first read it.) but as you get older there are much better uses of your time.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780061671739
Author:
Neil Gaiman and Brett Helquist
Publisher:
HarperCollins
Illustrator:
Helquist, Brett
Author:
Gaiman, Neil
Author:
Helquist, Brett
Subject:
Fantasy & Magic
Subject:
Fairy Tales & Folklore - General
Subject:
Heroes
Subject:
Mythology, norse
Subject:
Legends, Myths, & Fables - Norse
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Children s-Science Fiction and Fantasy
Copyright:
2009
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Publication Date:
20090922
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
from 3
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
128
Dimensions:
9 x 6 x 0.76 in 10.40 oz
Age Level:
08-12
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Related Aisles

Odd and the Frost Giants Sale Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$6.98 In Stock
Product details 128 pages HarperCollins - English 9780061671739 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

A Neil Gaiman story at any length is a treat. Odd and the Frost Giants is like the perfect finger food: brief but intensely, deliciously satisfying. If you aren't a fan of Norse mythology when you open the cover, you will be by the time you close it.

by Chris Bolton
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "In this simple but well-done tale, Newbery Medal-winner Gaiman (The Graveyard Book) introduces Odd, a boy with an injured leg whose Viking father died at sea. Odd befriends the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Loki, who have been transformed into animals and exiled from Asgard. The gods, having previously tricked and bested the Frost Giants, are now receiving some of their own medicine. Showing great ingenuity, Odd figures out how to reach Asgard and then convinces the Frost Giant that ruling Asgard isn't so great (after all, admits the giant, his prize, the beautiful goddess Freya, 'only comes up to the top of my foot. She shouts louder than a giantess when she's angry. And she's always angry'). The gods and the giant, though powerful, come across as self-involved and vaguely simpleminded, clearly in need of a resourceful young fellow like Odd to help set things straight. Although less original than Coraline or The Wolves in the Walls, this enjoyable story should appeal to Gaiman's younger fans. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8 – 12. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "Children will enjoy Odd's quiet heroism and the simple adventure; adults will love the squabbling gods and the strong women (and the Frost Giant's response to feisty Freya!). All in all, another winner."
"Review" by , "[D]eft humor, lively prose, and agile imagination....Yet more proof that there isn't much Gaiman can't write well, be it comics, picture books, or novels for any age."
"Review" by , "Swift-moving yet thoughtful, a book to share aloud — and then again. Helquist's eight full-page drawings, distinguished by their sturdy characterizations and angular drafting, deftly evoke Gaiman's wintry Norse world."
"Review" by , "[A] thoughtful and quietly humorous fantasy that younger Percy Jackson fans will enjoy....Readers will...enjoy Odd's interaction with the animals, Gaiman's simple and graceful writing, and the satisfying conclusion."
"Review" by , "A fun, quick read. Kids will love the story, while adult readers of Gaiman's earlier works will enjoy the return of some familiar mythological characters."
"Synopsis" by , Newbery Medalist Gaiman and illustrator Helquist team up for a new fantasy novella in which a young boy must free Asgard — the city of the gods — from the evil Frost Giants. Illustrations.
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