The Heartless Troll

Gr 4–7—Inspired by the Norwegian folktale "The Troll with No Heart in His Body," which will probably be unfamiliar to most U.S. readers, this graphic novel is the story of how a king's youngest son leaves home to attempt to rescue his brothers. Along the way he encounters different animals and tries to save a princess from a huge troll. Prince Fred keeps up his spirits and maintains his sense of humor throughout, and the narrative is fast-paced and fun. Cartoon sketches are mostly in black-and-white but also contain frequent splashes of color to add energy and action to the story. The book is oversize, which will appeal to readers who want to lose themselves in the illustrations but will make it more difficult to carry. The tale is filled with humor and adventure, and readers will enjoy Prince Fred's witty banter with his reluctant horse, the hungry wolf, the spirited princess, and the evil troll.