Helga the Fair
Helga the Fair
Helga the Fair
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Description
Description
A heartwarming fantasy inspired by the Icelandic sagas about a girl and her friends who must save their found family when a swarm of terrifying undead invade their village, perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase. The undead are up to no good. Helga doesn't know where she comes from. All she knows is life with Goat-Thigh, who found her as a baby in the highlands and gave her a home. Goat-Thigh used to be plagued with fits of berserk fury--a battle rage that made him dangerous to everyone around--until he took in Helga. Now, Helga won't ever leave his side, even if their neighbors shun him. But their lives are disrupted when a nearby haunted mountain cracks open and a mob of vengeful undead invades the land. In the chaos, Goat-Thigh's berserk fits are triggered...and he's unable to break free. To save her adoptive father, Helga will need the help of some unlikely friends to banish the undead--from mischievous ox tails to rowdy house crashers and frightening monsters with family secrets. Can Helga and her allies outsmart these specters and confront the deep wounds from their tangled pasts?
About the Author
About the Author
S. J. Taylor writes stories steeped in folklore and magic, where young protagonists tackle big adventures and bigger questions. Although she grew up in Arizona's desert, her heart yearns for the Nordic lands. When she's not writing, she can often be found knitting yet another sweater (sweater weather is the best weather). She lives with her family in Connecticut. Visit her at SJTaylorbooks.com.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Helga's first-person narration effectively captures a universal longing for acceptance, combining elements from Icelandic sagas and Norse mythology with themes of difference and acceptance. . . An adventurous tale with a heartwarming message of acceptance." --Kirkus Reviews
"A terrific fantasy adventure with a rich world, cool monsters, and a protagonist who is bighearted, fierce, and so much fun to follow." ----Anne Ursu, author of The Lost Girl, Breadcrumb
"S. J. Taylor weaves words together like magic, making Helga the Fair a delight from start to finish. . . . A moving story of found family, love, and self-acceptance."----Cassandra Ramos-Gomez, author of Lost on Doll Island
"An adventurous tale rich with Icelandic lore, this is a page-turner of a book!"----Moniza Hossain, author of Bad Things Happened Here
"A fun twist on Icelandic folklore, packed with suspense, humor, and an undead army that refuses to behave like proper monsters."----Shakirah Bourne, author of Nightmare Island
"Strange, lovely, and fierce . . . A rollicking fantasy at its most imaginative."----Mary Averling, author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pub date:
2026-06-16
Length:
368 pages
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