Loki A Bad God's Guide To Being Good - Louie Stowell

 

Loki has been a bad god one too many times so Odin has banished him to Earth to live as an eleven year old boy in order to learn how he should behave.  The instructions are simple: go to school, do good deeds and learn how to put up with Thor who has also been sent down to Earth as an eleven year old.  Along with their fake parents (Heimdall and Hyrrokkin), they have to live on Earth for a month without telling anyone who they really are.  During this time, Loki needs to keep a daily diary to prove that he is improving; however, the diary is intelligent so knows when Loki is lying about his day and corrects his entries (much to his annoyance!).  He will gain points for every good deed but will loose points for anything bad; his starting score is -3000 with a target of +3000. At the end of the month Odin will read Loki's diary and decide his fate: return home or be condemned to eternal torture!  

This was a brilliant read and just what I needed! It's funny and clever, and hugely appealing to children (and child-like adults!). The diary format, with the illustrations makes the book accessible to even the most reluctant reader, and Loki's sarcasm and observations about life on Earth as a child, make the book engaging and highly entertaining. 

Loki, as the god of mischief, is determined to rebel against his fate: he can't stand being in such a wimpy body, he doesn't see the point of school and certainly doesn't understand the need to be nice to others.  Yet, there is another side to him, one he needs to access if he is to avoid eternal damnation; he just needs to be able to access it. Can he be the hero he needs to be?

A fab introduction to mythology, Loki A Bad God's Guide To Being Good is Who Let The Gods Out meets Wimpy Kid and will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Marvel.  A guaranteed hit when it's published in February, I just hope there is more to come!