Ash isn’t the biggest giant living in Haven-Home. He’s not even as big as his twin brother, Oak, who’s on the path to taking over from their father as village chief one day. Unlike the warriors in his family, Ash wants to learn incantation: the magic of wood, stone, water and fire.
Now that they’re twelve, Ash and Oak must go on a dangerous trek to prove themselves giant warriors, and they must each bring back something with which to defend Haven-Home from the prowling wolves that threaten all who live there.
Will Ash’s quest for incantation serve him well on the trek? Or will it bring even greater danger to Haven-Home?
A Giant’s Trek, which started out as a bedtime story for his children, is Nick Stella’s first novel. It’s a vividly imagined middle-grade adventure about courage and following your true path, perfect for readers aged 10+.
The world-building in this novel is fantastic – vivid is almost an understatement here.
This might be Stella’s first foray into children’s literature, but he clearly has a knack for immersing readers in this striking world – from Haven-Home to their dangerous trek, and all the creatures they encounter along the way.
Comparison between siblings is normal, but when it’s your twin who seems to constantly one-up you, and you have a legacy to live up to and you’re being sent on a dangerous quest… well, comparison can get quite ugly, quite quickly. Ash is a fantastic protagonist who you’ll connect with from the get-go. His true calling and passion for incantation sets him apart from his already distant twin brother, but the dangerous quest they set on allows them to discover new things about themselves as individuals, but also their relationship as brothers.
A Giant’s Trek taps into themes of strength (in all its forms), loyalty, family dynamics, and stepping out of your comfort zone. Through Ash and Oak, we see them navigate the tricky period when children transition to adolescents, starting to find themselves in the process. Ultimately, this novel encourages individuality and staying true to yourself, while also looking at the bigger picture.
A Giant’s Trek incorporates everything I love about adventure novels: magic, giant warriors, discovery and journeying into the unknown. It’s a fantastic read for children, and while there are no spoilers here, the last page indicates that we might see more of these characters and this world in another novel… I’m definitely keeping my eyes peeled.
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