Pitch
Celery’s Giant is a story about family, friendship and courage. It follows eleven-year-old Celery who befriends a giant called Marie on a tiny Scottish island, who at 8ft 6 inches tall is so strong she can lift a piano. But Celery has a history of imaginary friends and no one else believes Marie is real. She remains a loyal friend. So much so, when plans to build a space port threaten local wildlife and Marie’s home, she vows to save it. Whatever anyone thinks and whatever danger it brings.
Chapter One
My best friend is called Marie MacAskill and she’s a giant. She’s 12 years old, just over a year older than me, and she’s 8 foot 6 inches tall. Her long, fine hair is the colour of ripe apricots whereas mine is the colour of mice, and on a windy day it whips up into the air like flames. She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met–I’ve even seen her lift a piano−and she’s excellent at standing on her head.
I first met Marie last summer on the tiny Scottish island where my grandma lives, and where I spend every summer. The Hebridean sun was warm and soft that day, and I was lying on my back in the grass with my arms and legs stuck out sideways like a starfish. I was busy staring at an angel-shaped cloud up above, when I heard someone speak.
‘Lying in the sun won’t make you grow any faster. Though I suppose there’s no harm in trying.’
The voice was strange; girlish yet low, as if a storm was bubbling beneath it. I sat up quickly. I wasn’t used to seeing people out there on the machair; it was usually just me and the gulls and the rabbits, as well as the lapwings, their plucky cries of peewit, peewit, peewit piercing the salty air. Lapwings, yes, but people, no.
The voice came again. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Celeste,’ I said almost immediately. I looked around to see who I was talking to but couldn’t see a soul. ‘But my friends call me Celery.’
There was a snort then, and the sun dimmed, or a mist cleared, or something changed because suddenly I could see her. Marie MacAskill. A giant. She was standing on her head right in front of me, her hair splayed out on the grass like rays of sunshine. And even though she was the wrong way up I could tell she was the tallest person ever. I rubbed my eyes to check they were still working, and then I gawped, my mouth open wide like a salmon hooked.
Continued…