Read + Review — Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard I: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

This book was about a boy named Magnus Chase, who has been living on the streets trying to find the person he misses the most, his mom. When his relatives come looking for him, he flees to his Uncle Randolph’s house which his mom forbid him to enter. Due to the childhood she had with Randolph, she didn’t want Magnus to even make contact with his uncle. Magnus later finds out that someone is coming after him to retrieve something that his father had. Even though he has yet to find out, when that someone comes to retrieve the secret item, Magnus fights to save his life and the object. He later learns that the best way to start a new beginning, is to go to the afterlife and actually experience another life. As he travels through his afterlife, he goes on many adventures. Magnus learns more about his past and save the people that he loves.

I really enjoyed reading these books, as I loved every other “Percy Jackson” or “Heroes of Olympus” book that he has written. I love how Rick Riordan makes it so that when you are reading the book, it is like the character is speaking to you. I also love all of the jokes that he puts in the book to make it interesting to read. I like how Rick Riordan adds in lines that sometimes says what the reader what be thinking when Magnus might do something bad or dumb. For example on the first page, it says, “Yeah, I know. You guys are going to read about how I died in agony, and you’re going to be like ‘Wow! That sounds cool, Magnus! Can I die in agony too!’ No. Just no.” I think that pages and sentences like these make the book much more enjoyable and humorous then most books. Rick Riordan’s chapter titles in his books are also very funny. One example is “I am Trash-Talked by a Squirrel,” which makes you want to read the book even more to find out what happens.

I think one of the most memorable things in the book are the friends that Magnus makes along the way, and how much he learns about his past and his relatives that he barely knew about. Also, I think something else that is very memorable is the history about the Norse Gods that you learn along the way.

Reviewed by Samantha, Grade 7, Twin Hickory Area Library