Walker Books wins five-way auction for Christopher Galvin's middle-grade giants debut

Walker Books has won a five-way auction for The Thing About Giants by debut author Christopher Galvin as part of a two-book deal.

Fiction editorial director Gráinne Clear bought UK and commonwealth rights from Christabel McKinley at David Higham, following offers from four other publishers. North American rights were acquired by Sarah Ketchersid, fiction editorial director at Candlewick Press.

Walker has giant ambitions for what it tipped as “a remarkable and timely novel, and the first book will see a simultaneous hardback release in summer 2026 across Walker Books in the UK and Candlewick Press in the US, alongside a major joined-up marketing and PR campaign”.

The publisher said: "The Thing About Giants is a powerful and cinematic middle-grade debut set in a world where giants exist outside the boundary walls of a human city. They are seen as wild, violent, senseless creatures and the humans who hunt them are local heroes. But the truth soon proves to be much more complicated when Jacq Dyer, daughter of renowned giant hunters, meets Corman, a young giant – and they set out to bring their separate worlds together."

Walker said: “The Thing About Giants introduces various tribes of giants as well as the chilling human city of Fathach – built of giant’s bones – which has closer parallels to our world than we may like to admit. With this vivid backdrop, at its heart the story deals with rejecting stereotypes and forging friendships despite differences.”

Galvin said: “The Thing About Giants is scary, fun, hopeful, brimming with kindness and the utmost villainy. It is a story I love telling; that good can triumph over evil, that one person can make a difference, that anyone can be like Jacq Dyer if they’re just brave enough, and that appearances can be deceiving. These endearing characters have been with me for a long time, and they continue to surprise me. With Walker by my side, I hope they surprise readers too.”

Clear said: “With its cinematic world-building, its accessible and immersive style and its layers of powerful nuance, The Thing About Giants really is a novel for everyone. I’m so proud to welcome Chris to the Walker list, who has created not only an exciting fantasy adventure inspired by Irish folklore, but also a story that interrogates stereotypes and prejudice, which is something young people need now – more than ever.”

Shannon Cullen, publishing director, added: “It’s always a fantastic feeling when a book grabs everyone in the team from the first discussion, as The Thing About Giants did with our team at Walker. The unique friendship between Jacq and Corman has echoes of The BFG with a burst of Skandar action, and we can’t wait to bring human power to a giant campaign in 2026.” 

Ketchersid described the book as “a thought-provoking adventure, with a powerful and poignant friendship story at its core”.

Galvin is an Irish author based in Dublin. He studied scriptwriting, acting and directing, with several of his short films being presented in festivals around the world. Earlier drafts of The Thing About Giants were shortlisted for the WriteMentor Children’s Novel Award and the Guppy Middle Grade Open Submission Competition. He currently works in television as a presentation editor.