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Rating
If I were to rate this book, i would give it four stars. Although i loved every part of it, I could have wished that they would have improved Lucy's view on the fact that, even now, a normal five-year-old child would come to accept the fact that what they had been told was a lie or at least not the truth on what is really going on. I also wished that Jack would have been less cowardly on all of the situations when danger was ever involved, but is just my personal preference; knowing that if I was in any of those situations, i would most likely have done the same as him.
Other than those things, I would recommend this book to anybody who is into midfield scifi, or anything mythological that includes action and adventure.
Favorite Quotes
Frith
the Antagonist
The wife of King Ivar the Boneless. She is a beautiful, yet evil, half-troll Witch.
"But I also know that to ignore joy while it lasts, in favor of lamenting one's fate, is a great crime."
Jack
The Protagonist
An apprentice Bard. He is a very ordinary, and hardworking boy.
"Look around you...Feel the wind, smell the air. Listen to the birds and watch the sky. tell me what's happening in the Wide World."
Thorgil
Dynamic character
~Nancy Farmer
A strong, yet beautiful girl that dreams of being a Berserker. She is a very short tempered person who likes to prove she is best.
Lucy
Dynamic character
Jack's little sister. She is a very pretty and innocent girl who believes she is a princess.
I like the top quote especially because it tells people that even with the many problems and troubles in your life, you should enjoy your ever so brief moments of joy and happiness.
Olaf
Dynamic character
A captain and berserker. He is a giant and strong, burly man.
I love the second quote. it has a special significance to me, and I have found myself listening more and more to this quote, trying to understand it; and ingrain its meaning deep into my head. I often catch myself not truly appreciating nature and the things that go on around me. This quote has actually helped me be more open to nature, and has actually calmed me and make everyday less stressful.
written by Nancy Farmer
Starting in the year of 793 A.D. in Ancient Scandinavia and the mythical region of Jotunheim. At Scandinavia, the main character faces many problems from nature, within himself, and with others. The character must face the dangers of being alone and in peril from the things that he has never experienced before and that are life threatening. In Scandinavia, the plots is brought into play, and grows to the body.
In the mythical region of Jotunheim the character experiences many problems from nature and people. The character is forced to adapt and learn how to survive with its new problems that it must face, and will face. The plot thickens and readers are sucked into the story even more than they already were. The climax and later the ending are brought into the story in this setting.
When Jack, Thorgil, and Olaf faced off against the troll-bear in the forest of jotunheim, Jack is forced to sit back and do very little to help against such a large threat. He is experiencing Man vs. Nature, when the bear attacks, and Man vs. Self, when he has to stand back and watch his friends be hurt, and not be able to help them because he would be injured.
by Garrison Hackley
When Jack and his little sister Lucy wer hiding from the Berserkers, Jack was faced with the problem of keeping Lucy quiet, for she was told by her father that she was a "lost princess". Because of it, Jack was burdened with the struggle of keeping Lucy queit, for she thought that they were "her knights" and that they were here to save them. Even though in reality, they were a mob of blood-thirsty pillagers bent on destruction and death. In this passage Jack is faced with Man vs. Man.
Re-writes
If I could change any part of the book, I would change it so that when Jack meets the Troll queen in Jotunheim, she would teach Jack more skills and magic abilities. Based on the book it does show how she used magic to make Queen Frith's hair, and how she has other abilities, then why not teach Jack some of them? It could have been interesting to see i they could implement her teachings into part of the story, by helping them get past an obsticle or helping him in a life-or-death situation.
In times of hardship and struggle, we must learn to struggle on and persevere, for the need to give up because of the struggles of our world, or the want to let death claim us in hopes of seeing a lost loved-one will be our biggest downfall; for there will always be another day, and another chance to make things better. For we all know that that is what they would have always wanted for us.
Jack, a Saxon boy and apprentice bard and his little sister Lucy are kidnapped by a group of Berserkers when there is a raid on his village. The leader of his kidnappers, Olaf One-Brow, tells them that they are now their slaves, and are to be sold in a market, but takes a liking to them when he learns that Jack is a bard and preforms magic to keep the boat from sinking; but makes an enemy of a young girl named Thorgil. Upon reaching Olaf's homeland, Jack is instructed to sing a great song about Olaf and his great deeds, or for sure be killed if he messes up. After he sings Olaf's praise-song, who Jack knows is evil from his teacher the Bard. after he finishes his song, he discovers that he had accidentally cast a spell un-knowingly that made Queen Frith'sbeautiful hair fall off. Queen Frith, outraged, declares that if Jack does not find a way to undo or remake her hair,which is what turns Frith from being an ugly monster to a beautiful women, in two weeks; she will sacrifice his little sister Lucy to the Goddess Freya. Jack is told by Rune, a very old skald, or scandinavian bard, that he must drink from the mythic Mimir's Well located in Jotunheim, home of the notorious species of Trolls, massive humanoid people that have been known to eat humans.
Jack is helped by a rather reluctant Thorgil, and new friend Olaf to take him across the Sea of Trolls. Upon reaching Jotunheim, Jack, Thorgil and Olaf delve into the dangerous forests of the mythical place. One day of their traveling, the trio encounters a troll-bear, and after a difficult battle, they are grief stricken when Olaf sacrifices himself to kill the bear, and in the process kills himself. Jack, wanting to give Olaf a worthy burial ceremony tries to set the entire section of the forest ablaze, and is shacked when he unleashes a massive torrent of fire from a wooden walking staff. After a long and arderous journey, Jack and Thorgil finally locate Mimir's well and drink from it, gaining the knowledge they need slowly. Upon Reaching home, Jack discovers that even though his journey took them many days, little time had passed outside of Jotunheim. Finally, Jack is able to fix Queen Frith, and is excused to finally return home to his family. Upon reaching the shores of his homeland, Jack and Thorgil share a hug, and leave him to be reunited with his family, who are rejoiced to see him.
~Garrison Hackley
The title suggests that our emotions are like "a Sea of Trolls." Ever changing. being calm or peaceful, and then becoming turbulent and wild when we least expect it. Like the thick of a storm upon the open waters of the ocean. we never know if they might help, or destroy us.
Plot Diagram
Jack and Thorgil find Mimir's well
Jack and Lucy are kidnapped
Jack heals Queen Frith's hair
Jack is apprenticed by the Bard
Jack and Lucy return home