New children's and YA e-books added to NCLS!

Forgotten Bones: Uncovering a Slave Cemetery, by Lois Miner Huey.

Imagine you're watching a backhoe dig up the ground for a construction project when a round object rolls down a pile of dirt and stops at your feet. You pick it up, brush off some dirt, and realize you're holding a skull!

This is exactly what happened in Albany, New York, in 2005. Workers were putting in new sewer line when a backhoe driver dug up a skull. After police declared the skull wasn't connected to any recent crimes, a team of archaeologists took a closer look. They determined the skull was from an African American who had died more than one hundred years earlier.

Suddenly the construction site turned into an archaeological dig. Scientists excavated more bones and realized that they had located a long-lost slave cemetery. Slavery had been legal in the northern United States, including in New York State, in colonial times, but the stories of these slaves are largely unknown. This site became just the third slave cemetery ever to be excavated in the North. See how archaeologists pieced together the truth about these once forgotten bones.

The Iron Warrior (The Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa.

Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned to learn that the Veil that conceals the fey from human sight was temporarily torn away. Although humankind's glimpse of the world of Faery lasted just a brief moment, the human world was cast into chaos, and the emotion and glamour produced by fear and wonder has renewed the tremendous power of the Forgotten Queen. Now she is at the forefront of an uprising against the courts of Faery—a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.

Leading the Lady's Forgotten Army is Keirran himself: Ethan's nephew, and the traitor son of the Iron Queen, Meghan Chase.To stop Keirran, Ethan must disobey his sister once again as he and his girlfriend, Kenzie, search for answers long forgotten. In the face of unprecedented evil and unfathomable power, Ethan's enemies must become his allies, and the fey and human worlds will be changed forevermore.

The Lightning Queen, by Laura Resau.

A stunningly rendered mystical novel, set in the remote mountains of Mexico in the 1950s, illuminates the power of an unlikely friendship that blends cultures, magic, and possibilities. Nothing exciting happens on the Hill of Dust, in the remote mountains of Mexico in the 1950s. There's no electricity, no plumbing, no cars, just day after day of pasturing goats. And now, without his sister and mother, eleven-year-old Teo's life feels even more barren.

And then one day, the mysterious young Esma, who calls herself the Gypsy Queen of Lightning, rolls into town like a fresh burst of color. Against all odds, her caravan's Mistress of Destiny predicts that Teo and Esma will be longtime friends. Suddenly, life brims with possibility.

With the help of a rescued duck, a three-legged skunk, a blind goat, and other allies, Teo and Esma must overcome obstacles-even death-to fulfill their impossible destiny. Inspired by true stories derived from rural Mexico, The Lightning Queen offers a glimpse of the encounter between two fascinating but marginalized cultures—the Rom and the Mixtec Indians—while telling the heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that spans generations.

Little Red Gliding Hood, by Tara Lazar. Illustrated by Troy Cummings.

Little Red Riding Hood straps on ice skates in this fractured fairy tale! A figure-skating enthusiast, Little Red has worn out her skates and must win a pairs competition to earn new ones. But who will be her partner? The Dish is already skating with the Spoon, and Hansel has Gretel.

You won't believe what big eyes, sharp teeth, and furry paws her partner has . . . all the better to spin her with!

The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2), by Marie Lu. (Also available in audio, narrated by Carla Corvo and Lannon Killea.)

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru's heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

These Shallow Graves, by Jennifer Donnelly.

From Jennifer Donnelly, the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of A Northern Light and Revolution, comes a mystery about dark secrets, dirty truths, and the lengths to which people will go for love and revenge. For fans of Elizabeth George and Libba Bray, These Shallow Graves is the story of how much a young woman is willing to risk and lose in order to find the truth.

Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon--like all the girls in her class--she'll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo dreams of becoming a writer--a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo's life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort shot himself while cleaning his pistol. One of New York City's wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was a partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun. 

The more Jo hears about her father's death, the more something feels wrong. Suicide is the only logical explanation, and of course people have started talking, but Jo's father would never have resorted to that. And then she meets Eddie--a young, smart, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father's newspaper--and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. But now it might be too late to stop. 

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and this time the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

(All descriptions from OverDrive.)

New children's and YA e-books added to NCLS!

Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman and  Jay Kristoff. (Also available in audio, performed by a full cast.)

For fans of The Fifth Wave and James Dashner comes the first book in an epic series that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension.

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

The Nutcracker Comes to America: How Three Ballet-Loving Brothers Created a Holiday Tradition, by Chris Barton and illustrated by Cathy Gendron.

Every December, The Nutcracker comes to life in theaters all across the United States. But how did this 19th-century Russian ballet become such a big part of the holidays in 21st-century America?

Meet Willam, Harold, and Lew Christensen, three small-town Utah boys who caught the ballet bug in the early 1900s. They performed on vaudeville and took part in the New York City dance scene. Russian immigrants shared the story of The Nutcracker with them, and during World War II, they staged their own Christmastime production in San Francisco. It was America's first full-length version and the beginning of a delightful holiday tradition.

Robo-Sauce, by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.

Fans of the best-selling Dragons Love Tacos will devour Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri's newest story, a hilarious picture book about robots that magically transforms into a super shiny metal ROBO-BOOK.

FACT: Robots are awesome. They have lasers for eyes, rockets for feet, and supercomputers for brains! Plus, robots never have to eat steamed beans or take baths, or go to bed. If only there were some sort of magical "Robo-Sauce" that turned squishy little humans into giant awesome robots... Well, now there is.

Giggle at the irreverent humor, gasp at the ingenious fold-out surprise ending, and gather the whole family to enjoy a unique story about the power of imagination. It's picture book technology the likes of which humanity has never seen!

The Trouble in Me, by Jack Gantos.

This fiery autobiographical novel captures a pivotal week or two in the life of fourteen-year-old Jack Gantos, as the author reveals the moment he began to slide off track as a kid who in just a few years would find himself locked up in a federal penitentiary for the crimes portrayed in the memoir Hole in My Life.

Set in the Fort Lauderdale neighborhood of his family's latest rental home, The Trouble in Me opens with an explosive encounter in which Jack first meets his awesomely rebellious older neighbor, Gary Pagoda, just back from juvie for car theft. Instantly mesmerized, Jack decides he will do whatever it takes to be like Gary. As a follower, Jack is eager to leave his old self behind, and desperate for whatever crazy, hilarious, frightening thing might happen next. But he may not be as ready as he thinks when the trouble in him comes blazing to life. 

(All descriptions from OverDrive.)

Oswego County READ Event

I haven't done too much blogging lately, and part of that is because I've been out of the office doing interesting non-office things. For example, last week I attended a meeting of the Oswego County Library Council, a biannual gathering of the staff and trustees of Oswego County libraries. I'm a big fan of this group, not only because they seek out opportunities to get involved with community events, not only because they work together to advocate for funding on the county level, not only because they provide a platform for sharing accomplishments and lessons learned, but also because they're straight up fun to be around.

(I mean, they asked me to bring a puppet with me to the meeting. You bet I will!)

At the most recent meeting, they shared this upcoming event, and I thought I'd pass it along.

Puppets!

Every morning, I walk through the stacks at NCLS to get to my desk. I don't even need the lights to be on anymore; I just walk through in the dark like I'm at home, going downstairs for a glass of water, knowing the way by memory. So, I don't even see the high quality puppets hanging in plastic bags just waiting for our member library staff to check them out and use them in storytime. And if the lady who walks past them every single workday doesn't see them, it's a good bet that our member libraries don't often see them either.

So, I was delighted when the Oswego County Library Council requested that I bring a puppet with me to their fall meeting. It was a chance for me to remind everyone that NCLS does provide this central collection, and it was also a chance for me TO BRING A PUPPET TO A MEETING.

For those of you who are interested, here are the puppets we keep on hand here at NCLS:

Alligator 

Our raven puppet currently greets visitors at the front desk.

Beaver
Black Bear
Butterfly
Chicken
Chipmunk
Fox
Ladybug
Leopard Frog
Panda
Pig
Porcupine 
Raccoon 
Raven
River Otter
Short-eared Owl
Skunk
Squirrel 
Tarantula
Toad
Turkey
Turtle
Woodpecker
Woolly Sheep


All are barcoded; all are available for loan to member library staff. Enjoy!

St. Lawrence yearbook digitization project now complete!

Yearbooks are one of those local history resources that are truly local, and it's no surprise that many libraries keep them in the reference collection. And if you graduated from a St. Lawrence County school, you may now be able to find your yearbook online.

As part of the New York Heritage project, yearbooks from St. Lawrence County schools have been scanned and are now available on the web.

And even if you aren't looking for your St. Lawrence County yearbook, the New York Heritage site is pretty cool to just browse. You can search by topic or region or even by time period, and the site includes historical maps, newspapers, photos, and tons of other documents relevant to New York history. Check it out!

New children's and YA e-books added to NCLS!

The Dreadful Fate of Jonathan York: A Yarn for the Strange at Heart, by Kory Merritt.

Jonathan York has led a boring life – a pointless degree from the community college, a lackluster job at the General Store, and never any desire for something more exciting. But when fate leaves him stranded in a sinister land, he finds himself seeking an adventure of his own.

Along the way he encounters ghoulish thieves, ravenous swamp monsters, a dastardly ice cream conspiracy, and a necromancer bent on human sacrifice. In this beautifully illustrated, four-color novel, Jonathan York's life takes a decidedly spooky turn!

Kid Owner, by Tim Green.

When Ryan's estranged father unexpectedly dies, Ryan learns that he has inherited the Dallas Cowboys. With his new role as owner of this NFL team, Ryan has high hopes that he can be more than just a middle-school misfit. Maybe he can even get off the bench and into the starting lineup of his own football team.

With the help of his friends Jackson and Izzy, Ryan takes advantage of his newfound stardom. He convinces his coach to use a tricky passing offense that plays to Ryan's strengths.

But just when things are looking up, Ryan's nasty stepmother makes a legal play to make her own son the Cowboys' kid owner. With drama heating up both on and off the field, Ryan quickly realizes he may lose much more than just the Dallas Cowboys.

MARTians, by Blythe Woolston.

Last girl Zoë Zindleman, numerical ID 009-99-9999, is starting work at AllMART, where "your smile is the AllMART welcome mat." Her living arrangements are equally bleak: she can wait for her home to be foreclosed and stripped of anything valuable now that AnnaMom has moved away, leaving Zoë behind, or move to the Warren, an abandoned strip-mall-turned-refuge for other left-behinds. With a handful of other disaffected, forgotten kids, Zoë must find her place in a world that has consumed itself beyond redemption. She may be a last girl, but her name means "life," and Zoë isn't ready to disappear into the AllMART abyss. Zoë wants to live.

Newt's Emerald, by Garth Nix.

Inspired by the works of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, Garth Nix's Newt's Emerald is a Regency romance with a fantasy twist. New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger calls it "charming; quite, quite charming."

After Lady Truthful's magical Newington Emerald is stolen from her she devises a simple plan: go to London to recover the missing jewel. She quickly learns, however, that a woman cannot wander the city streets alone without damaging her reputation, and she disguises herself as a mustache-wearing man. During Truthful's dangerous journey she discovers a crook, an unsuspecting ally, and an evil sorceress—but will she find the Emerald?

The Odds of Getting Even (Tupelo Landing #3), by Sheila Turnage.  (Also available in audio, narrated by Lauren Fortgang.)

The trial of the century has come to Tupelo Landing, NC. Mo and Dale, aka Desperado Detectives, head to court as star witnesses against Dale's daddy—confessed kidnapper Macon Johnson. Dale's nerves are jangled, but Mo, who doesn't mind getting even with Mr. Macon for hurting her loved ones, looks forward to a slam dunk conviction—if everything goes as expected.

Of course nothing goes as expected. Macon Johnson sees to that. In no time flat, Macon's on the run, Tupelo Landing's in lockdown, and Dale's brother's life hangs in the balance. With Harm Crenshaw, newly appointed intern, Desperado Detectives are on the case. But it means they have to take on a tough client—one they'd never want in a million years.

For everyone who's already fallen for Mo and Dale, and for anyone who's new to Tupelo Landing, The Odds of Getting Even is a heartwarming story that perfectly blends mystery and action with more serious themes about family and fathers, all without ever losing its sense of humor.

A Song for Ella Grey, by David Almond.

David Almond, recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award, a Printz Honor for Skellig, and the Printz Award for Kit's Wilderness, has crafted an enchanting modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Written in lyrical prose, this novel for fans of epic romances and mythology retellings explores themes of love, loss, fate, and destiny set against the dramatic and diverse backdrop of Northern England.

Claire and Ella and their friends are bound by ties so strong they seem unbreakable. Then the strange and handsome Orpheus strolls onto the beach, and he sings them all into an astonishing new understanding of themselves. Ella is caught the hardest, fastest, deepest--and Claire is left with the pain of looking on.

Raw, emotional, lyrical, funny, and true, A Song for Ella Grey is a tale of the joys, troubles, and desires of modern teens. It takes place in the ordinary streets of Tyneside and on the beautiful beaches of Northumberland. It's a story of first love, a love song that draws on ancient mythical forces. A love that leads Ella, Orpheus, and Claire to the gates of Death and beyond.

Upside Down Magic, by Emily Jenkins, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle. (Also available in audio, narrated by Rebecca Soler.)

In a world of elite magic academies, weird and wonderful things happen when you're sent off to public school . . . and put in the Upside-Down Magic class.

It's never easy when your magic goes wonky. For Nory, this means that instead of being able to turn into a dragon or a kitten, she turns into both of them at the same time - a dritten. For Elliott, the simple act of conjuring fire from his fingertips turns into a fully frozen failure. For Andres, wonky magic means he's always floating in the air, bouncing off the walls, or sitting on the ceiling. For Bax, a bad moment of magic will turn him into a... actually, he'd rather not talk about that.

Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax are just four of the students in Dunwiddle Magic School's Upside-Down Magic class. In their classroom, lessons are unconventional, students are unpredictable, and magic has a tendency to turn wonky at the worst possible moments. Because it's always amazing, the trouble a little wonky magic can cause...

(All descriptions from OverDrive.)

Guest Post: Zombie Barbies

Speaking as a children's librarian who no longer conducts regular programming for children, I often rely on member libraries in our system for good, low-cost ideas to pass along. This one comes from Linda from Gouverneur, who knocks it out of the park by transforming Barbie dolls into Zombies. And just in time for Halloween.

Well, the program was a hit, for sure.  We had adults, teens, and kids.  People got very creative and we didn't make too much of a mess.  They all agreed to let their Barbies be on display for a couple of weeks.

I altered the directions somewhat to fit my own needs.  For example, I used flat taupe spray paint instead of grey, as it seemed more realistic.  And rather than use yellow paint for the eyes, I used black and dabbed at the paint with a paper towel.  A craft sponge would work equally as well.  Instead of using dye in the water (because I was too cheap), I squirted different colours of paint into the water until it was an acceptably nasty colour.  I stirred it in and let the clothes soak for a bit.  Then, to make the clothes even grimier, I squirted more black and brown paint in, which got on the clothes and left spots.  Awesome!

I spray-painted the dolls, being careful not to get too much on the face; I didn't want to obscure the features...yet.  I also tried to get very little in the hair.  I used paint markers of various colors just because I wanted to.  I also dipped my doll's hair into the nasty water, although none of the participants did that.  It made the hair pretty messy.  Which was what I was after.

Using small paintbrushes, I dabbed red paint on the clothes, body, and face.  I also used a toothbrush for a mottled bloody look.  Then I ran my thumb over the bristles to create a splatter effect.

Oddly enough, finding used Barbies with clothes was a tougher thing that I imagined.  All the thrift stores were out.  Finally, a trustee found several at the thrift shop she works at.  They were more expensive than they should have been ($30 for 10), but by that point I was desperate.  With more planning and an earlier start, that part of the program could have been much cheaper.  I spent about $60 on acrylic paints, spray paint, paint brushes, paint markers, and fabric markers.  The fabric markers worked well for griming up the clothes even more.

Although I left my Barbie's clothes intact, the participants cut and tore the clothes for further effect, which turned out great.

Even with fifteen participants, there were plenty of supplies left over (except for the dolls, of course).  The program can definitely be pulled off for less than $100, probably for closer to $50.  Fifteen was the max for the space I had to work in.  It was popular enough that I may very well turn it into an annual program.  I could stretch it over two or more nights to include more participants.  For example, thirty people could participate in groups of fifteen over two nights.

Everyone had a great time.  I had people ages ten to adult.  I wouldn't suggest having participants younger than ten, as it does get very messy and it does call for fine detail work and some patience.  We completed the zombification in two hours and left the dolls over night to dry.  If done during the summer, the program would take longer, as the paint and clothes would take longer to dry.  I made my zombie when it was humid, so mine took a weekend.

I would highly recommend doing this.  Most people have or can get their hands on a Barbie doll.  Zombies are all the rage and signs point to this being so for quite some time.  There's really no way for participants to make mistakes; it's a zombie, so anything can happen.  It was a pretty inexpensive program, it worked for almost all ages, and people had a great time.  And when you're done, you have a great Halloween decoration.  Or, if you're like me, an all-year-round decoration.

New children's and YA e-books added to NCLS!

Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell.

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Carry On - The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

Daughters Unto Devils, by Amy Lukavics.

When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner's family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly Ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.

When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn't right on the prairie. She's heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can't be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, by Don Brown.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina's monstrous winds and surging water overwhelmed the protective levees around low-lying New Orleans, Louisiana. Eighty percent of the city flooded, in some places under twenty feet of water. Property damages across the Gulf Coast topped $100 billion. One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three people lost their lives. The riveting tale of this historic storm and the drowning of an American city is one of selflessness, heroism, and courage—and also of incompetence, racism, and criminality.

Don Brown's kinetic art and as-it-happens narrative capture both the tragedy and triumph of one of the worst natural disasters in American history. A portion of the proceeds from this book has been donated to Habitat for Humanity New Orleans.

The Nest, by Kenneth Oppel. Illustrated by Jon Klassen. (Also available in audio, narrated by Gibson Frazier.)

Steve just wants to save his baby brother—but what will he lose in the bargain? This is a haunting gothic tale for fans of Coraline, from acclaimed author Kenneth Oppel (Silverwing, The Boundless) with illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.

For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered.

All he has to do is say “Yes.” But “yes” is a powerful word. It is also a dangerous one. And once it is uttered, can it be taken back?

Celebrated author Kenneth Oppel creates an eerie masterpiece in this compelling story that explores disability and diversity, fears and dreams, and what ultimately makes a family. Includes illustrations from celebrated artist Jon Klassen.

Orbiting Jupiter, by Gary D. Schmidt.

The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he's placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here, by Patrick Ness.

A new YA novel from novelist Patrick Ness, author of the Carnegie Medal- and Kate Greenaway Medal-winning A Monster Calls and the critically acclaimed Chaos Walking trilogy, The Rest of Us Just Live Here is a bold and irreverent novel that powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable.

What if you aren't the Chosen One? The one who's supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you're like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week's end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions.

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan. Audio only, narrated by Christopher Guetig.

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he barely knows-a man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die...

(All descriptions from OverDrive.)