- Paperback: 144 pages
- Publisher: Orca Book Publishers Ltd. (Sep 1 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1551430940
- ISBN-13: 978-1551430942
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 12.6 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 141 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #757,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-Sarah, Michael, and Angie are spending the summer with their grandfather in Gimli, Manitoba. While walking in the nearby woods, they encounter a ghost child who warns them of danger. That night, the teens awaken to the sound of shots, screaming, and shattering glass, and discover that Grandpa has been dragged away by a powerful creature. While investigating his disappearance, the cousins find that he is the victim of Kar, a draugr or undead man who is carrying on a family feud that began in Iceland over 70 years ago. When Angie and Michael also vanish, Sarah must fight Kar alone. The novel begins vividly with Grandpa telling the kids a scary story. His humor and playful nature make him an engaging character but he only appears in the first third of the book and briefly at the end. The teen characters are not developed enough for readers to see them as individuals and become involved with their struggle. Sarah's psychic abilities and her spiritual link to her ancestors, who ultimately help her fight the draugr, are hinted at but not fully explored. The action is fast-paced but the plot becomes repetitive. Although this is better than much of the series fare being published, Bruce Coville's many books and Paul Jennings's Uncanny! (1991) and Unreal! (1993, both Puffin) are more enjoyable reads.
Jinder Johal, Richmond Public Library, B.C. Canada
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Jinder Johal, Richmond Public Library, B.C. Canada
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
While visiting their grandfather in Manitoba, Canada, three American children experience an event based on Icelandic mythology in which a man comes back from the dead to seek revenge.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging,
By
This review is from: Draugr (Paperback)
An engaging young readers novel, well-written, thoroughly Canadian. Arthur Slade examines the Icelandic legend of the Draugr in this Gimli, Manitoba based story.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spooky Horror for Kids,
By
This review is from: Draugr (Paperback)
Fourteen year old Sarah, her twin brother Micheal and their cousin Angie go to visit their grandfather in Gimli, Manitoba for the summer. They come prepared for a quiet vacation in the rural community and their grandfather's scary stories based on Icelandic mythology; however all of this changes when the stories start to come true and a draugr, a man who comes back from the dead, comes after them and their grandfather.I found Draugr to be a quick read that will probably appeal to young readers (I would think middle school and the young side of young adult or those who like shorter books) who like a plot driven story with lots of excitement and supernatural elements. The story was fast paced and interesting and I especially liked the Icelandic mythology element. Each chapter ends on a tense note or a cliff hanger, which kept me reading "just one more chapter" in order to see what happens next. One of my favorite things about the book is the character Sarah and how she has to learn to trust herself and the fact that she is strong in order to save her grandfather. She initially sees herself as scared and on the weak side, but when push comes to shove, she learns about herself and what she is capable of. Slade consistently uses slang such as "shoulda" and "wanna" in his dialogue. I know this is dialogue and he is trying to be realistic, but it is one of those things that jump out at me, stop the flow of the book, and take away from my reading. There are also quite a few sentence fragments, which are probably meant to increase the tension and pace of the book. Overall, this is an interesting, faced paced book that I am sure children will enjoy, especially if they like to be a bit scared and enjoy supernatural book. Also in the Northern Frights series: The Haunting of Drang Island The Loki Wolf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible series,
By
This review is from: Draugr (Paperback)
Draugr is the first published novel by Arthur Slade. It was the 7th novel he wrote. It is set in a small town in Manitoba, with three American teenagers visiting their grandfather. The first night of their visit their grandfather tells them ghost stories and tales from his homeland, Iceland. The next day the three youngsters Sarah, Michael and Angie have a very strange encounter; it is almost as if their grandfather's tales are starting to come true. And as the old saying goes 'truth is stranger than fiction'. Soon they find themselves experiencing things that should not be possible but are really happening. In less than 3 days they have a life-changing experience.The three teenagers are supposed to be visiting for 2 weeks but on their second day there, they are told their grandfather has unfinished business and they will be going home the next day. But the house is attacked that night and their grandfather goes missing. Soon Sarah must summon strength and courage she did not know she had; she will have to defy adults she respects and risk her life to save those who are closest to her. This is a story that has an open grave, strange legends, beasts walking the night, and maybe a Draugr, a dead man walking again. It is both frightening and wonderful. This story is wonderfully written, like ghost stories told around the campfire, but with a depth of details and great characters. The readers find themselves wrapped in a talk at once both exciting and addictive. You will not be able to put the book down. Considering it is Slade's first published novel, it has a level of polish and skill rarely seen in an author's early works. It is an incredible story. There are three books in the Northern Frights series by Arthur Slade and they are some of his earliest published works, each story based on Norse mythology. They were published under the name Arthur G. Slade by Orca Book Publishers. They are currently out of print, but they are really worth tracking down. They are incredible stories by a master storyteller.
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