What is The Thing About Giants about?
Humans and Giants have been enemies for as long as people can remember. Luckily people live in a walled city for security, and trained giant hunters are sent to sort out any giants they find on their hunting missions. Jacq’s mum was a revered giant hunter, but she was in an accident while doing her duty. Now Jacq is to become a hunter – against her wishes.
On her first mission as a hunter, she too is in an accident, but is saved from certain death – by a giant. Time with him in his beautiful world of forests, lush land and hills, shows Jacq the truth about them.
Plot summary of The Thing About Giants (No Spoilers)
Jacq is not looking forward to the upcoming ceremony where she will become another giant hunter for their city of Fathach. Her best friend Joe is by her side, but it doesn’t change her feelings. Despite her own mother being a much revered hero of their city, Jacq does not want to hunt giants and harvest their indestructible bones for building materials for her city.
Her father is high up in the military, so her first mission is unheard of for a new recruit. She is to leave the city on a military helicopter mission to scope for giants. She is soon plummeting to Earth as the helicopter is attacked. She is caught midair… by a giant.
This young giant named Corman has been on his own mission. His sister is sick and needs special herbs that only grow on the upside (above ground), and he and his father have ventured from their underground home to find them. When they see one of the human’s metal birds approaching, they flee, but their escape doesn’t go to plan.
Both Corman and Jacq learn about the other as they hide from both giants and humans, piecing together a plan to finally put things right between their two species.
Review
An exciting tale of friendship, misunderstanding, prejudice and lies. A courageous girl and a young giant team up as friends instead of enemies. They’ve been told to fear each other their entire lives, but when finally away from their people they discover the opposite.
It’s an adventure above and below ground, to the home of the giants and back to a walled city of humans, to reveal the truth and to save loved ones. The tension and danger is high as a human girl hides in a giant’s home, and a giant sneaks into a human city. If seen, they know what will happen.
I enjoyed the snippets of Giant or Human History at the beginning of each chapter – even when the human history was filled with much more prejudice.
A rollicking read of action, finding the truth, and bringing families back together.
Book Style
352 Pages / 33 Chapters / Epilogue
FAQ’s
What age is it for?
8+
Where & When is it set?
A fictional land where a walled city of humans is surrounded by lush green forested countryside / Helicopters present, but no screens mentioned
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
Third person / Past Tense
Is there Violence?
Yes
What genre is ?
Middle Grade Fantasy
Themes
Others / Family / Truth / Control / Corruption / Fantasy
Is it part of a series?
No
If you liked this, you might like:
The Monsters at the End of the World
Author
Christopher Galvin
Publisher
Walker Books
(2026, Walker Books, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Courage, Prejudice, Friendship, Family, Conflict, Giants, Giant Killers, Bravery, Truth and Lies, Control)