Life, & Death, & Giants

In Life, and Death, and Giants, Gabriel is really the one who makes the book - he's quiet, sensitive, and very relatable, just trying to do what he thinks is right in his messy world. Gabiel is massive, over eight feet tall, and is being raised by Amish grandparents in a small rural town.

His grandparents love him but also worry his size could disrupt their quiet way of life, creating a conflict between their desire to shield him from the modern world and the outside world's intention to exploit Gabriel for his unique abilities.

One thing I should mention is the beautiful writing style: quiet and unrushed, but deeply emotional, especially when the author pulls you into the day-to-day life and inner thoughts of the Amish or into Gabriel's struggles to fit into a world that was not built for him. The book also goes into quite a bit of detail on the Amish culture, which is incredibly interesting, but also adds tension as the "outside" world clashes with traditional Amish ways.

It's a coming-of-age story that examines whether being part of a protective, traditional culture is a safe haven or a trap, and it's a book that makes you think.