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| The White Giraffe | 
| Author: Lauren St. John
Publisher: Puffin
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy New: $3.00
You Save: $3.99 (57%)
New (38) from $3.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 13866
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0142411523
EAN: 9780142411520
ASIN: 0142411523
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New! Never read! Ready to ship!
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 8 | | NEXT » |
 Heartwarming - Magical - A lovely story. September 20, 2008
What a wonderful story. For ages approx. 8+ but I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult too!
This is the story of Martine. She's 11 years old when her parents are killed and she's sent to live in Africa with her only living relative, her grandmother. Her grandmother doesn't seem to be all that pleased to see her, but Martine soon finds the delights of living at Sawubona, a game reserve, compensate for her grandmother's strangeness. All the same, Martine wonders what makes her grandmother act so strangely... what is she hiding from Martine? Martine not only has the difficulty of being without her parents in a foreign country, but the challenge of starting at a new school too. Can she befriend the quiet boy, Ben, who sits all alone at break time and doesn't ever speak? Back in the wilderness, is there such a creature as the 'white giraffe' or is it just a mythical African story?
This is a lovely, magical story, full of the warmth, mysticism and ruggedness of rural Africa. Really well-written, and with simple yet effective black and white illustrations to help bring the pages alive. I can highly recommend it.
 My daughter was entranced July 25, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I think this is an excellent literary book. It misses its mark for the most part with kids though. While the idea of whites running a preserve in South Africa was not hard for me (and certainly not my daughter) because apartheid almost guaranteed that, I agree that the caution not to say anything to the grandmother was not explained and thus very confusing. But the word choices and the word pictures she painted were absolutely incredible. Excellent choice for a high school or college writing or literature class!!!
My daughter and I read this together so she picked up on the word pictures. She loved it, I think, for that reason. My boys were bored with it.
Beautiful but unsettling... April 21, 2008
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
I must agree with the reviewer who found the premise of this book disturbing. I think it's excellent that a white author engages a white heroine (and her western audience) with Africa. But the total effect here may not be worth the beauty and informative nature of this book.
I have no problem with a white girl going to live in Africa and being the center of an "African" narrative. But in the South African context, the notion that a foreign white person has a supernatural connection to nature is both absurd and tiresome (after centuries of Afrikaner farmers making the same argument to justify taking the land). The idea that the heroine has "control over all the animals" is also outdated at a time when our sense of domain over nature has done devastating damage to our environment.
Speaking of tired ideas, meet the major black characters in the novel. There is Tendai, the wise, noble, avuncular black "helper" on the heroine's quest. (I'm sure he'll be played by Morgan Freeman in the movie version.) We also meet Grace, who I'm sorry to say is very much an Aunt Jemima character. She is jovial, overweight, headscarfed and motherly, and she says things like "Look at you, chile, you just skin'n'bone." These characters are given a bit of depth, but like many things in the book it's not enough and feels unplanned.
I wouldn't discourage any child from reading this highly satisfying story. But any reading of it should be guided with a discussion of stereotypes and questions about our relationship to nature. Kids are smart; I wish the plot and characterization here had been just a bit smarter.
Giraffe lovers, read this one! January 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When I asked a fifth grader for a book recommendation, The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John was suggested. This book has made the list of possibilities for the KBA (Kentucky Bluegrass Award) list and after reading it, I can understand why it is receiving great ratings from the selection group. Without opening the book, I was already intrigued by the beautifully illustrated cover.
Martine, at the young age of 11, loses her parents in a house fire in England. She must go to the only guardian; her grandmother who owns an animal sanctuary in Africa. One of Martine's discoveries upon her arrival is a white giraffe. The adventures that this young girl has in pursuit of the giraffe and the friendship between the animal and the human make this book difficult to stop reading.
The character development is strong, such as Aunt Grace, who immediately grabs the reader as an interesting person who exhibits true African roots. Martine, who may not be a typical child of her age, also has to show strength and understanding as she deals with her grandmother. As the author introduces various characters, readers are touched by relationships and changes that Martine must endure.
This novel would strengthen children dealing with death and dying and the changes one may have to experience. Although the white giraffe seems surreal for the reader, the vicarious African experience seems genuine. Boys and girls alike would enjoy this book and it is highly recommended. Although there are hints of problems in Africa, the representation of that place in the world allows the reader to want to visit and find a giraffe to love.
Great! October 15, 2007
It's true that it is hard to resist the cover. All the rest of the wonderful black and white illustrations by David Dean are also delightful, but the book also is paced well, has fun characters, and the appeal of animals and foreign places. The best part for me is that the setting rings true; it sounds like the author knows what she's talking about and loves sharing it with her audience. She does mention some of the social issues in South Africa, but since that is not the intent of the book, she doesn't dwell on them. The book isn't aimed at young adults; it's a children's book so the plot is fairly simple but nonetheless enjoyable for all ages. I'm looking forward to future journeys with St. John's colorful settings, whimsical fantasy, and endearing animals.
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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