The long-awaited prequel to the bestselling saga is here…
It’s been 25 years since readers were first introduced to the land of Fincayra and Penguin Young Readers is thrilled to return to this world in the delightful prequel from bestselling author T. A. Barron. With millions of books in print, Barron continues to dazzle fans of fantasy and adventure. GIANT (Philomel Books; On Sale October 26, 2021) follows Shim, a fan-favorite of the Merlin Saga, in his own adventure to save the world. New and returning fans will also have another opportunity to dive further into Shim’s world as the Merlin movie, based on Book 1 of the original Merlin Saga, is actively in development by Disney.
In GIANT, Shim has only ever known a world of peace. Unusually big and strong even for a young giant, he lives on the magical isle of Fincayra, immersed in nature as well as tales of wizards, mer folk, and dragons.
Suddenly that world explodes in chaos. A terrible attack forces Shim and his mother to flee — and take a hazardous journey to reach the only person who could possibly help them, the mysterious Domnu. But when a wager goes horribly wrong, Shim shrinks down to a tiny fraction of his size. Now only as tall as a man’s knee, he finds himself lost in a deadly swamp. Worse yet, he has forgotten something important, something truly essential. But what?
As small as he is now, Shim must find giant-size courage to embark on a perilous quest to discover what happened, what secret he forgot, and what it really means to be a giant.
The themes and details are sure to be recognized by a new generation of readers as Barron’s rich world-building makes GIANT perfect for young fantasy fans looking for something new. While this can be read as a stand-alone, for those who can’t get enough, the story of Fincayra and of Shim continue in the 12-book Merlin saga already available to read.
T. A. Barron is the award-winning author of many bestselling books including The Merlin Saga — soon to be a major motion picture. He serves on a variety of environmental and educational boards and is the founder of a national award for heroic children, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. Following a career change to become a writer, Barron has written over 30 books, including many international bestsellers. He is happiest when hiking with his family in the Colorado mountains.
“An extraordinary journey of mind, body, and spirit.” -Madeleine L’Engle
“Fans who have followed young Merlin through his many adventures will still enjoy trekking with him.” – The Horn Book
