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Odd and the Frost Giants

(2009, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Brett Helquist)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Mythic fantasy adventure has a tender heart.

Themes in this book include:   family relationships, growing up, honesty, loss

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    An introduction to morally complicated mythological stories, Norse mythology in particular, and Viking raiders.

  • Messages:

    Might does not make right in this story. Cleverness, stoic bravery, and a willingness to look beyond the surface of things make Odd a very admirable hero.

  • Role models:

    Odd’s family came together in an unusual way, but there is a strong current of love tying the three together. The gods exhibit some of the less admirable human qualities, such as deceitfulness, lust and greed, bellicosity, pettiness.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The backdrop is one of brutality: Viking raids and crippling accidents, allusions to physical and verbal abuse, tales of violent confrontations between gods and giants.

  • Sex:

    Fleeting references, common in mythology, such as Loki’s scheming to “have my fun” with a beautiful woman.

  • Language:

    Very brief, occasional curses, including a giant talking about Thor’s “damnable hammer.”

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Both villagers and gods overindulge in mead.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Odd and the Frost Giants

Parents need to know this mythological tale features some ugly behavior by both gods and men, but the under-appreciated, underestimated hero poignantly reveals that heart, not brawn, can win some battles. There is some drinking, trickery, greed, and brawling, most of it perpetrated by the gods. Odd’s mother was captured in a Viking raid but was treated lovingly by his father.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the mythological gods and Loki. They are fantastically powerful beings with great responsibility for the fate of mortals. Why do they behave so badly?
  • Women are at the center of much of the violence in this story, from the abduction of Odd’s mother to the mythic beings stubborn pursuit of Freya. Compare the qualities of the female characters with the adult male characters.
  • How do you feel about the Frost Giant as he departs for home? Do you see him as defeated? Was he tricked? Do you think he’ll return?
  • The gods never know exactly how Odd defeats the Frost Giant. Why doesn't he tell them the true story? Would it matter if he had?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Eezreviews
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 3.0

    A twist on mythology that will make kids enjoy it

    While this is a fairly simple book, it also is a fun twist to mythology, bringing norse gods down to the level of people who make big mistakes that need to be resolved by the hero, Odd. While Odd is an unlikely hero, he is also one that kids might identify with since he has his share of troubles and he does things in a that would make sense to kids.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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