NEW!
Free Study Guide for Giant available on Substack.

Explore Irish History and Geography, the books Lewis read, the family he loved, the city he grew up in, the landscapes that shaped him.

Giant

A fascinating historical novel that explores the vibrant, story-making world C.S. Lewis grew up in: Belfast in the early 1900’s.

Unearth the influence that Ireland, Belfast, and his home life had on Lewis’ vivid imagination. Discover the stories C.S. Lewis read as a child and the impact they had on the man who would write over 30 books.

And, imagine the influence the young C.S. Lewis might have had on another Belfast boy.

Davy, a working-class boy living in East Belfast in 1908, needs to provide for his family. When he meets Jacks, the young C.S. Lewis, Davy is captivated by his friend’s world of books and stories. He plunges into imagining and adventuring with Jacks, discovering his own talent for drawing along the way. But when Davy is offered a job at the shipyard, and Jacks’ mother falls gravely ill, their wondrous days of make-believe seem numbered. Will they both lose their extraordinary world forever?

BUY NOW

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews -

McQuoid uses rich, carefully chosen details to evoke the historical setting. Notably, she compassionately shows the impact of social class constraints and personal hardships on each child without minimizing either of their experiences through simplistic comparisons. The evocative, often poetic, writing will appeal to thoughtful readers.A quietly charming, warmhearted story of enduring friendship.

Steven Elmore, President of the CS Lewis Foundation -

A heartwarming and wonder-filled tale ... I highly recommend the book for all ages, but especially those children and ‘children-at-heart’ who’ve been enchanted by the stories of C.S. Lewis and know something of childhood wonder, the joys of reading, true friendship, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.

Dr. David Clare, lecturer in Drama and English at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick -

Judith McQuoid seamlessly blends meticulous research into Lewis's life story with imaginative storytelling and poignant reflections on her own family's past. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in C.S. Lewis, the city of Belfast, and Irish writing!

Booklist -

A well-researched, imaginative, and satisfying narrative.

Awards

Giant was shortlisted for the Book for Children Award at the Wells Festival of Literature in England in 2020.
Won a 'Date with an Agent' at the International Literature Festival Dublin in 2019.

This fanciful weaving of the lives of two Belfast boys is fraught with real-world sorrow, hope, and wonder. Judith McQuoid intentionally stops short of pushing her tale into the realm of the fantastic, opting instead to let the reader feel that there's always something more to this story, some sparkle of magic waiting around the next corner, hidden in the forest, or glimmering just beyond our field of vision.

Douglas Kaine McKelvey, author of Every Moment Holy

The Lost Tales of Sir Galahad

Newly discovered tales of the errant knight and his further adventures have been brought to light at last. And behold but a smattering of their wondrous treasures: dragons, trolls, magic, mystery, heroic deeds, faithful companions, and doubtful choices that nearly lead to all manner of ruin.

Includes Sir Galahad and the Nightingale by Judith McQuoid