The Giant-Slayer

by Iain Lawrence

A girl’s imagination transports polio-afflicted kids into a fantastic world.

The spring of 1955 tests Laurie Valentine’s gifts as a storyteller. After her friend Dickie contracts polio and finds himself confined to an iron lung, Laurie visits him in the hospital. There she meets Carolyn and Chip, two other kids trapped inside the breathing machines. Laurie’s first impulse is to flee, but Dickie begs her to tell them a story. And so Laurie begins her tale of Collosso, a rampaging giant, and Jimmy, a tiny boy whose destiny is to become a slayer of giants.

As Laurie embellishes her tale with gnomes, unicorns, gryphons, and other fanciful creatures, Dickie comes to believe that he is a character in her story. Little by little Carolyn, Chip, and other kids who come to listen, recognize counterparts as well. Laurie’s tale is so powerful that when she’s prevented from continuing it, Dickie, Carolyn, and Chip take turns as narrators. Each helps bring the story of Collosso and Jimmy to an end—changing the lives of those in the polio ward in startling ways.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book to read because it is a California Young Reader Medal Nominee for Intermediate level, 2012-2013. I enjoyed the other two nominees ("Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" and "Eleven" so I had a feeling I would like this one, too. About half-way into the book I decided I had to check out the reviews on Amazon to see if other people were feeling the same as I started feeling while reading this book. Imagine my shocked surprise to find there were only FIVE reviews. I was expecting many, many more.

The Giant-Slayer is the kind of book that as soon as you get into the story, you want to tell everyone to find the book and read it ... NOW. Then, as you start getting toward the end, you start reading slower, because you don't want it to be over. And finally, after it's done, you read the afterward, the acknowledgements, the back cover and inside covers, because you just don't want to let go. Then, you write a review on Amazon and Goodreads, because more people need to pick up this book.

The Giant-Slayer is a story within a story. It's 1955 and Laurie's best friend is hospitalized with polio. She visits him, against her father's wishes, and finds her friend with two other children, all in iron lungs. To entertain her new friends, Laurie starts making up a story ... about a giant-slayer. The story, which starts as a simple diversion, ends up as important as life itself.

I think this book would make an excellent read-aloud for 5-6th graders. But if you are older than that, don't look away, because the message of this book is TIMELESS. I am a "grown up" and I loved every moment of reading this book. Had I read it as a child, it would have affected me as much as A Wrinkle in Time, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, or The Neverending Story.

I'm usually not one to pick up a book in the genre of historical fiction, but this book offers the reality of living with polio and the drama about the vaccine along with a compelling fantasy story that brings the two worlds together in an extremely satisfying way. I will not be surprised if this book wins the California Young Reader Medal.

[Elijah]

DNF.

[Pink Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good story! And such a powerful ending! (At least for me 😭❤️‍🔥)

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked the narrated version at our local library. I skimmed the back cover. I had no idea how much we would all enjoy this book. It is a story within a story. Laurie Valentine's father works for the March of Dimes. He is extremely protective because he does not want her to get polio. She has one friend. He contracts polio. In visiting him, she gets to know the other "polios" (as they are called by themselves in the book) and weaves a story to entertain them.

Outside of listening we have been learning more about polio, iron lungs, vaccine creators because of this book. The realistic picture the author paints of that time, the fear, the horror of paralyzation, the difficulty of communicating when you aren't in charge of your own breath, the tearing apart of families because of the longevity of care, the scarring that watching another child die can do to children; all of it is incredibly moving. I would say this is one of the top books I have ever read to my children. It was exquisite.

Wally said he would give it 100 stars. That it is the best book ever. Wally thought learning about polio was the most interesting.

Evelyn liked learning about iron lungs. Laurie was her favorite character.

Fern gave it a thumbs up. She likes the giant. What happens to him.

[Jenniferxoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unglaublich tolles und feinfühliges Buch, das ein sehr trauriges aber auch wichtiges Thema behandelt.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up to read it. From the cover and title, one would expect a fantasy involving a giant, a unicorn, a gnome, and a dragon. However, the book opens telling you that it's 1955 and polio is rampant. What does polio have to do with all these mythical creatures?

Laurie is a young girl who's dad is pretty big with the March of Dimes. They are frantically searching for a cure for polio. Laurie spends her days with her Nanna (her mom died when she was young) and she pretty much isn't allowed to do anything fun. She definitely can't go swimming! One day she runs into a little boy named Dickie and together they have some pretty wild adventures featuring Davey Crockett.

One day, Dickie doesn't come out to play and Laurie learns that he is in the hospital with polio. Laurie misses her friend and begs to go see him. She's finally allowed in and she finds her friend in an iron lung. That's where the stories begin!

Laurie spends time at the hospital weaving this tale of giants, unicorns, dragons, and gnomes to entertain the young children in the hospital. They spend hours listening to her tale becoming more and more entranced by it. It helps them to forget for just a few hours that their lives depend on this iron shell to keep them alive.

I found this story absolutely captivating. It's a story within a story but it all ties in together. I was interested in the background provided about polio (I have several family member affected) and even more so about the iron lung. I think I experienced just about every emotion while reading this book and have found another author that I enjoy reading!

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Regardless of age. I'm hoping that this book will get some wide reviews because the story is just that good!

Consider making a donation to the March of Dimes foundation in your area!

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawrence has composed a beautifully written book that aptly creates two different worlds. The first, the 'real' world is a heart-wrenching account of children who are suffering from Polio, but are able to be brightened because one girl decides to be brave enough to show up every Saturday and narrate an ongoing story. The second world is the frame story, the fantasy tale that Laurie creates for the kids in the Polio ward, which feels equally as tangible as the first.

It soon becomes clear that the two worlds are merging, and each child represents a character in the story. Laurie doesn't always necessarily intend for it to play out that way, but through the merging of the worlds, it becomes clear to the kids that the story must be finished. Lawrence has created a treasure where both stories keep the reader interested and informed at the same time, rooting for the heroes to overcome the giant, and for the kids to overcome Polio. I wouldn't be surprised if this novel is in the clear running for the Newbery. I recommend it to all readers 8+.

-Lindsey Miller, www.lindseyslibrary.com

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another enjoyable read. The premise, a girl visiting a polio ward back in the 50's and telling a tale to the kids living in the ward and providing hope is nice and heartwarming. (Although nice & heartwarming can also be a little boring.) I thought the story was interesting and really loved how the kids took to the story and brought it to life. I was never bored, but didn't always connect with the characters because their world was so alien to me.

What I really wanted was a little more information about polio. This book is a perfect example of a book that can kindle interest in world events. Kids today will have no concept of what polio meant to the world before the vaccine. Lawrence describes some photographs that had a major impact on the story--I wish those had been included in the notes at the end of the book. I didn't even know what an Iron Lung was-and while a quick search online showed me pictures it would be much better if such pictures were included at the end of the book. It would give the reader a little more context and make the story more real, instead of just being a nice heartwarming tale.

[Shaikha_s_240505]

This is my second time of reading an english book. I really loved this story, It is imaginary story suits adelts and children too. It has four main charecters Jack the hero, Princess, King and a husbend to be of the princess. The story started by Jack and the beans that a thief gave him in the market. Then the new twist begin when a huge tree started to grow up to the giant world while Jack and the princess were stuck in the house. Here the story began to be exciteid when Jack start to fight againest the giants and find the crown that he could control the giants. Everybody must read it its really exciting story and the end was more exciting read it to figure out who won the giants or Jack and the princess.

[Joe Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, this was the best of the California Young Reader Award nominees (intermediate level) for 2012. The Giant Slayer is carefully plotted and truly engaging. Every year, I read the nominees aloud to my fourth-grade class and this is a unique book...the children learn from it while also being entertained by the fantasy tale. I don't know that I have ever come across a book that is as multidimensional. Very highly recommended.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The book is set in the 1950s and is about a girl named Lauri whose father is a fundraiser for the March of Dimes. He is overly protective and doesn't allow her to do anything that would let her contract Polio.
When her best friend Dickie contracts polio she secretly goes to the hospital to visit Dickie and begins telling him a fantastical story about a Giant Slayer.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is what happens when a clever concept meets a good author. The Giant Slayer is two stories woven together: Laurie Valentine visiting her friends in the polio ward in 1955 entertains them with a fantasy tale (think Lord of the Rings for kids). The relationship that develops among the children as the story progresses is magical in itself.

[Claudia Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Iain Lawrence, is a friend. He has written a number of excellent books, but probably this is my favorite. I remember being terrified of contracting polio and ending up in a wheelchair or an iron lung. This story shows the brave spirit of children and the magic of storytelling. An excellent book, whether you are old or young.

[Maleeha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is always going to be my favourite book of all times!!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good I could not put it down, its so touching and heart warming, I love it!

[Matthew Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found The Giant Slayer by Iain Lawrence to be an immensely satisfying book. My sister brought the book in and judging by the cover, I hadn’t had much hope for the story, but I’d picked it up because I didn’t have much else to do, and I was thoroughly impressed.
Lawrence’s book primarily deals with several children stricken by polio and confined to an iron lung. Laurie Valentine, the main character, has an overprotective father whose work for The March of Dimes has instilled in him a deep fear of polio, a fear which causes him to stifle his daughter in an effort to protect her. But when Laurie’s friend Dickie is struck down by polio and confined to an iron lung, Laurie goes to visit him. At the hospital, Laurie meets Chip and Carolyn, two other children confined to the iron lung. Carolyn has been in the iron lung longest, and she has become embittered with her fate and takes out her anguish on those around her with an acid tongue; but Dickie is ever optimistic, dreaming of the day when he will recover and be able to visit Disney Land with his parents.
While she’s visiting him, Dickie begs Laurie to tell him a story and so Laurie begins the story of Collosso the giant and Jimmy, a tiny boy destined to become a slayer of giants. As Laurie weaves her fantastic tale, embellishing it with gnomes, gryphons, and unicorns as she goes, the story begins to show several strange similarities to the real world. In fact, Dickie begins dreaming that he is Khan the hunter, one of the characters from the story, riding out every night in his dreams to hunt unicorns and explore the world, and all the others who come to listen to the story find themselves in one of the characters as well – even Laurie. Soon, the tale takes on new significance as the listeners view it as symbolic of their own lives with the answers to their futures. But then, as the story nears its climax, Laurie herself is struck down with the sickness and confined to the iron lung in a state near death. Without Laurie but still convinced of the power and significance of her story, the others in the polio ward continue on her story, each bringing a different perspective and direction, each helping to draw the story to its conclusion – changing the lives of those in the polio ward in startling ways.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a book fair I was helping at. A quick reading of the back cover told me it was story about kids with polio. In all honesty, this was the main reason I decided to read it. My Grandfather had polio in the 40's, so I thought I might find the book interesting because I had that connection to the illness portrayed in the story. I'm so glad I decided to read it though because I love this book! This book turned out to be so much more than what I thought. It isn't just about kids with polio, nor is it just a fantasy about a world that doesn't exist. Rather it intertwines reality and fantasy, laying out two completely different stories which parallel each other so well, it is nearly impossible not to connect the two. In doing this, Lawrence brings to life a real picture of the resilience, hope and strength that can be found within children, especially those facing terrible illnesses such as polio. Furthermore, Lawrence's story portrays beautifully the power a little distraction can have for the spirits of children. The story Laurie tells distracts the other children from their situation. It gives them something else to focus on, helping them pass the time, and eventually, bringing them hope and strength as they begin to draw parallels between their lives and the story. This is what makes this story so true to life in my opinion.

Lain Lawrence writes in his author's note that he, "had no idea of the strength of childhood spirit," and that "a polio ward was not the terrible place [he'd] imagined, that there was laughter there, and hope and happiness." It makes me so happy the hear that he learned this and portrayed things that way within his story. It means a lot to me personally. I picked up this book thinking I might learn something about polio, as my Grandpa rarely talks about his experiences during that time of his life. However, I never expected the book to mean so much to me personally. When I was 12, I had Leukemia, and subsequently spent several years in an out of cancer wards and pediatric floors in hospitals. Although very different from polio, that childhood spirit is the same. Cancer words, like polio wards, have laughter, hope, and happiness. One of my biggest problems with books about kids that have life threatening illnesses, is that they almost always portray the kids as sad, depressed, lonely, and angry, all the time, and that hadn't been what I experienced when I fought cancer at all. Yes, sometimes those feelings came into play, but i remember smiling, laughing, and having fun during my treatments. I remember there being bikes and things to ride through the halls in the cancer ward. Having fun was definitely encouraged. Lain Lawrence displays both the bad side and the fun that happens within wards like this. He shows how these polio stricken kids could not only feel sad or lonely, but that they still could feel happy and have fun too.

Lain Lawrence also describes the intertwining of his stories as a, story [that] shifts back and forth between a grim reality and a fantasy that is perhaps a bit quirky." This is exactly what the joy of stories are. Stories provide a distraction from our own problems, our own realities, they help us pass the time while we face these things, and sometimes, they bring us the hope and strength we need in our own lives. Its amazing that something that isn't real can do so much for the human spirit, and it goes even farther for a child's spirit. Stories stick with us and teach us in an enjoyable way. Lawrence's story shows this relationship, the one between reality and fantasy, and how the two can intersect and change each other.

This book is such a good book that portrays a true to life picture of wards for ill-children, of the hope, happiness, and strength found there, while simultaneously showing the power of stories, and of the hope, strength, and distraction they can bring us. Lastly, he does all this in a fun manner creating a fantastic story that draws from different sources, because its a story told be a quirky little girl, and in a child's mind, anything is possible. This is the beauty of a child's imagination, and Lawrence portrays it beautifully.

[Cedric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Giant-Slayer was a great book that was enticing and left me wanting more whenever I put it down. I enjoyed the plot of a girl telling stories to kids infected by the disease polio, and how her story would change based on how they act. This is what made it more interesting than most fantasy stories that would be similar to this one. I also liked how the author would go back to the real world every now and then to show how the children react. Overall I would strongly recommend this book to those looking for a good book to keep them interested

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part was when Laurie completely recovered from the polio vaccine gone wrong, and also when James managed to recover from polio as well, and was able to walk completely normal again. When the description of the book said that Laurie was going to be unable to continue on the story, I thought it meant that her father managed to find a way to prevent her from going back to the polio ward, not that she was in a coma and in the polio ward in an iron lung herself. My least favorite part was when Carolyn was so mean to Laurie at the start.

[Michelle Cubbedge · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really did try to give this book an honest effort, but shortly after passing halfway, I lost my will to keep going. I quickly skimmed through the last half of the book.

The book had two story lines. The characters set in 1955 battling polio and the fantasy story that Laurie is telling to the children in this polio ward. The real life parts of the story were informative and engaging. I like learning a little bit more about polio! But the story within the story was tough to slog through and ultimately not worth my time or effort. DNF

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I connected with this on so many levels. First . . . it is historical fiction from my lifetime. I remember collecting dimes and putting them in cardboard folios for the March of DImes. I got my polio vaccine when I was 12. It was a fearsome time. And so much of it reminds me of our current pandemic.

The fantasy tale woven throughout was wonderful. The children felt very accurate for the time; their names, interests, and family lives.

It lost a little bit of steam for me at the end, but I truly don't know how the author could have done any better. I am so glad I read it.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The real story here is not in the book's title or the picture on the cover. Readers of my age will remember our childhoods and the spectre of polio every summer. The young readers for whom this book was written will learn much of this time, intertwined with a tale told to her polio afflicted friends by a young girl.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book written for young readers kept my interest throughout the whole book. I was born in 1953 and I barely remember the Polio epidemic. Some young people that didn’t grow up in that era maybe confused while reading the story. I recommend reading the author’s notes at the end of the book for information why this book takes place in the early 1950’s.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of a young girl who visits her friend who is confined to an iron lung in a polio ward. Excellent book about the effects of polio, and the children who sadly contracted the disease. Excellent YA book.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic children's historical fiction that any adult will enjoy too.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a beautiful story of friendship, emotional and physical strength and weakness, and the imagination of children.

[Allie Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the greatest books I read as a child. :)

[Jeananne Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book. The story within the story reminded me of Princess Bride or Never Ending Story.

[Krysten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! Part historical fiction and part fantasy! It made the improbable necessary and gives hope!

[Nea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a fun time reading this book. Enjoyed the characters, plot, and setting! Definitely would recommend it to anyone who loves a good read.