Sophmoric and silly, it still might be a good second-choice for a teen book club. PG-13-rated sex pops up now and again, but no bad language and little violence besides an un-Viking-like punch or two. (In the Sagas guys carry axes and misunderstandings lead to body parts flying off.) Some of the best stories of the original get muddled or left out, so if you skim the dull parts, the book's not very long. For more advanced readers, I'd recommend the Sagas themselves.

for everyone who likes sigrid undset "kristin lavrandsdaughter", halldor laxness "independent people", cecilia hollander "two ravens", and just generally the saga style, this is a well-written, lovely book. (for content see the book-description above). i really enjoyed this and think i will read it again eventually.