ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS
written by Neil Gaiman
illustrated by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins Children’s Books
ISBN: 9780061671739
Ages 8-up
128 pages
ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS is a wonderfully written tale by the always delightful Neil Gaiman. In this short chapter book based on Norse mythology, Gaiman tells the story of Odd, a young boy who is often dismissed by others due to his crippled leg. Odd’s father died in a Viking raid when he was younger, and his mother then married the drunken rabble-rouser Fat Elfred, but she lost much of the joy she had before her husband died. These events shape Odd into the quiet and introspective boy he is, setting him apart from the other villagers who are prone to violence and hatred.
When Odd’s story begins, his village is in the midst of a frightful winter. The Norse winters in Odd’s village are always harsh, but unfortunately for young Odd and the rest of the community, this one is particularly brutal. The townspeople are trapped inside their homes, waiting for a spring that never seems to get closer. The longer they are confined, the more the men (including Odd's stepfather, Fat Elfred) drink. And the more these men drink, the more they fight. Odd decides to slip out and away from all the ruckus and commotion, and this decision sets him off on a journey that will change not only him, but the order of the known world.
That fateful winter, after leaving Fat Elfred's house, Odd sets out for his father's old woodcutting hut. Odd makes himself at home there as best he can and falls asleep. He isn’t sleeping for long before a fox begins scratching at the hut and wakes the young boy. Odd decides to follow the animal out into the snow, and the fox leads him to a huge bear whose paw is trapped in a pine tree. As Odd frees the bear, he notices an eagle soaring overhead. The three animals (fox, eagle and bear) then follow him back to the hut where he feeds them and falls asleep. But he awakes once again, only this time to the sounds of the animals…animals that are deep in conversation with each other! He soon learns that the beasts are not beasts at all but actually the Norse gods Odin, Loki and Thor.
Tricked by a Frost Giant who has taken over the realm of Asgard, home of the gods, and claimed the beautiful goddess Freya as his own, the three deities are stuck in animal form and unable to reclaim their rightful places of power. But the unassuming Odd has an idea to help them reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Odd (with the gods in tow) travels to Asgard in an attempt to oust the Giant and restore the order of the universe. Encouraged by the memory of his father and the love of his mother, Odd displays bravery and cleverness against the Frost Giant, a creature of violence and malice.
There is a sweet and subtle moral to the tale: the “magic” Odd uses against the giant is simply “letting things do what they wanted to do or be what they wanted to be.” This idea reflects on Gaiman's hero, who is true to himself and finds safe ways to allow others to be true to themselves as well. This self-honesty plays a vital role in the story, and Gaiman, like any good author, leaves the reader thinking more about his or her own life once the book is finished. In the end, the adventure Odd seeks is one of history, identity, familial loyalty and love. This is in contrast to the world of violence that Odd is all too familiar with.
Gaiman's tale is charming and magical; it has a lively pace and, refreshingly, takes the high road without being preachy. ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS has appeal for readers of all ages.
--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
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