Heroes of the Valley

Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud
Recommended for ages 12 and up

Everyone in the valley knows the old stories of how the Heroes settled the valley and kept the peace among the people. As the second son of a prominent House in the valley, Halli Sveinsson has grown up hearing the tales daily. His older brother Leif will inherit the family's title and rule of the land, and so Halli spends most of his time getting into trouble. When Halli unintentionally starts a feud he leaves his home in hopes of restoring his family’s honor and discovers the world beyond his House.

With fights, thieves and mysterious monsters, this book is as thrilling as it is humorous. Though it starts off slow, Stroud (author of the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy) will soon have you hooked as Halli's knack for getting into trouble leads him from one mess to another in quick succession. Can a prankster like Halli ever hope to become a hero?