Viking Erik vs. The Reader. Sorry readers, this is one challenge that Erik will win! You will not be able to put down this book once you start reading. Erik comes from a brave Viking family only he seems to be missing that gene and finds his fears getting the better of him. When his older sister, Brunhilde decides to help Erik figure out how to overcome his fears, he finds himself wanting to hide under his bed permanently. Little by little he overcomes some of those fears and is surprised at the outcomes.

This is the type of book that is great to read aloud and add to the classroom library. Young readers will laugh at the silly situations Erik finds himself in and cheer him on his journey. Christina Uss has written a book that entertains readers and provides the space for discussions about accepting our fears and finding the strength and courage to overcome them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for the advanced copy.

When I first saw the cover, I had high expectations for this book. I wasn't disappointed! Erik Sheepflattener's family is tough and fearless. Erik is not. When his bold older sister decides to help Erik wage war upon his fears, Erik is suitably nervous. From one-eared squirrels, giggling infant triplets, yodeling librarians, fish as big as Erik's arm, and frightening piano teachers, one thing after another pushes to knock Erik back into the secret hideout under his bed--but for good this time. Silly scenarios and humorous moments keep the action strong and enjoyable.
I loved this book because even though some of the situations and many of Erik's family members are kind of ridiculous, Erik himself is a genuine character dealing with real fears. I couldn't help but be reminded of myself as a child facing a fear of big dogs--no matter what anyone tried or said, it was something I had to grow out of. I enjoyed watching Erik grow throughout this book. Though he never quite figures out how to stop his sister from bossing him around, he does find that he is not powerless and that even though his family doesn't quite understand him, they love him enough to make up for it. Will there be a sequel??? I hope so!
Thanks to HMH and Netgalley for helping me discover one of my new favorite books!

Middle graders will laugh out loud at this almost but not quite realistic fiction book by the author of the fabulous “The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle.” (The author, by the way, left me a twitter message that she puts her book in the genre she calls unrealistic contemporary fiction. )Erik is a 9 year old who has fears ranging from his piano teacher to being called on in class to the truly scary, wait for it—-squirrels! He has decided that his motto in life is “Avoid Stuff,” but his family claims Viking heritage and members of the Sheepflattener clan literally tattoo mottos like Conquer and Crush. All of that might actually happen to be the life of other boys, but the realism takes a pretty sharp, and hilarious, turn right about there. One of his sisters makes it her personal quest to help Erik overcome his fears and the full out assault involves battle cries, fishing with bare hands, and a variety of Viking like behaviors that surely don’t happen anywhere civilized, but maybe they should! Readers of series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Marty Pants, The Terrible Two, and maybe Gordon Korman’s Ungifted series or standalone Restart. As with “Bicycle” and her other book “Colossus of Roads”, Uss keeps this book exciting for grades 4-6 without resorting to any profanity, indiscriminate violence, or sexual content and innuendo.

This story was perfect for my 8 year old daughter is gets anxious and afraid a lot! It is quirky and funny and also super relatable! My daughter and I really enjoyed reading this book together!

This was a fun modern twist on Viking lore. A Viking-descended family each has their own claim to greatness, except Erik, who is afraid of...well...everything. He courageously explores his fears, trying to get to the bottom of them and get past them once and for all. Well written and engaging, this book deserves a place in any elementary school library for its heart and humor. 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a fun book. Full of laugh out loud moments and realistic family moments. I liked that there were themes of kindness, tolerance, while also being genuine to sibling issues.

Vikings are known for their fearlessness but Erik is so fearful he try to avoid everything. This story follows Erik through is journey to not be so scared and it was really cute and enjoyable. I read-aloud with my two sons, 5 & 9, the 5 yr old got a little bored but that was because he can’t sit still very long but the 9 year old absolutely loved it.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Erik is a Viking - well at least he is of Viking decent but he is not your typical Viking! Erik is not fearless - he is fearful. His motto is "Avoid Stuff" but its pretty hard to do in a family that's brave and brawny and eager to take on any challenge. Erik's mother loves to sign Erik up for any new and all new activities but Erik is terrified of even the smallest challenge - most especially squirrels! Just to make things more annoying for Erik he has two hyper-confident aggressive sisters who clearly do not understand fear. When Erik and his sister Brunhilde are sent to Minnesota to help care for their triplet toddler cousins his fears become Brunhilde's conquest. She sets out to help Erik understand what he fears and figure out how to overcome each and every one. Not exactly what Erik wants to do - but it doesn't seem like anyone cares about what he really wants to do - like hide under his bed!
Can Brunhilde's research help Erik to better understand his fears and anxiety and find new ways to get out and enjoy being a kid?
Christina Uss is a thoughtful writer - exploring the topic of fear and anxiety in children in a humorous and enlightening way. I specifically enjoyed the chapter headings with quotes from The Lore - the family's guide to Viking living. A great book to share as a read-aloud with a class or your own child- it just might hit a chord with some little soul afraid of his own shadow. A big thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for the advanced copy in return for my honest opinion of the book.

Pure fun! Creative, filled with Viking lore in a readable way. Erik, part of a Norwegian Viking family has numerous phobias. He is sent to his aunt & uncle home in Minnesota to help with the family expansion of triplets. The fun ensues as Erik and his sister (with the support of numerous family members) explore his fears and rid him of them, humorously. Mountain biking as part of a team conquering not only his phobias but realizing his family support and his coming of age. Enjoyed the author revelations at the end of the book explaining some of the connections to literature and lore.

This book was received as an ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group - HMH Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was beyond adorable and I absolutely loved the incorporation of the viking heritage and how every family member had a mantra to live up to. The characters were too funny and realtable which made the book an easy read. Our young readers will enjoy this book because of the history of information about Vikings. I know they will have a lot of questions and laugh at many parts to the book.

We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I only requested this book because the cover was adorable and the synopsis full of Vikings made me happy. I'm glad I did! I really enjoyed this story--amd I loved scared little anxious Erik and his unique and amusing Viking family. My only issue is that Erik tells his sister Brunhilde "no" over and over again--and while some of her techniques prove helpful and pull Erik out of his comfort zone, he deserves to have his "nos" heard, and he never does. At one point he starts to tell off Brunhilde for never listening to him when he says no, and I was so happy for him, but he kind of backs down about it and it's never really resolved.

It took me a while to get into this book at the start, but I did grow to appreciate reading about all of Erik’s worries and how they crippled him. It was comical to see his family try to help him overcome his fears. I would have loved to read a book like the one they took out from the library exposing all the different phobias and deciphering which ones applied to Erik. Kids will relate to all the anxiety Erik felt on a daily basis especially embarrassment, criticism, and failure. Halfway through the focus shifts to Erik's participation in a dangerous mountain biking race. I like the message to not let fear hold you back from new experiences and opportunities, however, I found the Viking characterization a bit odd and don’t know if my fourth grade students will connect with it.

The Sheepflatteners are modern day Vikings. For generations the family has drawn on the traditions of their Scandinavian ancestors, gathering their combined wisdom in a book known as The Lore and tattooing themselves with runes symbolizing their most important values (Conquer, Crush, and Family among others). But Erik Sheepflattener rejects his family's focus on heroics and tradition, in fast he's considering the runes for 'AVOID STUFF' when he finally gets his tattoo. When his sisters and cousins realize the extend of Erik's fears, they come together to support him as he faces each one in turn (even if he doesn't want to).

I thought this was a fun book with some genuinely laugh out loud moments. I particularly appreciated that the attempts to help Erik were, if not exactly wanted by Erik, offered in good faith. This is NOT a book about siblings trying to fix the family's black sheep. It is kinder and more accepting, while also allowing Erik to grow and master at least some of the fears that plague him.