70 pages • 2 hours read
West with Giraffes
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Book Brief
371
Novel • Fiction
United States • 1930s
2021
YA
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge, 17-year-old Woodrow Wilson Nickel drives two giraffes cross-country in 1938, overcoming various challenges and forming a bond with the animals, as well as the people he meets, including Riley Jones and journalist Augusta “Red” Lowe. The journey becomes a deeply transformative experience, highlighting the themes of resilience, hope, love, and the importance of storytelling. The novel contains themes of trauma, racism, and animal abuse.
Adventurous
Heartwarming
Nostalgic
Inspirational
Reviews & Readership
248,401 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge is widely praised for its engaging historical setting and vivid storytelling. Reviewers appreciate the heartfelt journey and well-developed characters, though some note that the pacing can be slow at times. Overall, the novel captures the spirit of adventure and resilience, making it a poignant read despite occasional narrative lulls.
Who Should Read West with Giraffes?
Readers who enjoy historical fiction with rich storytelling and animal-centric adventures, reminiscent of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, will relish Lynda Rutledge's West with Giraffes. It blends historical realities with a heartwarming journey, appealing to fans of road stories and Americana.
248,401 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Riley Jones
Riley Jones
A pivotal secondary character who serves as a mentor, father figure, and moral guide for Woodrow in *Woodrow Wilson Nickel*. Riley is kind, generous, committed to animal welfare, and forgiving, offering guidance during Woodrow's journey across America.
Augusta “Red” Lowe
Augusta “Red” Lowe
Known as "Red" in the novel *Woodrow Wilson Nickel*, she is a young woman determined to pursue her dreams of traveling and becoming a photojournalist. Red challenges feminine stereotypes of her era by traveling independently and is Woodrow's love interest.
371
Novel • Fiction
United States • 1930s
2021
YA
18+ years
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