The Viking Adventure [Paperback]

Clyde Robert Bulla (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Sigurd, a Viking boy, cannot see the value of learning to read and write. All he can think of is adventure. But then he has an adventure that he cannot help but tell. And to do that, he decides, he must learn to write. A fine story for young readers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback
• Publisher: Varsitybooks.Com (January 1967)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887840419
• ISBN-13: 978-1887840415
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #645,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enduring Adventure, November 18, 2005

By	Tab Artis (La Crescenta, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viking adventure (Hardcover)

I did not read this book, which was originally published the year that I was born, until I read it to my own children in the last few years. The copy that I have now was one that my mother ordered and read herself back in 1968 and which somehow ended up on my childrens' bookshelf.

I originally read it to my 8 year old daughter (who is now 10), who loved it so much, that we read it again and again as bedtime reading (reading one chapter per night). It seems that in our day, the books that are heavily marketed to our children, and which they are enticed to buy, are those that have flashy covers and are populated by cartoon characters.

"Viking Adventure" is a wonderful story populated by realistic people in a portrayal of realistic Viking life. It is the story of a young boy named Sigurd, who is the son of a one-time Viking adventurer. Reading it puts one in a completely believable, recognizable, yet historical world in which the tale of Sigurd being raised by his father so that he will be prepared for manhood, is recounted. It tells of Sigurd's own adventures sailing to a legendary place called Wineland, which we know as North America. Sigurd's adventure is full of danger, treachery, friendship and survival. Viking Adventure is well-written children's literature, that my 8 year old son and I now read repeatedly at bedtime. Unlike much of current children's fiction, Viking Adventure is one of those books that was a good read in 1965, still is a good read in 2005, and will still be a good read when I read it, someday, to my grandchildren

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Piece of Historical Fiction for Children, August 9, 2007

By	China Mike (East Asia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Viking Adventure (Hardcover)

This is actually my favorite of the Robert Clyde Bulla children's book. I am sorry that it is out of print. What I appreciated about this book is that the story personifies the historic struggles of the Viking as they emerged first as a warrior culture and their later cultural development as they began to take more of a permanent place among the medieval kingdoms of Southern Europe as traders rather than raiding pirates. Bulla has done such a masterful job of portraying this story through the eyes of young Sigurd, a boy who was trained by his father to live a life of exploration and adventure as a Viking. Sigurd receives an opportunity to travel and be mentored by his father's old partner and travel to Vineland (the Viking name for the North American Continent), which they have heard about through the legendary exploits of Leif Erickson's. However, Vineland is considered a myth by most Vikings, but the crew is determined to set and find out what opportunities await them. From the very beginning of the voyage there is tension between the owner of the ship and the captain. The captain represents the new ideals of the Vikings and seeks to build trading relationships with the inhabitants of Vineland. The owner of the ship, following more of the traditions of his warrior forefathers, seeks to violently plunder any treasure he may find in the new land. This is how Mr. Bulla captures the conflict between the old and new cultures of the Norsemen of this time period, and it is Sigurd who is caught in the middle of these men.

This is wonderful storytelling done by a master of historical children's literature. As I researched about the Vikings, I was surprised at how accurately Mr. Bulla represented the Vikings and the period in which the story takes place. It is my hope that new editions of this fine coming-of-age story will be reprinted.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great historical fiction book for girls and boys, September 2, 2008

By	Elaine G. Lambert "mitfordfan" (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Viking Adventure (Paperback)

I read this to my six year old daughter while we were studying Leif Erickson. It was a perfect combination of excellent story line and historical background. My daughter loved it and wanted to keep reading every time it was time to stop. I enjoyed it as much as she did. I think Bulla is one of the best children's writers out there and we seek his books out at every opportunity. Since the main character in this book is a young boy, I assume boys will love it even more than we did.