The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Genre: Fanciful Fiction
Themes: Family, Bullying, Magic, Religion, Mythology, Coming of Age
Grade Level: 6-8
Curriculum Connections: English (Norse Mythology, Poetry-Ballads), Social Studies (Bullying, History-793 A.D.), Read Aloud

Jack, a young bard in training, and his spoiled sister Lucy are seized by a group of berserkers and become slaves of a large Northman by the name of Olaf One-Brow. After a treacherous trip across the ocean, Jack must learn the ways of these brutal yet humorous Northman, starting with the chore of mucking out the pen of a troll boar named Golden Bristles. When one of Jack's unproven spells cause Frith's, the half troll queen's, beautiful hair to fall out, he and Thorgil the Shield Maiden, along with the mysterious crow Brave Heart, must travel across the Sea of Trolls into the land of Jotunheim where they fight a troll bear, flee from a dragon in search of food, outsmart giant spiders, and encounter the Mountain Queen so they can obtain song mead from Mimir's Well to restore Frith's hair and rescue Lucy.

Sequels: The Land of the Silver Apples; The Islands of the Blessed (2009)

Classroom Suggestions:

1. As a study of mythology, students could research legends such as Jotenheim, trolls, berserkers, Yggdrasil, Norse gods, and Mimir's Well.

2. Historically students can learn and present more information on the Vikings, the early medieval period, and the destruction of the Holy Isle.

3. In a religion class students can discuss how Christianity and Bard magic existed side by side. In The Sea of Trolls both aspects are present in the same household with the main character believing in both God and magic.

4. Have students write their own stories in the form of a ballad and entertain their classmates by performing their poem.