West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Quite an adventure from start to finish. West with Giraffes is based on a Women zookeeper dream to bring the giraffes to California. Amazing descriptions.

I am contrite, I liked this book, I read it pretty fast and I enjoyed the story but somehow I cannot say that I loved it, maybe is because I didn't connect with the context of the story, maybe because is very american setting and I am not familiar with it, which disconnected me from the story, plus is about a journey, which I am not very fond of, but the book is good and if you enjoy those books this should be on your list.

My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a review e-copy of this one.

<i>West with Giraffes</i> is an endearing, and also heart-rending piece of historical fiction. The story is set around a truly extraordinary real life occurrence that took place in 1938. Two giraffes (later to be called Lofty and Patches) travelled to New York surviving a hurricane at sea. Then they made another journey, a road trip of over 3,000 miles to San Diego Zoo (then under the first female zoo director Belle Benchley), which became their home for the next nearly 30 years.

The story is narrated by Woodrow Wilson Nickel, a fictional character. When the story opens, he is 105, and being the age he is, he wishes to write of the experience of a lifetime, one he had when he was only 17, so that it does not get lost. Woody Nickel, at that young age has survived near poverty in the dust bowl where all his family lie dead, and after an arduous journey to his cousin in New York, must face the devastating hurricane of 1938. Barely surviving this, he comes across the two giraffes being unloaded from the ship the travelled on. They too have survived. Woody (who has a deep feeling for animals) feels an instant connect with them, and decides to follow them on their journey to San Diego, for ‘Californy’ he is sure is a land of opportunity. Circumstances become such that some way down the road, Woody finds himself driving the giraffes with zookeeper Riley Jones (‘Old Man’). Along the way, they keep running into Augusta Red, a reporter documenting the giraffes’ journey in pictures, whom Woody takes to immediately.

The journey is an eventful one with plenty of bumps in the road, and they meet both kind-hearted people and some with rather nefarious plans. Alongside, we also learn the stories of the people we are travelling with—secrets, ambitions, fights for survival. Our characters must also face up to their pasts, but in the company of these graceful animals, this becomes somewhat easier as they experience a comfort like no other.


Like another reviewer has said, I did find myself a little confused at the beginning for from my reading of the description of the story, I somehow was under the impression that Woody was 105 when the events took place, and the story seemed to open in the future. But once I had gotten my head around how it was structured, it began to make more sense and I really began to enjoy it. The journey itself is a great deal of fun, and like all enjoyable roadtrip tales, we meet an assortment of characters, and also witness life in those times, the prejudices that people had and hardships they lived under. Woody’s own life too, we learn about as we go along—reading about life that people in the dust bowl had, what they had to face day after day, with little hope of escape or anything different is truly heart-wrenching, as is the discrimination and prejudices that were far stronger in the period—against women, and people of colour. Measuring what we consider hard alongside this, one realises how minor our own problems feel.

Amidst all this, the giraffes themselves represent peace, for with them, our characters manage to forget their hardships, even perhaps what lies ahead and experience true feeling. They are truly connected with the earth, with life, and our characters feel that with them, as to an extent do we. I loved the sentiment that author keeps at the centre of her story—that of all life having value, human or animal and needing to be respected for that reason. Her love for animals shines through in her characters, and me as an animal lover felt that with them, and also cheered when some of the less savoury characters got their just desserts. I also loved the incorporation of the giraffes’ humming and love of onions, both of which I didn’t know about. In fact, reading about this, I ended up googling giraffe sounds because I honestly hadn’t even considered the sound they make/their call before this.

This was a really lovely and emotion-filled story, a great combination of history, fiction and love for animals, which I enjoyed very much; the only things that I didn’t like were the confusion at the start (a minor complaint) and the fact that at some moments, things felt a little too dramatic. But other than that an excellent tale--4.5 stars!

A couple of lines that I liked;


‘Whenever I locked eyes with an animal, I felt something more soulful than I felt from the humans I knew…’

'Life is life, no matter who or what is living it…a thing to respect’.

A story written by a 105 year war veteran wanting to tell his life story to a special person. His story is about real life events in the years after the Great Depression and beginnings of WWII, where two giraffes are driven across the country to California. Woody Nickel, a 17/18 year old liar, thief, orphan, and Dust Bowl survivor comes across the two giraffes after a hurricane, and his mission begins. This story is a mixture of real events, coming of age, first love, natural disasters, history, redemption, and so much more.


This books isn’t my typical fiction but I’m glad I took a chance on it. It was written well and you cannot go wrong mixing history with my love of animals. I loved the characters and how easy it was to get pulled into the story.

What a delightful story about the relationship between man and animals and how they can change our lives. I really enjoyed this story and all the history and background we got also.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

What is not to adore when a story is told by a man, who is 105 years old and has actually lived it?
This is historical fiction, based on a true story in 1938 when life was violent, people were devastated by war, the dust bowl and all so much poverty and death.
This young boy just wants to head to Californy aka California to the land of "Milk and Honey". He knows he can find happiness there. He has too!
The only way to make his dream come true is to help transport two giraffes across the country to the San Diego Zoo and he will!
This is about this journey.
There is a mix of romance, love, humor, sadness and the definite appreciation for these two giraffe's that I fell in love with.
I absolutely enjoyed this novel! It is told in dual timelines, present day and then.
I could easily feel myself sitting in the truck at times, and spending time with the two delightful creatures! There is that much detail!

Try it! You will like it!

“West with Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Historical Fiction. Location: Cross country from New York City, NY, USA to San Diego, California, USA. Time: 1938 and 2025.-.
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1938 was a rough year for the United States. Dust storms in Oklahoma and Texas forced uncounted families on the road. The Great Depression pushed even more into poverty and homelessness. The 1938 hurricane devastated the North East states. And two young African giraffes arrived in New York City, bound for San Diego. This is the story of Woody Nickel, a survivor of the dust and the hurricane, and a friend of the giraffes.-
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Moving giraffes across the country in 1938 was not easy. Woody and the Old Man drive a rickety, barely running, giraffe-sized “Pullman truck” with openings on the top for Wild Boy and Wild Girl to eat leaves, and openings on the sides for them to watch the world. They encounter floods, thieves, accidents, and horrendous “roadside attractions”. They also meet kind and generous people of all sorts. And Woody encounters his own soul as he grows up along the way.-
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This book is full of adventure set in a United States unlike today. It’s sweet and heartwarming. It’s told through a combination of personal narrative, newspaper articles, and telegrams. Woody is innocent in many ways of the world, and yet hardened too early by circumstances. It’s a story of learning through caring for animals, of recognizing larger truths through small events.-
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After the story ends, the author gives us a further glimpse into the world of 1938, and the San Diego zoo. Read these fascinating extras! I am not given to hyperbole, but I must say this book was so uplifting that I did not want it to end!-
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“Few true friends have I known, and two were giraffes.” (Woodrow Wilson Nickel). This book will make you want to quit your job to feed onions to giraffes, and so it’s definitely 5 stars from me. 🌵📚👩🏼‍🦳”

America, 1938 and Woody Nickel has lost his parents, his home, made his way to New York and has just survived a hurricane. Two giraffes, heading for San Diago zoo have survived the crossing across the Atlantic and the hurricane landing in New York the same time as Woody and he is instantly drawn to them.
Woody follows them, before luck and chance mean he is working with Riley Jones and driving them to the zoo.

West With Giraffes is a beautiful, moving and poignant novel. It shows the resilience of character when luck is out, the kindness of strangers and the wonder of animals.
Some moments had me almost moved to tears, some made me smile and others had me willing Woody and giraffes were ok.
There is some moving about between time, but it is really easy to follow.
The ending was absolutely perfect. A beautiful end for a beautiful novel.
I really loved finding out at the end the true story of the zoo and some of the characters too.

I will say this novel has a few parts where the flow is not consistent, other than that I loved it. Very reminiscent to other novels that flashback to the Great Depression, "Water for Elephants", and "Black Dove, White Raven". IF you haven't read these you should. Animal lovers, history buffs, lovers of a strong narrative will love this novel. Strong prose, though not consistent, reminiscent of a memoir, You will have sympathy and empathy for their journey.

Woody is woken up after a hurricane by someone stealing his boots. He is working at the docks after becoming an orphan and travelling to find his only relative who isn’t really that interested in him. After waking up, he meets two giraffes that survived the hurricane at sea. He starts following them on their journey to San Diego Zoo with Old Man alongside fellow traveller Red. The story encompasses American history as the Great Depression comes to an end and World War Two is just beginning. It’s an enjoyable glimpse into the life of a disadvantaged boy and the people and giraffes that save him. I wasn’t as engaged with the parts of the story set when Woody was older.

I have no idea how I have never heard of the hurricane giraffes before this book. I can only imagine the shock and awe of seeing these animals in rural America during the Dust Bowl. This book is a fictionalized story of a boy who became the driver for the trip in this surreal adventure. I will say there were plenty of heart stopping moments during this book, along with many heart-warming ones as well. The way that this cross-country road trip was told was from the view of a 100-year-old WWII veteran trying to get his story out before he passes away or loses more of his memories was emotional and powerful. One of the highlights of this book was the touching bond between animals and humans. Overall, it was a perfect escape to a different time in American history.

If it has giraffes in it I will read it! It’s a cute, a bit more modern story than The Grapes of Wrath, but still set in 1938, telling the tale of a young man going to California. Two giraffes are shipped to the East coast, and will travel by road to California. Woody, a young man of 17, drives them to San Diego. His dream is to go to California. The young orphan man hasn’t had an easy life, but he’ll end having a long life. As an old man he writes the story of traveling west with the giraffes.

It’s a cute story, but I would have liked to read more about the giraffes, even though I understand it is a story about the journey, not the destination. I’m not a fan of different styles within a book, and it did bother me a bit with the changes of writing style, but not too much, since the main story took up most of the book.

Endangered species is my thing, and I’m happy to see authors write about them, and sharing their concern for the subject. I’m both relieved and concerned that times have changed. Life in the 30s was a bit different in the US than in Europe, and this book shows it in an interesting way. Germany and Hitler was the main concern in Europe, and in the US the country followed how to giraffes made their way to the opposite side of the country. Okies were a big thing, California was the place to be.

Good historical description, but I would have wished for something more. It was such a short time in Woody’s life, and then we know his next step and the end, but I bet he did a lot more.

This book was wonderful; one of the best books I’ve read in a long while. Woodrow, a recent refugee from the dust bowl, is in New York when a ship with two giraffes comes to port. These two giraffes are heading across the country on the back of the truck to the San Diego Zoo. Woody decides to follow them across the country to California. What ensues is a historical trip filled with many adventures. Woodrow discovers a lot about himself on this journey and makes friends with the keeper, Riley Jones, and a photojournalist, Red along the way. He also develops a lifelong friendship with the two giraffes.
The story of the giraffe’s being transported across the continent during 1938 is captivating. And within that story she weaves the historical realities of the United States during 1938- the dust bowl, hurricanes, flash floods, racism, Hoovervilles, the Mann Act, the WPA/CCC, and much more. And then top it all off with a coming of age story of a 17 year old boy discovering who he is. It was magical and made me want to learn more about those two giraffes. I will be recommending it to my family and friends, and probably read it with my book group.

Lynda Rutledge’s captivating historical fiction novel, West With Giraffes, will have you spellbound and convinced of its strong potential for screen adaptation.

Woody Nickel, a young Oakie, knows what he wants and won’t let anything stop him. After all, he’s survived the horrors of the Dust Bowl, buried his family, hitched his way to New York, and lived through a hurricane. After witnessing the arrival of the ‘hurricane giraffes,’ Woody is adamant to accompany them to California as the first giraffes in the zoo. Upon convincing cantankerous Old Man, 17 year old Woody manages to wrangle his way into driving the two giraffes from New York City to San Diego, California. With more brawn than brains, he wouldn’t let anyone know how ill-prepared he was for the task at hand. His love for the creatures grows as does his affection for Augusta Red, a young red-haired secret-keeping photographer for Life Magazine. It’s during this trip that Woody is changed by the animals, the kindness of strangers and every bump in the road of this extraordinary adventure. This book isn’t just about two giraffes, it’s about confronting the past in order to live in the present and be at peace with the future. It’s about self sacrifice and the horrors of the Dust Bowl. It’s about, Belle Benchley, the world’s first female zoo keeper. It’s about what we are willing to do to get through another day. It’s about creating a sense of belonging and relationships that will offer support when needed the most. Most of all, it’s about a life defining journey and lovely souls who are brought together by their love of the animals.

Rutledge’s writing style is like an invitation to ride with the giraffes. Her wonderful descriptive writing not only gives readers the sense of being along in the adventure, but also makes it a binge worthy read. It’s next to impossible to put down! You’ll be reminded to live in the moment and encouraged to be a risk taker. Having just finished Kristin Hannah’s ‘The Four Winds,’ I was better prepared to understand the conditions of the depression and dust bowl era. This emotional book with its phenomenal cast of characters will stay in your mind for a while.

Published February 01, 2021.

Thank you to Lynda Rutledge, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this gift in exchange for an honest review.