Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce and Laura Geringer

Pages: 228
Intended Audience: Tweens
Genre: Fantasy / Legend
Notes for Parents: Contains some scenes that can be scary to younger readers

The Back Cover

Before St. Nick was St. Nick, he was North, Nicholas St. North, a daredevil swordsman, ruffian, and notorious outlaw. His prowess with weaponry of all kinds was infamous and he sought treasure and riches at all costs. Hardly hero material. But heroes are not born—they’re tested. When real villains enter the scene in the shifting shape of Pitch and his dreaded Fearlings, North finds a different use for his famed fighting abilities.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in the Guardians series that traces the nefarious origins of beloved legends like the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and, of course, St. Nick. He also wrote and executive produced The Rise of the Guardians, an animated movie based on his Guardians series. (The book series is also referred to as The Guardians of Childhood series).

What’s good?

This classic story of good versus evil is filled with excitement and danger. It’s a whimsical tale that includes the wizard Ombric, brave young Katherine, and the bandit Nicholas St. North. There is also a giant bear, talking bugs, yetis, moonbeans, and host of other imaginative characters. The chapters are short, the language is simple, and the plot is uncomplicated. The plot is fun and action-filled.
Best Part: The fantastic illustrations!

What isn’t good?

It definitely reads more like a picture book than a chapter book. The characters and plot lack depth and the story is filled with predictable outcomes.
Worst part:  While we assume Nicholas St. North is the future Santa Claus, the legend of St. Nick is not explored.

Recommendation þþþoo

While this wasn’t what I expected, it was still an imaginative tale of fanciful people and places. Themes of friendship, courage and imagination, as well as wonderful illustrations, make this a great story for all ages. Recommended…for the young.

Joyce, William and Laura Geringer. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King. New York: Scholastic, 2011.