The Monstrous Child

by Francesca Simon

Overview

A stunning, operatic, epic drama, like no other. Meet Hel, an ordinary teenager — and goddess of the Underworld. Why is life so unfair? Hel tries to make the best of it, creating gleaming halls in her dark kingdom and welcoming the dead who she is forced to host for eternity. Until eternity itself is threatened.

Francesca's first and wonderful foray into teen.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780571330270
Publisher:	Faber and Faber
Publication date:	06/06/2017
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 6.63(h) x (d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Francesca Simon is universally known for the staggeringly popular Horrid Henry series. These books and CDs have sold millions of copies worldwide and are published in 27 countries. She lives in North London with her family.

Editorial Reviews

04/24/2017
Hel, the protagonist of this deliciously fun YA debut from Simon (the Horrid Henry series), is the daughter of trickster god Loki and Angrboda the giantess. Hel was born a monster: while her top half is normal, she has the legs of a corpse. The Fates have foretold that Hel’s brothers, Fenrir the wolf and Jormungand the snake, will kill Odin and Thor during Ragnarok, so the deities abduct the siblings and bring them to Asgard. Hel falls in love with the god Baldr, but her happiness is short-lived: Odin incapacitates Hel’s kin, then banishes her to Niflheim to rule the dead. By recasting the Norse queen of hell as a snarky, disaffected teenager, Simon makes the ancient relatable and adds humor to an otherwise grim and gruesome tale: “Let’s pause and take a closer look at just some of Dad’s children,” Hel offers. “Eight legs (Sleipnir). Four legs (Fenrir). No legs (Jormungand). Corpse legs (yours truly).” Though the book is light on plot and narrative drive, it oozes style, and Simon’s evocative descriptions transport readers to the strange and brutal world of Norse myth. Ages 12–up. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"The darkly funny testament of an accidental teenage goddess of the dead. The Horrid Henry author’s first foray into YA follows 14-year-old Hel, an eternal teenager who also happens to be the queen of the underworld. Her legs are in a permanent state of decay. Hel’s parents put her in charge of all who enter, and she grows increasingly bitter, as she has nothing to occupy her mind aside from the dreams of a lost love, Baldr. All Hel wants is to be able to tell her story. This title is perfect for “Percy Jackson” lovers who are looking for their next read. Those who enjoy the young adult work of Neil Gaiman but are not old enough for his American Gods would also appreciate this book. As Simon includes many allusions to Norse mythology throughout, this could be incorporated in similar units of study in a language arts curriculum. Small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter will help readers keep the pages turning. VERDICT An excellent choice for young adult fans of all things mythology."




—School Library Journal

“Hel, the protagonist of this deliciously fun YA debut from Simon (the Horrid Henry series), is the daughter of trickster god Loki and Angrboda the giantess. Hel was born a monster: while her top half is normal, she has the legs of a corpse. The Fates have foretold that Hel’s brothers, Fenrir the wolf and Jormungand the snake, will kill Odin and Thor during Ragnarok, so the deities abduct the siblings and bring them to Asgard. Hel falls in love with the god Baldr, but her happiness is short-lived: Odin incapacitates Hel’s kin, then ban-ishes her to Niflheim to rule the dead. By recasting the Norse queen of hell as a snarky, disaffected teenager, Simon makes the ancient relatable and adds humor to an otherwise grim and gruesome tale: “Let’s pause and take a closer look at just some of Dad’s children,” Hel offers. “Eight legs (Sleipnir). Four legs (Fenrir). No legs (Jormungand). Corpse legs (yours truly).” Though the book is light on plot and narrative drive, it oozes style, and Simon’s evocative descriptions transport readers to the strange and brutal world of Norse myth." Ages 12–up. (June)




Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

05/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—The darkly funny testament of an accidental teenage goddess of the dead. The "Horrid Henry" author's first foray into YA follows 14-year-old Hel, an eternal teenager who also happens to be the queen of the underworld. Her legs are in a permanent state of decay. Hel's parents put her in charge of all who enter, and she grows increasingly bitter, as she has nothing to occupy her mind aside from the dreams of a lost love, Baldr. All Hel wants is to be able to tell her story. This title is perfect for "Percy Jackson" lovers who are looking for their next read. Those who enjoy the young adult work of Neil Gaiman but are not old enough for his American Gods would also appreciate this book. As Simon includes many allusions to Norse mythology throughout, this could be incorporated in similar units of study in a language arts curriculum. Small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter will help readers keep the pages turning. VERDICT An excellent choice for young adult fans of all things mythology.—Kevin McGuire, Woodland Hills School District, PA

School Library Journal

2017-03-15
Mum's a giantess, Dad's a trickster god, and her brothers are fated to play major roles in ending the world; trapped in her fetid underworld, Hel (aka Goddess of the Dead) has had enough eternity, thanks, and she's about to tell you why.Jotunheim, land of the giants, leaves plenty to be desired. Snow, sleet, and howling winds scour the mountains. It's no Asgard. A seemingly ordinary girl on top, Hel's legs are in a permanent state of decay—blotched with gangrene, wrapped in bandages. Her father, Loki, rarely visits the family cave. But then the children are kidnapped and brought to golden Asgard, as Odin hopes to render her ill-fated brothers harmless, at least for now. At first overlooked, narrator Hel develops a huge crush on Baldr, a beautiful, kindly—and married—god, before Odin hurls her to Niflheim to rule over the dead. This permanent teen doesn't take her fate lying down—at first. Failing to escape, she occupies herself constructing a palace for the dead and dreams of Baldr, fated to die eventually and come to her. But as years pass, she grows bitter and vengeful, and she doesn't hesitate to tell readers: "I have no friends. I don't want any friends. I'm fine by myself. I am cradled by hate and fury; I need no one." Hel's persuasive, compelling, brutally grim, and very funny voice drives the narrative. Seen from below, the Twilight of the Gods is neither tragic nor noble—it's long overdue. (Fantasy. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews

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