Book Description 

Gabriel Fisher was born an orphan, weighing eighteen pounds and measuring twenty-seven inches long. No one in Lakota, Wisconsin, knows what to make of him. He walks at eight months, communicates with animals, and seems to possess extraordinary athletic talent. But when the older brother who has been caring for him dies, Gabriel is taken in by his devout Amish grandparents who disapprove of all the attention and hide him away from the English world.

But it’s hard to hide forever when you’re nearly eight feet tall. At seventeen, Gabriel is spotted working in a hay field by the local football coach. What happens next transforms not only Gabriel’s life but the lives of everyone he meets.

Life, and Death, and Giants is a moving story of faith, family, buried secrets, and everyday miracles.

My Review 

This was such an amazing book about a truly remarkable young man. While Gabriel’s athletic ability—a byproduct of his immense size—is the focus, it is far from his only talent. Gabriel seems to affect everybody he encounters in a profound and moving way and his biographical details alone are fascinating. Interestingly enough, Gabriel does not actually tell his own story; the narrative unfolds from the perspectives of multiple characters including the football coach, the local veterinarian, and Gabriel’s Amish grandmother. Interestingly enough, several of the characters are not local to the area, but rather came to the district for their own reasons and ended up playing a significant role in Gabriel’s life.  

At the risk of dipping into tired old cliches, this book really did make me laugh and cry. The story is truly unique, although I couldn’t help but be reminded of A Prayer for Owen Meany, which is one of my favorite books. Both novels feature a protagonist of unconventional size who appears to possess preternatural senses and leave a profound impact on their community. 

I would absolutely recommend Life, and Death, and Giants. This was one of the best books I’ve read this year. I am definitely going to end up getting a paper copy of this book as well as the audiobook. This is my first experience reading one of Rindo’s books, and I am going to look into his back catalog as soon as my ARC queue calms down a bit.  

I received a digital ARC of this book from St. Martin’s/NetGalley.