LITFEST: Molly Ray & Helen Bate: Giant & Peter in Peril

In conversation with Jake Hope

Join Mollie Ray and Helen Bate as they discuss with Jake Hope how the graphic novel format allows them to treat challenging topics with humour and sensitivity.

Giant by Mollie Ray

One morning, a teenage boy wakes to find that he has grown to the size of a giant. Inspired by the journey of the author’s younger brother, this wordless wonder of a book follows the experience of a family as one of their own faces a life-threatening illness. As his health declines, can the family remain resilient on his long journey through treatment? 

‘Wonderful, moving, original book. It teaches us a new visual language for love, for worry and for family’ ROBERT MACFARLANE 

Peter in Peril by Helen Bate

Peter is just an ordinary boy, who loves playing football with his friends and eating cake – until war comes to his city and the whole family have to go into hiding. This powerful graphic novel is based on a true story.

‘This story of a Jewish family’s life in Budapest during the Second World War is superbly told in graphic format’ BOOKS FOR KEEPS

Mollie Ray is a Lancaster-based comic artist and illustrator. In 2019, she graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a First-Class Honours degree in Illustration. Her work has been featured by Creative Boom, The AOI and Broken Frontier's ‘Six to Watch in 2021’. She has also done work for the BBC in support of David Attenborough's Wild Isles series and self-published multiple short-form comics. Her debut graphic novel Giant (Faber) was published in 2024.

Helen Bate is a children’s writer and illustrator. Her picture book ABC UK by James Dunn was nominated for the Kate Greenway Medal. Helen is the author/illustrator of three graphic novels published by Otter-Barry Books – Peter in Peril, Me and Mrs Moon and The Lost Child of Chernobyl. She lives in Shropshire, has three grown up children, seven grandchildren and two dogs.