Rise

Gr 6 Up–Bryn is an average teen girl, struggling to get along with her two older sisters, work her summer job at a Renaissance fair on the outskirts of Chicago, and keep up with her training—as a Valkyrie. Like their single mother, Bryn and her sisters are magical warrior women working for the Norse god, Odin. A Valkyrie’s job includes collecting brave dead souls to join Odin’s army in Valhalla, a duty Bryn fails to complete in the midst of several simultaneous crises: her mother has disappeared, a previously unknown half-giant sister has arrived, monsters are attacking her home, and the cute new local boy can somehow turn into a bear. Is the trickster god Loki to blame? And could this be Ragnarök, the foretold Norse end of days? Finch deftly weaves a coming-of-age tale with traditional Norse mythology, embracing even the strangest of Norse mythology (teeth carved with runes!). Bryn’s first-person perspective provides context and explanation for the fantastical elements while avoiding the pitfall of exposition dumps. Everyone goes through strong character arcs, growing and developing throughout. While the story leaves room for sequels, this one is satisfying on its own. Finch’s website provides a list of content warnings, which include violence, death/dying, and alcohol use (though it is made clear that the healing mead the teens drink is special from Asgard, not normal mead).