Fiction - Fantasy & Magic, Fiction - Historical Fiction, Fiction - European People, Places & Cultures, Fiction - Historical People, Fiction - General & Miscellaneous, Fiction - Horror, Monsters & Ghosts, Fiction - Family Life

Troll Fell

Name: Troll Fell
Author: Katherine Langrish
ISBN: 9780060583064

by Katherine Langrish

Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Overview

A secret kingdom of trolls, guarding their legendary gold, lies in the mysterious shadows of Troll Fell. It is to this eerie and dangerous place that Peer Ulfsson must go after his father's sudden death, to live with his greedy, bad-tempered uncles, Baldur and Grim.

When Peer discovers his uncles' terrible plan to capture the gold by selling human children to the trolls, he has to bury his fears and find a way to stop them. He has only his bravery, his wit, and two new allies -- a daring girl looking for adventure and a mischievous house spirit looking for a good meal. Their story will become part of the lore of this extraordinary land by the sea.

Forced to live with his evil identical-twin uncles after his father's death, twelve-year-old Peer tries to find a way to stop their plan to sell the neighbor's children to the trolls.

About the Author, Katherine Langrish

Katherine Langrish grew up in the Yorkshire Dales, the hill country of northern England, where there are still strong Scandinavian traces (in place names, family names, and even dialect) from the Danes who settled the area a thousand years ago, and where a farming community with an emphasis on neighborly interdependence continues. She graduated with an honors degree in English from the University of London and has been writing stories for most of her life. Living with her husband and two daughters on the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau, thirty miles from Paris, she began storytelling to classes at the International School. Her family later moved to Corning, New York, where she joined Literacy Volunteers of America. She is the author of two previous novels: Troll Fell, a New York Public Library "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing" book, and Troll Mill, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. Katherine Langrish currently lives in England.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Children's Literature

The exciting lore of Scandinavian legends replete with trolls, Vikings, longships, and a clandestine world under the earth are brought together is this lively and original debut novel. Peer Ulfsson has little time to grieve for his father for he is summarily carried off by his odious uncles Grim and Baldur to their mill to do their bidding. There he learns of their plan to sell him into slavery to the troll king as a wedding gift for his daughter in return for a promise of wealth and power. In the meantime Peer befriends Hilde, whose father has gone adventuring with Vikings, and the two hatch a plan to keep Peer safe. When they discover that a girl is needed to be a slave for the son of the King of the Dovrefell, Hilde fears for her safety. But it is not Peer and Hilde that the uncles want but her younger brother and sister. Deep underground, in the Hall of the Mountain King the drama is played out with Peer cleverly outwitting his nasty uncles. Their just reward leaves readers cheering. All the elements that make a successful story are here—wicked uncles, a clever hero, and a spunky heroine. Throw in a mischievous but helpful house troll, a denizen of the river called Granny Green-teeth, and a world of trolls, nixies, and merrows all attending a riotous wedding and you have the makings of a great story. The spirited telling takes many twists and turns and is action packed and exciting. It is totally captivating from beginning to end. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 10 to 14.
—Beverley Fahey

VOYA

Peer Ufsson's life takes a bad turn when he goes to live with his two uncles on the Troll Fell after his father's death. The Grimsson brothers are horrible to Peer, making him slave at their mill and threatening to feed his beloved dog to their vicious wolfhound. When they are not making Peer's life miserable, the Grimssons are making trouble for their neighbors. Hilde's father has gone a-Viking, and the Grimssons are plotting to take her family's land in his absence. As time passes, Peer begins to suspect that his uncles might have even more sinister plans for him that involve him going under the Troll Fell and never coming back. Peer and Hilde join together with a cast of imaginative creatures on an adventure that leads over the hills and under the Troll Fell to stop the Grimssons. Langrish's first novel is a well-thought-out story that includes many elements of classic fairy tales. From the wicked stepparent figures to the abandoned young hero who must choose his destiny, this coming-of-age story will appeal to most Harry Potter fans. The use of Norse settings and folklore gives these often-used concepts a refreshingly original twist. Langrish's word use is simple, but the vivid descriptions will stimulate readers' imaginations. Younger teens looking for a fantasy read will find this book easy and engaging. VOYA Codes 4Q 3P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2004, HarperCollins, 272p., and PLB Ages 11 to 15.
—Leslie McCombs

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Written in the tradition of an old Scandinavian fairy tale and filled with fantastic creatures, Viking ships, and some extremely loathsome humans, this is an exciting adventure story. When Peer Ulfsson's father dies, the boy is forced to live with his disgusting and greedy twin uncles. Peer soon discovers that they plan to sell him to the local troll king; he will be a wedding present to the king's son and will serve the newlyweds as a slave. Meanwhile, Peer makes friends with Hilde, a girl from a neighboring farm, and she tries to help him find a way to escape his fate. Then the uncles' plans change, and they abduct Hilde's twin siblings to sell to the trolls instead. As events unfold, Hilde and Peer begin to see a way to rescue the youngsters, escape, and rid themselves forever of the horrible uncles. Other magical beings inhabit this land, such as the Nis, a truculent and ill-treated household spirit, and Granny Green-teeth, a fearsome creature that lurks in a millpond. Peer and Hilde are easy to like and identify with. The troll kingdom is well and cleverly described. Readers will love to hate the uncles, who get exactly what they deserve in the end. This fast-paced novel maintains suspense and has a nice twist at the conclusion. All in all, this is great fun.-Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

As his father's funeral pyre burns, Peer Ulfsson, to his horror, meets a step-uncle whom his father has never mentioned. Baldur Grimson removes Peer from his home village to live with him and his twin, Grim, in an old mill outside the hamlet of Trollsvik, directly under the trolls' mountain. The twins-fearsome, greedy, and mean-treat Peer cruelly. However, Peer befriends local humans and other supernatural creatures who provide him with information and support him in thwarting the twins' plans. Although she keeps the historical details accurate, Langrish subordinates history to fantasy in this rousing middle-grade debut set in medieval Norway. The plot and subplots race along and wrap up neatly and satisfactorily in a nice, twisty ending. Even though the tale incorporates many elements common to fiction about orphans, the clearly delineated, memorable characters transcend stereotype. Goodhearted, resourceful Peer's courage, loyalty to his friends, and generosity will win reader's hearts and will ensure the appeal to readers of Emily Rodda's Rowan of Rin series and the Lemony Snickets. (Fiction. 9-12)