Fenris & Mott

Young Mott finds a fluffy white puppy dumped in an alley near contemporary Los Angeles and vows to keep it safe, only to learn the animal’s true capacity for destruction, in this mythological romp. Mott’s surprised when a man clad in leather and fur tries to nab the pup, indicating that it’s not just any ordinary canine but the legendary wolf Fenris—son of the Norse god Loki and known as “ender of worlds.” But Mott’s denial proves short-lived when Fenris promptly eats the man whole, soon followed by benches and trees, entire vehicles, and more people. But Mott, unlike her estranged father, intends to keep her promises, even if she’s not strictly allowed to have a puppy. As figures of lore appear in Fenris’s vicinity, Mott refuses to believe that Ragnarok, the prophesied end of the world, is imminent—or that the only way to avert it is to kill Fenris. Witty dialogue brightens Mott’s growing friendship with Valkyrie-in-training Thrudi as the two seek means to avert the apocalypse without causing harm to the adorable, havoc-wreaking puppy. Van Eekhout (Weird Kid) applies a deft touch to Mott’s difficult ethical dilemma, imbuing the quickly paced story with tenderness and genuine surprises. Mott is of Indonesian and Hollander descent; Thrudi reads as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Aug.)