THE GIANT FROM THE FIRE SEA

Can giants and humans overcome their differences to battle a common enemy?

Giants only exist in nannytales, or so Jat thought. But when one arrives on the shore of the Fire Sea, Jat is forced to rethink his understanding of the world and how it works. Once Jat and the others in his village grow used to having a giant in their midst, they become comfortable trading chores for food. But this precarious balance between species is threatened when more giants arrive, giants who are not as reasonable as Newton. These giants not only want to (and do) eat the villagers, they also want to capture Newton and return him to their own land to be punished for daring to practice rudimentary astronomy instead of simply accepting the common thinking. An exploration of the joys and dangers of being different, the boundaries of loyalty, and the power of learning, the tale is told within a well-built world that plays gently with readers’ knowledge of fairy-tale conventions. John Himmelman explores his themes with a sprightly, engaging cast of default-white characters; this is also reflected in Jeff Himmelman’s whimsical chapter heads. While some sections seem to exist as action for action’s sake—and it can get a tad gruesome—the narrative as a whole offers a cohesive adventure story with a few surprise twists.

A sweet tale about a different scientific revolution and its rocky start.