Giant Judith McQuoid 9781915071828

Davy, a working-class boy living in East Belfast in 1908, is sent to work at the wealthy Lewis household. When he meets Jacks - the name by which CS Lewis was known to friends and family - Davy is captivated by his friend's world of books and stories. Together the boys plunge into imagining and adventuring, and Davy discovers his own artistic talent. But when Davy is offered a job at the shipyard, and Jacks's mother falls gravely ill, their wondrous days of make-believe seem numbered. Will they lose their extraordinary shared world forever?

Judith McQuoid was born in Belfast but grew up partly in Texas. She now lives in a small village in Northern Ireland, deep in the countryside but close to the city. Her homeland, its landscapes, and folklore inspire her to write authentic, enchanting stories for young people. Giant is her first middle-grade novel.

"Giant is clear-eyed and big-hearted. This story of two boys from different backgrounds takes us on a hugely evocative journey through the city over a century ago, telling truths we need to hear about hardship and injustice, and about how simple friendship can close the gaps that divide us."

"Early-twentieth century Belfast, from the grit and danger of the shipyards to the leafy suburbs, is vividly evoked in this compelling celebration of the magic of friendship and the imagination."