Reviews - West With Giraffes

2.97k reviews for:

West With Giraffes

Lynda Rutledge

4.02 AVERAGE

ashdawn's review

4.5

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

surfprincess's review

3.0

adventurous reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

West with Giraffes is an enduring historic fiction based on true events about a coming-of-age cross-country journey. It has a similar premise to my soon-to-be published debut novel, so I was anxious to read this! And Lynda Rutledge's charming prose, brilliant character development, and emotion-filled story does not disappoint. Through unconventional friendships, mishaps, and especially the peaceful giraffes, Woody, discovers that he doesn't have to be defined by his past.

Synopsis: It's 1938....The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to become Southern California's first giraffes. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world's first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.

I recommend this book! My book club, the Queen Bees had an engaging discussion about this one.