Odd and the frost giants by Neil Gaiman

Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 9780747598114.
(Ages 10+) Myth. With his father dead and a new man and his children taking his place, Viking boy, Odd, feels rejected, and has no choice but to leave his once happy home. He meets a bear, an eagle and a fox, who tell him of their home now beset by the frost giants, who have stolen spring and summer, making everything cold, snowbound and frozen. They implore Odd to help them rid their place of the frost giants, but Odd, crippled when a tree he was felling crushed his leg, finds it hard to believe that he can. But try he will, always carrying his father'[s unfinished piece of wood sculpture with him.
Through cunning and bravery Odd carries out their wishes and returns in summer to the people of Asgard, finding that his three companions are more than they seem.
This is a wonderful tale of courage in the face of overwhelming failure, tenacity in the face of fear, and home in all its variations. Kids will love to read of Odd, and feel close to him as he uses his crutch to climb massive mountains and slippery ravines in his quest. The illustration on the front cover will surely encourage the readers to delve into the trials of the unflappable Odd.
Fran Knight