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The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

Summary

Jack, apprentice to the village bard, and his sister Lucy are kidnapped and enslaved by Vikings.

Booktalk

Jack has heard more than he cares to know about the Northmen. As an apprentice to the Bard, who knows magic and many stories to go along with it, Jack has listened to many tales about the Northmen and the trolls that also inhabit their land. The Northmen serve a king called Ivar the Boneless, who is so strong he can break a man's leg with his bare hands, and he wears a coat made of the bears of his victims. Ivar is marred to Frith, a half-troll, and Jack knows that trolls can eat people. The land where Ivar lives is cold and icy, so he sends warriors to try to claim new lands for him. These warriors are called berserkers, and the Bard tells Jack, when they fight, “they become as frenzied as mad dogs. They bite holes in their shields. They run barefooted over jagged rocks without feeling it. Neither fire nor steel can stop them. They believe themselves to be wolves or bears.” No sooner has Jack heard this tale from the Bard then a boy arrives with an urgent message from the village. The Berserkers have arrived…

459 pages, 5th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Describe Jack and Lucy's relationship with their father. Why is his father reluctant to let Jack become the Bard's apprentice? Do your parents treat you and your siblings equally or differently?
  2. The Bard tells Jack, "Life and death are in constant battle. There's no way in this world for happiness to exist alone." What does he mean? Do you agree with him?
  3. What type of person is Thorgil? Why did Jack think she was a boy?
  4. Lucy tells Jack about the horrible things that might happen to them: "But until it happens, I don't want to think about it. Don't you see? I can't live knowing about it." What do you think about Lucy's statement? Would you rather think about bad things in future or pretend they won't happen?
  5. Describe Olaf One-Brow. Is he cruel or kind? Why do you think so?
  6. What is the life force? What does Jack learn about how to reach it? How is the life force dangerous?
  7. Who did Bold Heart turn out to be? Did you guess his identity?
  8. What was your favorite part of the book?
  9. Which parts of the book do you think were based on history and which parts do you think were fantasy?

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Snacks: Try hot apple cider, bread and cheese, or flummery (a dessert like pudding or custard)

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