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West with Giraffes

by Lynda Rutledge

★★★★☆ 4.32 (205 085 ratings)
2021 · 368 pages · ~6h 8m read · Fiction

Inspired by a true story, this novel follows young Woody Nickel as he drives two giraffes across the United States during the Great Depression. After surviving a hurricane, the animals must travel from New York to the San Diego Zoo in a custom truck. Accompanied by an old zookeeper and a persistent photographer, Woody embarks on a transformative journey across a landscape of dust bowls and hope. It is a moving exploration of resilience, the bond between humans and animals, and the American spirit.

A popular book with millions of readers worldwide.

Atmosphere: HistoricalVibe: LightPacing: Relaxing
adventurehistoricalnature

Notable Quotes

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened. —Anatole France, Nobel Laureate, 1921"
"It is a foolish man who thinks stories do not matter—when in the end, they may be all that matter and all the forever we’ll ever know."
"In a long life, there is a singular moment when you know you’ve made more memories than any new ones you’ll ever make. That’s the moment your truest stories—the ones that made you the you that you became—are ever more in the front of your mind, as you begin to reach back for the you that you deemed best."

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