Newton and the Giant

Sylvia Pantaleo is an associate professor of education, specializing in
children’s literature, at the University of Victoria. She is the
co-author of Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary
Classroom.

Newton Wiggins is interested in science and inventing. However, his
quadruplet older brothers, as well as his parents, are athletically
inclined and they cannot understand Newton’s lack of interest in
sports. When Newton unintentionally scores a soccer goal on his own net,
which results in his team losing and his coach suffering a heart attack,
Newton’s embarrassed siblings seek revenge. Their parents, unaware of
the quadruplets’ physical bullying of Newton, go salsa dancing,
leaving the boys home alone.

Newton seeks refuge from his brothers behind a newly discovered door in
the attic. Behind the door, the youngster meets Herbert, a foul-smelling
giant from the Kingdom of Merriwart. The Merriwart giants, who live in
trees, are unsuspecting targets of the Liveds, a group of uncivilized,
cold-blooded giants who have consumed all of their own forests to heat
their underground lair. The Liveds plan to take over Merriwart and its
forests through the marriage of one of their princes to Princess
Gertrude of Merriwart. Newton, Herbert (who is in love with Gertrude),
and Newton’s talking G.I. Joe action figure all become involved in
thwarting the Liveds’ scheme.

McGowan includes many silly plot twists as well as gross body humour in
this novel, which is formulaic and predictable. In addition, its
excessiveness (on multiple levels) contributes to its overt contrivance.
Fewer events that were more fully developed and engaging would have
increased reader interest. Not recommended.