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Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 4–7—Imagine the rich surroundings of South African wildlife, the mystical stories surrounding a rare white giraffe, and an orphaned girl. Such is the backdrop for this heartwarming story. When her parents are killed in a house fire, Martine, 11, is sent to live with a grandmother she didn't know she had at a wildlife sanctuary. The cold, hands-off woman offers little comfort to a displaced, grieving child, leaving Martine to fend for herself in a foreign land. When a local woman tells the child that she has "the gift," Martine doesn't know what it is or why she would have it. Then she learns of a white giraffe and poachers' intent on capturing it. The story unfolds into a legendary tale full of intrigue and what life demands of a young chosen one. African folklore adds a touch of magic to the story and will help readers understand the supernatural beliefs of an ancient culture. Enjoyable characters offer a glimpse of local culture through Tendai, a Zulu tribesman, and the local mystic, appropriately named Grace. The bush healing techniques are especially interesting. Although a few sections need more fleshing out, the story is captivating and well spun.—Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Losing parents in a tragic fire and restarting life with an unwelcoming grandmother would be overwhelming for most 11-year-olds, and Martine is no exception. What's worse, Martine has never met her grandmother, who presides over a large game preserve in faraway South Africa. Even so, from the moment Martine steps off the plane, she senses that her new home holds a special destiny, one that begins to unfold when she learns about a legendary white giraffe. The beautiful creature appears one day, and Martine, who is just becoming aware of her own mystical gifts, begins a heroic journey that leads her to expose and prevent the destructive work of poachers. Though the fantasy elements will probably be the strongest draw here, St. John nods to the politically turbulent backdrop: at one point, a black employee of the preserve refers to his difficult upbringing in an apartheid-era township. Magic realism, adventure, and a well-realized setting combine in this appealing tale, which will resonate particularly with conservation-minded children. O'Malley, Anne
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great first novel, Jun 23 2007
By SFaye "sfh" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: White Giraffe (Hardcover)
I have to admit, I was first attracted to this book because of it's beautiful cover. After reading the first chapter, I was completely hooked. It's a wonderful story about a girl named Martine who, after the loss of her parents, must move to a wildlife park in Africa. The story focuses on a mysterious white giraffe who is only rumored to exist in the park. Lauren St. John also adds themes of family and friendship to this novel. Beautiful and descriptive language make this a great read, both for adults and children.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
10 year old daughter loved this book, Feb 26 2009
By Dave Millman "davemill" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The White Giraffe (Paperback)
My daughter says: This is the best book she's ever read. She thought it was extremely exciting, and she loved the cliff hangers at the end of some chapters. She told us about what she read each day over dinner each night, and it sounded quite intriguing. She asked me to write a review, and to make sure it was five stars. We hope your children enjoy it as much!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartwarming - Magical - A lovely story., Sep 20 2008
By S. Barnes - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The White Giraffe (Paperback)
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.
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