The Sword of Summer

Rick Riordan's fast-paced adventure, which is full of action sequences, will capture the attention of eager and reluctant readers. The unique take on Norse mythology offers an entertaining interpretation for those familiar with the folklore and an appealing introduction for those new to the material. Magnus is a sympathetic main character. His blend of skepticism (because he's had a rough life and can't believe he has special abilities) and excitement (because he's just found out his father is a Norse god) is utterly believable. Magnus's observations about his absurd circumstances are often laugh-out-loud funny. After magically lifting an artifact from Boston's frozen Charles River, for instance, he notes: "if I sound unimpressed or ungrateful, don't get me wrong. The way I'd pulled the sword out of the river was so cool it freaked me out. I'd always wanted a super power. I just hadn't expected mine to entail retrieving garbage from river bottoms. The community service volunteers were going to love me." The idea of having superhuman talents fascinates many kids, who will enjoy imagining themselves in Magnus's place.

On his sixteenth birthday, Magnus Chase's estranged uncle informs him that Magnus's long-absent father was a Norse god. Magnus retrieves a magical sword from the bottom of the Charles River, then battles the fire giant who comes to claim it. Although the first third of the book is slow going, once Riordan hits his stride it becomes a whirlwind of myth, action, and wry sarcasm.

Ever since his mom's murder two years ago, Magnus Chase has lived on the streets of Boston, watched over by Blitz and Hearth, a pair of quirky homeless guys. On the day he turns sixteen, however, his estranged uncle Randolph freaks him out with the news that his long-absent father was a Norse god. Then Magnus retrieves a magical sword from the bottom of the Charles River. And then he falls in deadly combat with Surt, the fire giant who shows up to claim the sword. Being a smart-alecky Riordan hero, at least Magnus gets to joke about his own death, especially once a part-time Valkyrie named Sam al-Abbas scoops him up and carries him off to Hotel Valhalla. Although the first third of the book is slow going, stuffed as it is with asides, flashbacks, dream encounters, and digressions (there are 72 chapters in all), once Riordan hits his stride it becomes a whirlwind of myth, action, and wry sarcasm, perfect for readers hungry for a new hit of that Percy Jackson--type magic. The fact that Magnus has a gray-eyed cousin named Annabeth? Just a little something for fans to mull over while waiting for the projected sequel. anita l. burkam