Play Book Tag discussion

This coming-of-age historical fiction is a poignant and adventurous tale set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. It takes readers on a cross-country journey from NYC to San Diego, telling the story of two giraffes and the unlikely bond they form with a young man named Woodrow "Woody" Nickel, who is tasked with helping transport the animals across the country.

The novel is inspired by a true event in 1938 when two giraffes were shipwrecked off of New York by a hurricane after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa. The author interweaves true and fictional events while bringing the era to life with vivid descriptions and character development inviting the reader along for the ride. At its heart, this novel is a story of survival, perserverence, hope, and the bond formed during times of hardship.

Woody, the young man who narrates the story, is a character whose emotional growth mirrors the physical journey he takes with the giraffes. His personal struggles is what gives the novel its depth. Woodrow’s developing relationship with the giraffes, as well as with the other characters—such as the tough but compassionate zoologist, Riley Jones, who oversees their care adds emotional weight to the plot.

Overall, West with Giraffes is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel. Anyone who enjoy historical fiction with a strong emotional core and a touch of whimsy will find themselves enchanted by this tale.

Many of us at PBT have read this book and loved it.

I fell in love with the giraffes.

I continued exploring them by reading Pursuing Giraffe: A 1950s Adventure which is a memoir of the first person to study them in their environment.

Lovely review, John. I read this last year and loved it. The giraffes are adorable. And the Depression setting was so interesting too.

I really enjoyed this one. My F2F book club was meeting in a restaurant and a couple at a nearby table kept looking at us. (We are NOT a quiet bunch.) Finally he could not stand it any longer and chimed in on the discussion. HE had loved the book, his dinner companion not so much, but still we welcomed BOTH their perspectives on the book.