Langrish, Katherine. Troll mill.

LANGRISH, Katherine. Troll mill. (Sequel to Troll Fell.) HarperCollins. 358p. c2006. 978-0-06-05830905. $7.99. JS

To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, January 2006: Readers of Langrish's Troll Fell will be eager to find out how Peer Ulfsson has fared after being freed from the clutches of his evil uncles and taken in by Ralf and Gudrun as one of their own. This story opens with a dramatic scene. Kersten, his friend Bjorn's wife, thrusts her baby into his arms as she races to the sea. Confused and afraid after Bjorn sets his boat off in a storm to find his wife, Peer stumbles home to Gudrun with the strange, dark girl. The mythology of the Selkies, the seal people who can take human form, the legend of Granny Green Teeth who lives under the water and, of course, the dark world of the trolls form the backdrop of this fantasy-filled book that is, overall, Peer's coming-of-age story. Not only is he pulled into Bjorn's tragedy and questioning his own beliefs, he finds himself struggling to establish a future for himself and to understand his feelings for his best friend, Hilde. The novel's setting is dark, and Langrish's description of the mill and its various inhabitants is especially chilling. Supporting characters are well developed, as are subplots, making Troll Mill a fine addition to the fantasy literature genre. Michele Winship, Asst. Prof., Capital Univ., Columbus, OH

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.