Loosely based on Norse culture, Mr. Stroud (the author of the Bartimaeus Trilogy) has written a thrilling and suspenseful adventure for young adults.  Halli has grown up listening to the legends of the great heroes; however, in his village today, disputes are settled by council meetings with matriarchs as judges.  How is a young boy to prove himself in such a docile world?  When an innocent prank spirals out of control, Halli takes matters into his own hands to act as the heroes of old.  With help from a girl even braver than he is, Halli's tale is filled with narrow escapes, physical hardships and even...monsters!  An excellent, exciting read (for either sex) that speaks to the nature of courage and the hero in each of us.