Shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards, Children's Book category, 2016 - May 2016 Book of the Month Francesca Simon has chosen a singular heroine for her first novel for teenagers. Hel is Queen of the Norse underworld, but never has the eternal teenage cry, ‘It’s not fair’ been more justified.
Offspring of giants and gods, she is despised by all; human to the waist, she’s a ‘corpse baby’ - her legs are dangling and gangrenous at birth. Despatched to the Underworld, harbinger of Asgard’s downfall, she nonetheless retains her sharp tongue, her cynicism, her sense of humour and that’s what makes the book so interesting: who wouldn’t want to spend time in this teenager’s company as she works out how to make the best of her situation, unwisely falls in love and reluctantly accepts her fate.
It’s an extraordinary novel, dark and grim, but Hel’s energy and vitality will keep readers on her side. ~ Andrea Reece
The Costa Judges said: “An ancient anti-heroine is given a fierce modern voice in this story of gods, monsters and growing up.”
A stunning, operatic, epic drama, like no other. Meet Hel, an ordinary teenager - and goddess of the Underworld. Why is life so unfair?
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A stunning, operatic, epic drama, like no other. Meet Hel, an ordinary teenager - and goddess of the Underworld.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Monstrous Child and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-14 years old
The Monstrous Child features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Funny, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Fantasy / Magical, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 13+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. Not Available.
The Monstrous Child was written by Francesca Simon and published by Faber & Faber
The Monstrous Child has 286 pages
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