Reviews

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

ladybrik's review against another edition

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5.0

Such a good story, told in such a riveting way. I couldn’t stop reading it. I feel confident I could recommend this to everyone, but especially those with a fondness for nature, animals, and road trips.

eligabiff's review against another edition

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5.0

I can't stop.thinking about this book

I read a lot. I always leave stars. I do not often write a review. I cannot stop thinking about this book and all the feelings it elicited. The story cleverly spans a lifetime of perspectives, emotions and mystery. You are reminded that you never know someone's story, especially if you do not take the time to listen. We all have so much to share. We all need connection.

ann_r's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 I usually like coming of age stories and this is a good one. The storyline is good and well written. The characters are well developed, and engaging. And the giraffes will capture your heart.

anniegetyourbook's review against another edition

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3.0

A really enjoyable read! Told from the perspective of a boy during the Great Depression, this story highlights the desperation of a world on the brink of war. The “present” viewpoint is interspersed with the past which allows the reader to ponder how the actions and adventures of our past will effect our future.

pinebluffchick's review against another edition

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4.0

This story has whispers of Like Water for Elephants in it. Orphaned young man hustles his was into driving a rig carrying two giraffes across America. Now I’m in love with giraffes.

nweem218's review against another edition

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5.0

So good! What a glorious story... based on fact making it even better!

needcoffeenow's review against another edition

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5.0

As an animal lover, with a fondness for giraffes, the premise of this book intrigued me. The giraffes in the story are real, based on the true story of 2 giraffes that survived an Atlantic hurricane and 2 week cross country journey to become the first giraffe residents of the San Diego Zoo. Woodrow Wilson Nickel is the fictional 17 year old Dust Bowl survivor who drives them on their journey. Great historical fiction and lots of harsh details about the plight of so many endangered species. This is a story that will stick with me.

geeky_erin's review against another edition

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4.0

Except for the somewhat dubious construct, I quite enjoyed this delightful coming-of-age story about the real-life transport of two giraffes, who survived a hurricane and were transported across the country on basically a pickup truck to their home at the San Diego Zoo.

alliberry243's review against another edition

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5.0

A fun adventure of getting two giraffes across the country during the Dust Bowl era, the beginning of WWII, and lots of hardship along the way. Some similarities to Water for Elephants, but this is based on a true and remarkable story of giraffes who really did survive sailing through a hurricane and a cross country trek in a glorified pick up truck to San Diego. It was an interesting lens to share what would otherwise have been a very depressing Dust Bowl story.

kariek's review against another edition

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4.0

I wrote a review/historical overview of this book. It’s based on actual events of the 1938 hurricane giraffes. https://zoohistories.com/2021/02/11/west-with-giraffes/