Fortunately, the Milk
Odd and the Frost Giants
By: Neil Gaiman
My Rating: FIVE out of FIVE stars
Best for: 10 and up

Here’s a two for one book review special…

Neil Gaiman…Bless him. Is he today’s greatest storyteller? He might be.

My proof: Two short stories.  1) Fortunately, the Milk and 2) Odd and the Frost Giants.

Fortunately, the Milk

Fortunately, the Milk is a dream come true for a dad who likes to tell stories. About 100 pages, some fun illustrations, and perfectly read-aloud-able. The audio is great too, with Neil Gaiman reading his own story (as usual).

Some aliens, talking dinosaurs, a volcano God, restless natives, pirates, piranhas, time travel, a hot air balloon, a whole bunch of silly, and of course, fortunately, the milk.

I’m saving this one for a summer road trip. The kids are going to love it.

Odd and the Frost Giants

Another Neil Gaiman short story for young people and the grown ups who love them. It’s just over 100 pages and perfectly formed and I don’t know how he does it. Neil Gaiman is just good.

Odd isn’t really odd, but he is an outcast, so he feels odd. Still, he’s cheerful (overly), and brave (but he doesn’t know it), and clever (or maybe just confident)…just the kind of 12-year-old boy who can save Asgard from the Frost Giants.

This story is a journey to Asgard with Odin, Thor, and Loki. Thanks to Loki and his mischief, they are trapped in Midgard (home of the humans), where winter is refusing to give way to spring.  Turns out a boy named Odd might the the God’s only hope.

It’s heavy in Norse mythology and is more serious than silly, but there is an adventure that will satisfy anyone too young to know Marvel’s Thor.

All interested audiences.  Probably should use these as texts in a class on how to write a short story.  A perfectly joyful reading experience that can be finished over lunch.  Easily on par with Coraline and The Graveyard Book.

Happy Reading!

Support One Man Book Club!  Get your Neil Gaiman books here!

*Neil Gaiman content note:  Some grown up Neil Gaiman books have very strong adult material.  I encourage you to read the One Man Book Club review of any Gaiman book you decide to read if you’re sensitive to content.