Life, and Death, and Giants

Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publish date: 23 July 2026
Pages: 400
Language: English

Subjects: Fiction, Literary, Sports, Coming of Age, Amish & Mennonite, Small Town & Rural

'A rare novel . . . Just read it. Lose yourself in it. Be changed by it' JENNIE GODFREY, bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

'A stunning novel' OPRAH DAILY

A remarkable child transforms a small rural community - and, soon, the world . . .

In Lakota, Wisconsin, a young, unmarried Amish woman births a miraculous, eighteen-pound baby, and no one in the community knows what to make of the boy.

Raised by his brother on a struggling farm, Gabriel Fisher walks at eight months, communicates with animals and possesses astonishing athletic abilities. When his brother dies, Gabriel is taken in by his devout grandparents and, for a time, he disappears into the anonymity of Amish life.

But then, aged seventeen and nearly eight feet tall, Gabriel is spotted working in a hayfield by the local football coach. What happens next transforms not only Gabriel's life but the lives of everyone he meets . . .

An extraordinary, timeless story of buried secrets and everyday miracles for fans of Elizabeth Strout and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

'Life, and Death, and Giants is an intriguing and alluring novel from beginning to end. The events are startling, sad, amusing, invigorating and informative. Reading it is like meeting a family that you never knew existed and becoming close friends in a few weeks. Highly recommended' - JANE SMILEY, author of A Thousand Acres