Bound To Stay Bound

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Booklist - 07/01/2009 Not to be mistaken as a follow-up to this year’s Newbery winner, The Graveyard Book, this thin novella was written for Britain’s World Book Day, an event designed to get kids excited about reading, and is now being published in the U.S. It follows the adventures of a Viking lad named Odd, who grows weary of his little village and sets out on his own. He encounters a talking (and bickering) eagle, bear, and fox, who reveal themselves to be none other than Odin, Thor, and Loki, banished from Asgard by a monstrous frost giant. Odd takes it upon himself to help the trio return home, using his wits and sense of compassion to dispatch the giant. Along with Gaiman’s deft humor, lively prose, and agile imagination, a few unexpected themes—the double-edged allure of beauty, the value of family—sneak into this slim tale with particular appeal to kids drawn to Norse mythology, but suitable for any readers of light fantasy. Yet more proof that there isn’t much Gaiman can’t write well, be it comics, picture books, or novels for any age. Final art not seen. - Copyright 2009 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2009 Gr 3–6— Using several figures from Norse mythology, Gaiman has written a thoughtful and quietly humorous fantasy that younger Percy Jackson fans will enjoy. Twelve-year-old Odd hasn't had a good couple of years: his father died rescuing a pony that fell overboard during a Viking raid, his leg was crippled during a tree-felling accident, and his mother married a man he dislikes. So, in the midst of what should be spring ("Winter hung in there, like an invalid refusing to die"), he sets out for a cabin in the wilderness, figuring that anything will be better than home. Soon after arriving, a fox leads him to an enormous bear whose paw is caught in a tree; a large eagle circles overhead. Odd shows kindness and bravery when helping the bear, learning afterward that these three animals are gods who have been transformed by the Frost Giant. Odd is determined to help them, and his ultimate encounter with the Frost Giant is especially interesting, tweaking the tradition of small boys getting the better of giants. Readers will also enjoy Odd's interaction with the animals, Gaiman's simple and graceful writing, and the satisfying conclusion.—Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL - Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2010 Life has not been kind to twelve-year-old Odd, who has always felt somewhat apart from the rest of his small Scandinavian village; he’s felt even more distance since his father’s death, his own crippling injury around the same time, and his mother’s remarriage to a man who can’t hold his drink (and who brought along seven additional children). Odd’s decision to venture out on his own, even at such a young age, therefore isn’t much of a surprise. His run-in with a fox, eagle, and bear who are discussing the unnaturally long winter is a bit less expected, but Odd takes it in stride. The three turn out to be Norse gods Loki, Thor, and Odin in disguise, and they are trying to outwit the troll giants who have taken over Asgard and caused this permanent winter. The overly confident gods are fortunate to have stumbled into calm, clever, creative Odd, and Odd’s own luck seems to be changing for the better in this compact myth-based adventure. Elegant full-page captioned illustrations, one per chapter, highlight key events and add hints of setting to the trim text. Indeed, this short novel, written originally for World Book Day in the UK, tops out at a little over 100 pages. That’s a remarkable feat given the deep characterization of both Odd and the trio of gods, the dramatic quest to save their worlds, and a nice smattering of information about Norse culture and religion that will certainly send many readers searching for more. AS - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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