by Cathryn Conroy (Dublin, Ohio): Oh, what a delightful, escapist read that takes us on a most unlikely cross-country journey that had me laughing and crying—occasionally at the same time.
Beautifully written by Lynda Rutledge, this is a made-up story based on true facts. It’s 1938 at the height of the Great Depression and 17-year-old Woodrow Wilson Nickel—that is, Woody Nickel—is orphaned in the dust bowl that hit Texas. With a little loose change in his pocket and a lot of guts, he travels to New York City where he has a third cousin who can give him a job. When a hurricane hits New York and kills the cousin, Woody is once again at loose ends. And then he sees an incredible sight in the harbor: two giraffes who were on a ship from Africa and managed to survive the hurricane at sea.
Through some tricks, gumption, and a bit of luck, Woody attaches himself to the giraffes, called Boy and Girl, and their caretaker Riley Jones, whom Woody calls Old Man, as they embark on the cross-country drive along the Lee Highway to the San Diego Zoo, the giraffes’ new home. Following them whether they like it or not is Augusta Red, a gorgeous redhead with her own sad story, who is shooting photos for a spread in Life magazine.
The trio encounters obstacles, adventure, and nefarious plots, and through it all, as Woody and Red slowly have the courage to reveal their darkest secrets, Woody learns to love and trust for the first time in his short life.
One of the most beautiful and touching parts of this novel is the effect the giraffes have on the humans around them—be it Old Man, Woody, and Red or the many people who spot them on this most incredible journey as they tootle on down the road with two giraffes sticking their heads out of a trailer. Old Man has a perfect way of describing the giraffes: “towering creatures of God’s pure Eden.”
With bold and vibrant characters, a plot filled with twists and turns, a touching love story, and an ending that had me reading with a huge smile on my face, this is a heartwarming book to be cherished and one I’ll remember for a long time.
Bonus: You’ll learn a lot about giraffes!
