
A parent might reach for this book when their child shows a blossoming interest in history, mythology, or what life was like long ago. For the child asking questions about Thor, longships, or ancient warriors, 'Life As a Viking' provides a comprehensive and engaging answer. It moves beyond stereotypes to explore the daily reality of Viking society: what they ate, how they built their homes, the roles of men, women, and children, and their beliefs. The book handles the harsher aspects of Viking life, like raiding, with historical accuracy suitable for its age range. It's an excellent choice for nurturing curiosity and providing a well-rounded historical foundation that is both educational and exciting.
The book deals directly with the topics of violence and slavery. Raiding, warfare, and weaponry are described factually, without gratuitous detail but also without sanitizing the reality. The institution of slavery (thralls) is explained as an integral part of their social and economic system. The approach is secular and historical. There is no narrative resolution; the book presents these as facts of a past culture, leaving the moral interpretation to the reader and guiding adults.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe ideal reader is an 8 to 12-year-old with an interest in history, mythology, or adventure. This child likely enjoys learning how things work and how people lived in the past. They may have been introduced to Norse myths through pop culture (like Marvel's Thor) and are now ready for a more historically accurate and detailed account of the actual Viking people.
A parent should preview the sections on raiding and the social structure, specifically the part about thralls. Be prepared to have a conversation about why a society might engage in practices like raiding and slavery, and to provide the modern moral context that the book, as a historical account, does not editorialize on. The rest of the book can be read cold and is an excellent springboard for shared learning. A parent witnesses their child devouring books on Greek or Roman myths and asks, "Are there other cool old stories?" Or the child returns from a museum or watches a movie and starts asking specific questions: "Were Vikings real? Did they really have horned helmets? What was it like on one of their ships?"
A younger reader (8-9) will be captivated by the tangible details: the design of longships, the types of weapons, the food they ate, and the idea of exploration. An older reader (10-12) will be better equipped to understand the more abstract concepts, such as the complex social hierarchy, the economic motivations for raiding, the role of women in society, and the long-term historical impact of the Viking Age.
Compared to many kids' books on Vikings that focus almost exclusively on warriors and myths, this book's strength is its detailed focus on the totality of Viking society. By dedicating significant space to farming, family life, law, and the roles of women and children, it provides a much more balanced and accurate portrait of the culture. The chapter book format allows for more depth than a typical encyclopedia-style book.
This nonfiction chapter book provides a detailed overview of Viking life from approximately 793 to 1066 CE. It covers key aspects of the culture, including social structure (jarls, karls, thralls), daily life in the longhouse, food and clothing, the roles of men and women, craftsmanship, and trade. The book also details the more famous aspects of Viking history, such as their shipbuilding technology, exploration, raiding tactics, and warfare. It concludes with a look at Norse mythology, runes, and the eventual decline of the Viking Age.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.