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The Thing About Giants
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10 copies available
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Jacq is destined to hunt fearsome giants to protect her city—but when she meets a sensitive young giant named Corman in the forest, she realizes the world isn’t quite what she’s been taught. A page-turning adventure full of heart.
Thirteen-year-old Jacq Dyer is the daughter of two renowned giant hunters, although she’s never had much stomach for what they do. In a city built from giants’ bones, people rely on hunters to keep them prosperous and safe, and everyone knows that giants are violent, senseless creatures . . . aren’t they? But when an accident leaves Jacq lost and injured in the wilderness, she ends up face-to-face with Corman, a frightened young giant, and Misneach, his overgrown badger. Corman has just lost his dad to hunters, and he and Jacq must learn to trust each other if they’re going to find their ways home. But as they start finding out the truth about giant hunting—and the shadowy Resistance Jacq has grown up hating—they discover there’s more at stake than either of their people know. With captivating world-building and rich characters, debut author Christopher Galvin offers an engrossing and thought-provoking tale.
Thirteen-year-old Jacq Dyer is the daughter of two renowned giant hunters, although she’s never had much stomach for what they do. In a city built from giants’ bones, people rely on hunters to keep them prosperous and safe, and everyone knows that giants are violent, senseless creatures . . . aren’t they? But when an accident leaves Jacq lost and injured in the wilderness, she ends up face-to-face with Corman, a frightened young giant, and Misneach, his overgrown badger. Corman has just lost his dad to hunters, and he and Jacq must learn to trust each other if they’re going to find their ways home. But as they start finding out the truth about giant hunting—and the shadowy Resistance Jacq has grown up hating—they discover there’s more at stake than either of their people know. With captivating world-building and rich characters, debut author Christopher Galvin offers an engrossing and thought-provoking tale.
- GenresFantasy
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 9, 2026
The Thing About Giants is a completely captivating, epic fantasy adventure, brimming with danger and discoveries, with hope and heart and with friendship and family. Utterly unputdownable!
Young giant Corman and his father are on a dangerous mission from their underground home to the Upside. But, what could possibly cause danger to two giants, danger that makes them fear for their lives?
In the city of Fathach, whose walls and buildings are constructed from the bones of giants, twelve-year-old Jacq Dyer has been chosen to follow in the footsteps of her parents – and become a giant hunter, but what if she wants to choose her own path?
When Corman is separated from his father, he must find a way back home, but instead he finds a young girl who has also been separated from her father. Can the giant and the giant hunter overcome their fear and mistrust of each other and find the courage to change both their lives? What if everything you believed has been built upon the bones of lies? Will discovering the truth have the power to bring two worlds together?
Wow! What an absolutely incredible adventure. I loved the braided narrative structure that gave an insight into both the lives of giants and humans and allowed for some cliffhangers that made this a definite just-one-more-chapter read. In fact, this was a read-in-one-sitting book for me as I was completely drawn into the world and lives of Corman and Jacq and was gripped by their quest, not only to return to their families, but by the breathtaking discoveries they made that led them not only towards life-changing revelations but also towards increasing danger. I am being purposefully vague as to what happens as I really don’t want to reveal any spoilers for this gripping and epic adventure but, suffice to say, that I’m a HUGE fan of fantasy middle-grade and this is one of the best I’ve read – and will definitely be on my books of the year list.
The world-building is superb from the chapter epigraphs which give an insight into the history, politics and beliefs of both giants and those who built, and control, Fathach to the vivid and wonderful descriptions of the natural world outside the city contrasted with the eponymous city built on the bones of giants. I loved that different groups of giants – including river, forest and rock giants – were distinguished by their connection to nature and how they lived in harmony with the world around them. It made it all the more poignant that they were being persecuted by humans intent on their destruction including forcing them to leave their homes and find safe haven in other places. There are some important messages in this story about the abuse of power, manipulation and prejudice, but there is also hope that there are those who are willing to stand against these.
I absolutely adored both Corman and Jacq: kind-hearted, courageous, curious and empathetic – traits that allow them to work together to overcome fears, break down prejudices and bring hope. These are two characters, alongside Misneach (just wait to meet him!), who have found their way into my heart and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there are more adventures for this wonderful trio.
A breath-taking, gigantic treat of an adventure for readers of 9+.
Young giant Corman and his father are on a dangerous mission from their underground home to the Upside. But, what could possibly cause danger to two giants, danger that makes them fear for their lives?
In the city of Fathach, whose walls and buildings are constructed from the bones of giants, twelve-year-old Jacq Dyer has been chosen to follow in the footsteps of her parents – and become a giant hunter, but what if she wants to choose her own path?
When Corman is separated from his father, he must find a way back home, but instead he finds a young girl who has also been separated from her father. Can the giant and the giant hunter overcome their fear and mistrust of each other and find the courage to change both their lives? What if everything you believed has been built upon the bones of lies? Will discovering the truth have the power to bring two worlds together?
Wow! What an absolutely incredible adventure. I loved the braided narrative structure that gave an insight into both the lives of giants and humans and allowed for some cliffhangers that made this a definite just-one-more-chapter read. In fact, this was a read-in-one-sitting book for me as I was completely drawn into the world and lives of Corman and Jacq and was gripped by their quest, not only to return to their families, but by the breathtaking discoveries they made that led them not only towards life-changing revelations but also towards increasing danger. I am being purposefully vague as to what happens as I really don’t want to reveal any spoilers for this gripping and epic adventure but, suffice to say, that I’m a HUGE fan of fantasy middle-grade and this is one of the best I’ve read – and will definitely be on my books of the year list.
The world-building is superb from the chapter epigraphs which give an insight into the history, politics and beliefs of both giants and those who built, and control, Fathach to the vivid and wonderful descriptions of the natural world outside the city contrasted with the eponymous city built on the bones of giants. I loved that different groups of giants – including river, forest and rock giants – were distinguished by their connection to nature and how they lived in harmony with the world around them. It made it all the more poignant that they were being persecuted by humans intent on their destruction including forcing them to leave their homes and find safe haven in other places. There are some important messages in this story about the abuse of power, manipulation and prejudice, but there is also hope that there are those who are willing to stand against these.
I absolutely adored both Corman and Jacq: kind-hearted, courageous, curious and empathetic – traits that allow them to work together to overcome fears, break down prejudices and bring hope. These are two characters, alongside Misneach (just wait to meet him!), who have found their way into my heart and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there are more adventures for this wonderful trio.
A breath-taking, gigantic treat of an adventure for readers of 9+.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jacq Dyer lives in Fathach, a city that has been hunting and killing giants for their bones and using them in building construction. This has been going on for over fifty years, and both of Jacq's parents were giant hunters. Her mother was killed when the Resistance sabotaged her helicopter, and her father now works at The Factory, where bones are processed. He is in charge of explansion programs. Jacq and her best friend Joe were selected to train to be giant hunters now that they are twelve, so head off to the Factory to study. There, they see a giant in a cage that they are supposed to ignnore. We also meet a young giant, Corman, who travels to the Healing Valley with his father and his pet groundling, Misneach, to get herbs to help his sick sister Clova. The two are attacked by helicopters, and the father dies. Corman befriends a forest giant, Foill, and is trying to get back home to Underhill when Jacq falls out of a helicopter and Corman catches and saves her. Foill cautions him against helping her, and the two narrowly escape other giants, but Corman feels he should help. Jacq fixes a map of Corman's, and they try to make their way to Under Hill. Misneach disappears. They pass an abandoned giant village, which is a revelation to both of them. Eventually they read Corman's home, but he passes out. His family retrieves him, and Jacq sneaks into the community in his satchel. The giants understandably are afraid of Jacq when she surfaces, but after seeing a portrait of Corman's father, she realises that he is the giant being held prisoner in the Factory. The director of the Factory is planning to release him at a local parade and use the event to shore up support for the Factory. Corman is determined to go back and free his father, and Jacq hopes to make some changes in her society so that giants are treated better, once she learns the true cause of her mother's death.
Strengths: It's always good to make young readers understand that groups of people are often mistreated because they are misunderstood, and that society should not allow this to happen. Certainly, this is a timely message especially now. Jacq has never quite thought giants should be killed, even though her parents were giant hunters, but we learn that they were not as entrenched in that violent culture as Jacq thought. Corman's experience is traumatic, but he does get to experience life above ground, and meets a variety of other giants in his travels. He and Jacq are very understanding of each other, and not quick to assume that the other will be dangerous, which was good to see. It never hurts to have a loyal pet on an adventure, so Misneach was a fun inclusion. There are some fun songs that Corman's mother would sing to him, many involving worms, which giants think are tasty. This book is on the longer side (320 pages), and younger readers will appreciate the giant story, while older ones will embrace the allegorical side of the narrative.
Weaknesses: This story seemed like it should be set in a medeival world, but was clearly modern, with helicopters and yellow school buses. The modern setting made the need for giant bones for building things seem a bit odd. I wish Jacq wasn't always opposed to hunting giants, because it would have been interesting to see her change her mind.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Netz's The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines, Rylander's The Legend of Greg or Borba's The Midnight Brigade.
Jacq Dyer lives in Fathach, a city that has been hunting and killing giants for their bones and using them in building construction. This has been going on for over fifty years, and both of Jacq's parents were giant hunters. Her mother was killed when the Resistance sabotaged her helicopter, and her father now works at The Factory, where bones are processed. He is in charge of explansion programs. Jacq and her best friend Joe were selected to train to be giant hunters now that they are twelve, so head off to the Factory to study. There, they see a giant in a cage that they are supposed to ignnore. We also meet a young giant, Corman, who travels to the Healing Valley with his father and his pet groundling, Misneach, to get herbs to help his sick sister Clova. The two are attacked by helicopters, and the father dies. Corman befriends a forest giant, Foill, and is trying to get back home to Underhill when Jacq falls out of a helicopter and Corman catches and saves her. Foill cautions him against helping her, and the two narrowly escape other giants, but Corman feels he should help. Jacq fixes a map of Corman's, and they try to make their way to Under Hill. Misneach disappears. They pass an abandoned giant village, which is a revelation to both of them. Eventually they read Corman's home, but he passes out. His family retrieves him, and Jacq sneaks into the community in his satchel. The giants understandably are afraid of Jacq when she surfaces, but after seeing a portrait of Corman's father, she realises that he is the giant being held prisoner in the Factory. The director of the Factory is planning to release him at a local parade and use the event to shore up support for the Factory. Corman is determined to go back and free his father, and Jacq hopes to make some changes in her society so that giants are treated better, once she learns the true cause of her mother's death.
Strengths: It's always good to make young readers understand that groups of people are often mistreated because they are misunderstood, and that society should not allow this to happen. Certainly, this is a timely message especially now. Jacq has never quite thought giants should be killed, even though her parents were giant hunters, but we learn that they were not as entrenched in that violent culture as Jacq thought. Corman's experience is traumatic, but he does get to experience life above ground, and meets a variety of other giants in his travels. He and Jacq are very understanding of each other, and not quick to assume that the other will be dangerous, which was good to see. It never hurts to have a loyal pet on an adventure, so Misneach was a fun inclusion. There are some fun songs that Corman's mother would sing to him, many involving worms, which giants think are tasty. This book is on the longer side (320 pages), and younger readers will appreciate the giant story, while older ones will embrace the allegorical side of the narrative.
Weaknesses: This story seemed like it should be set in a medeival world, but was clearly modern, with helicopters and yellow school buses. The modern setting made the need for giant bones for building things seem a bit odd. I wish Jacq wasn't always opposed to hunting giants, because it would have been interesting to see her change her mind.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Netz's The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines, Rylander's The Legend of Greg or Borba's The Midnight Brigade.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Walker Books and Netgalley for the ARC!
I was chuffed to get an ARC from Walker Books as I fell in love with their books at a very young age. I think it was Where's My Teddy? that I read back then. :)
Anyway, The Thing About Giants is a middle grade, fairytale-inspired fantasy with a dystopic twist. The worldbuilding is amazing, and I just adore what Christopher Galvin has done with the classic fairytale trope of giants and giant hunters. It is simply magical and I can't tell you enough to read it!
So the story follows Corman and Jacq. Corman is a giant and Jacq is a human. Jacq has blue hair (which I love, because mine is purple) and Corman has an adorable (if smelly) animal companion, Misneach. My favourite character was Awen, the river giant, and my favourite of the main characters was Corman. I loved his honesty and his inherent goodness. I loved how he did the right thing by his friends, and he really valued his companions.
At one point I felt like the book was getting a bit long, but I stuck with it (my anxiety means it's hard to deal with things that are a bit slow lately. Totally a me thing, and not the book's fault), and I was well-rewarded with a fantastic second half of the book! It was just magical, and although the ending wrapped things up nicely, there is a Part 2 coming out one day! Can't wait for that!
You will love this book if you love dystopia that's not as brutal on your emotions, middle grade fantasy, giants, amazing unique worldbuilding, the Edge Chronicles, or Roald Dahl. If you have a young reader that likes books with things that are gross in them, they will love this one!
Overall, 4.5 stars. I loved it!
I was chuffed to get an ARC from Walker Books as I fell in love with their books at a very young age. I think it was Where's My Teddy? that I read back then. :)
Anyway, The Thing About Giants is a middle grade, fairytale-inspired fantasy with a dystopic twist. The worldbuilding is amazing, and I just adore what Christopher Galvin has done with the classic fairytale trope of giants and giant hunters. It is simply magical and I can't tell you enough to read it!
So the story follows Corman and Jacq. Corman is a giant and Jacq is a human. Jacq has blue hair (which I love, because mine is purple) and Corman has an adorable (if smelly) animal companion, Misneach. My favourite character was Awen, the river giant, and my favourite of the main characters was Corman. I loved his honesty and his inherent goodness. I loved how he did the right thing by his friends, and he really valued his companions.
At one point I felt like the book was getting a bit long, but I stuck with it (my anxiety means it's hard to deal with things that are a bit slow lately. Totally a me thing, and not the book's fault), and I was well-rewarded with a fantastic second half of the book! It was just magical, and although the ending wrapped things up nicely, there is a Part 2 coming out one day! Can't wait for that!
You will love this book if you love dystopia that's not as brutal on your emotions, middle grade fantasy, giants, amazing unique worldbuilding, the Edge Chronicles, or Roald Dahl. If you have a young reader that likes books with things that are gross in them, they will love this one!
Overall, 4.5 stars. I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This feels like a book for the ages - for middle grade and adult readers alike. It's beautifully written, with well-drawn characters who have complex, interesting backstories, and it's set in a compelling world. The main characters, Corman and Jacq, are instantly likeable, and as a reader I'm rooting for them from the start. Corman, the giant, is sensitive, empathetic and braver than he will ever know. Jacq is unsettled, energetic and driven. And when their paths cross, their individual strengths become a formidable combination.
The story takes off from chapter one, and the book is written in alternating points of view between Corman and Jacq, which heightens the urge to read 'one more chapter.' Younger readers will enjoy the perilous adventures of both characters. I love that Galvin hasn't shied away from topics like grief, fear, injury, righteous anger and the perils of being part of a dysfunctional society and instead tackles them head-on with great sensitivity and compassion. The antagonists are well-written, and their sinister motives are clear. But despite how dysfunctional the human world is, there is also insight into why that is, and an explanation of how and why malign influences can take hold in society. But equally, it's clear how good ultimately prevails.
Apart from well-written characters, setting, and plot, there is so much heart and hope in this book, with underlying themes for young and adult readers alike.
I highly recommend it, and I can't wait for the next novel in the series.
The story takes off from chapter one, and the book is written in alternating points of view between Corman and Jacq, which heightens the urge to read 'one more chapter.' Younger readers will enjoy the perilous adventures of both characters. I love that Galvin hasn't shied away from topics like grief, fear, injury, righteous anger and the perils of being part of a dysfunctional society and instead tackles them head-on with great sensitivity and compassion. The antagonists are well-written, and their sinister motives are clear. But despite how dysfunctional the human world is, there is also insight into why that is, and an explanation of how and why malign influences can take hold in society. But equally, it's clear how good ultimately prevails.
Apart from well-written characters, setting, and plot, there is so much heart and hope in this book, with underlying themes for young and adult readers alike.
I highly recommend it, and I can't wait for the next novel in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What happens when the daughter of giant hunters encounters a young giant in the wild at a time when she is lost and vulnerable? Well perhaps some misperceptions on both sides may come a cropper as a result of the unexpected crossing of paths...
This is a charming tale that teaches some important lessons without being obvious about it. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This is a charming tale that teaches some important lessons without being obvious about it. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 20, 2026
Jacq is the daughter of giant hunters and is expected to follow in their footsteps, but she has no interest in the hunt. When she unexpectedly finds herself among the giants and meets Corman, she begins to realise they are nothing like she was taught to believe.
This was such a wonderful adventure story — fast-paced, heartfelt, and full of important themes about questioning prejudice, thinking for yourself, and finding courage. I absolutely loved it and flew through it.
This was such a wonderful adventure story — fast-paced, heartfelt, and full of important themes about questioning prejudice, thinking for yourself, and finding courage. I absolutely loved it and flew through it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews