Reviewed by Maureen Dangarembizi for Readers' Favorite

The Giant's Giant by Mark Cheverton is a young adult dystopian fantasy, set in a world that experienced a great nuclear disaster that nearly killed all life on Earth. The Earth survived and was renamed Phoniex. The creatures of Phoniex evolved over the centuries, and humans are no exception. The humans are divided into four sub-classes: giants, dryads, scavengers, and human remnants. Having learned the hard way of the painful results of war and strife, three sub-classes have decided to maintain a tenuous peace. The fourth group, the scavengers, who still depend on technology and live in the most radioactive area, are the only ones who don’t want to see this peace last. Mark Cheverton introduces us to this post-apocalyptic world through his main character Brianna MineShaker, a young giant who doesn’t seem to fit in with her people. Determined not to change her ideals, Brianna finds herself sent to Harmony School, where children of the three races try to learn how to fit in with their culture. It is a place of misfits and non-conformists. One would think Brianna would fit right in, but that is not the case at all. To make matters worse, Brianna has landed in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy that could destroy the world she knows.

The Giant’s Giant is a coming-of-age story that showcases the good side of being different and not always conforming to the status quo. The author did a great job of showcasing the bad effects of following the culture simply because things have always been done a certain way. Brianna and her two friends are typical young adults on the cusp of discovering who they want to be. The characters are dynamic and often change with the situation. Mark Cheverton didn’t completely stomp on tradition, instead showing how best to use your intellect to adapt and become better. Young readers looking for an action-adventure will enjoy this book and its many lessons about growing up.