Blackwell South Dakota is full of people who are a little bit different. Matt Thorsen is well aware of what makes his extended family different: they're descended from the Norse god Thor. To Matt this simply means he's a disappointment when he cannot meet his parents' expectations in controlling the gift of Moljnir. The Thorsens run Blackwell and Matt's dad is the sheriff holding him to a higher standard.
On the opposite end of the spectrum Fen Brekke's family is descended from Loki the Trickster god. The Brekke's are constantly in trouble: Fen's uncle and his cousin Laurie are gifted with Loki's luck while Fen can become a wolf. Fen has been protecting Laurie while she has been kept ignorant from her heritage. Laurie's only hint is a realistic dream that she became a fish.
When Matt dreams of the beginning of Ragnarok it sets in motion the event itself. Matt and his classmates are selected as champions of the old gods: Matt as Thor, Fen as Loki, and the descendents of the other gods are to be found across South Dakota. Matt's grandfather, mayor of Blackwell and head of the high council, describes great success for his grandson, but Matt overhears a conversation which indicates the council expects him to die in the process of saving their world.
Matt seeks the help of Loki's replacement, but Fen and Matt have never gotten along. Laurie convinces her cousin to help Matt and the three embark on a quest for the remaining champions. More than the question of how to find their other kids is what to do when they've collected everyone.
The kids are only middle-schoolers and face some of the challenges thirteen-year-olds traveling alone would face. Matt, Fen, and Laurie learn to work together and even begin to develop a friendship. When they've caught up to the other champions tragedy strikes and the kids must decide how they're going to save the world and prevent Ragnarok.
Loki's Wolves is aimed at middle readers with action, adventure, some magic and a touch of romance. The characters learn to judge each other based on their own interactions rather than how others perceive them. A quick read for older readers, fans of Rick Riordan will like this similarly-paced dive into mythology
No comments:
Post a Comment