HEROES OF THE VALLEY - Disney

HALLI SVEINSSON has grown up in the House of Svein, hearing the legends of the heroes as all his forefathers did. But in this now-peaceful society, Halli has always been a misfit. Stumpy and swarthy, with an aptitude for practical jokes, Halli livens his days by getting into trouble. But when he plays a trick on Ragnar of the House of Hakon, he goes too far, setting in motion a chain of events that will forever alter his destiny. Because of it, Halli must go on a hero's quests that will bring him head-to-head with highway robbers, terrifying monsters, and a girl who may be as fearless as he is. Along the way he will discover the truth about the legends, his family, and himself. - Witty and cinematic storytelling propels Stroud's engrossing novel, set in a medieval world that recalls Norse epics. - Publishers Weekly - Fans of his 'Bartimaeus' trilogy