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Book Summary and Reviews of Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman

Odd and the Frost Giants

by Neil Gaiman

  • Critics' Consensus (4):
  • Readers' Rating (2):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2009, 128 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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 .

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Although less original than Coraline or The Wolves in the Walls, this enjoyable story should appeal to Gaiman's younger fans. Ages 8–12." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. Children will enjoy Odd's quiet heroism and the simple adventure; adults will love the squabbling gods and the strong women. Ages 8+." - Kirkus Reviews

"[A] thoughtful and quietly humorous fantasy that younger Percy Jackson fans will enjoy." - School Library Journal

This information about Odd and the Frost Giants was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

Write your own reviewwrite your own review

juliet

so underrated!!
A lovely tale that everybody should read.

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Author Information

Neil Gaiman Author Biography

Photo: Philippe Matsas

Neil Gaiman grew up in England and, although Jewish, attended Church of England schools, including Ardingly College, a boarding school in West Sussex (South of England). During the early 1980s he worked as a journalist and book reviewer. His first book was a biography of the band Duran Duran. He moved from England to his wife's hometown in the American midwest several years ago. He and his family now live in a renovated Victorian farmhouse where (he says) his hobbies are writing things down, hiding, and talking about himself in the third person. More about him and his books below.

A professional writer for more than twenty years, Neil Gaiman has been one of the top writers in modern comics, and is now a bestselling novelist. His work has appeared in ...

... Full Biography
Author Interview
Link to Neil Gaiman's Website

Name Pronunciation
Neil Gaiman: kneel gay-mn

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