THOR'S WEDDING DAY
by Bruce Coville
Harcourt Children's Books
Hardcover: 0152014551
Paperback: 9780152058722
Ages 8-12
144 pages

Grumpy goats, grumpy gods, and grumpy giants create a fast-paced, hilarious book from fantasy writer Bruce Coville in his delightful new release, THOR'S WEDDING DAY.

Thor, the god of thunder and lightning, has lost his magical hammer, or rather, it was stolen by a shape shifting dwarf working for the greedy giant Thrym. Thor's goat boy, Thialfi, accidentally allowed the dwarf into Thor's house. Thor's hammer is the most powerful weapon the gods have against the fierce giants, enemies of the gods. Even though Thialfi doesn't tell anyone it's his fault that the hammer is missing, he gets enrolled in the plan to bring it home.

Mischief maker Loki is sent to bargain with the giant. Thrym will return Thor's hammer if he can marry the beautiful goddess with the hefty temper, Freya.

Freya refuses with great gusto and breaking of dishes. The alternate plan is to convince the giants that Freya has come to the wedding when it's really a god disguised as Freya. When the hammer is returned at the wedding, the plot is to bring an end to the thieving giants. But the giants have an imposter of their own.

Dressing a god, his goat boy, and Loki as women proves to be a very funny undertaking as the goddesses can't decide what to use for false bosoms --- apples or two sleeping rabbits?

Thialfi finds a dress difficult to move around in as he works behind the scenes to aid his master's recovery of the hammer. A mysterious pair tells him how to find the hammer in return for his secrecy. He can't tell anyone who helped him, which adds another layer to Thialfi's already guilty conscience.

Bruce Coville's passion for Norse mythology translates well into a fun chapter book for young and old.

   --- Reviewed by Joy Held

Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.