A Beautiful Friendship

The White Giraffe by Lauren St John is a fabulous contemporary children’s novel and perfect for ages eight years and over. It is the first book in The White Giraffe series which promises to be fabulous.

The reader travels from London to South Africa after a terrible tragedy. The landscape really comes alive for the reader due to comprehensive descriptions. We can ‘feel’ the African sun beating down on us, and ‘see’ by the light of the moon. Living on Sawubona game reserve brings freedom for eleven-year-old Martine.

It is here that Martine meets a grandmother whose existence she never knew. Martine wonders why her grandmother had been hidden from her. All will be revealed in due course. You need to read the book!

We witness the bond that Martine has with animals, particularly the white giraffe called Jemmy. She will do whatever she can in order to protect the animals from poachers.

Africa is a land of contrasts. We hear how the native Africans were persecuted and forced to live in the shanty town of Soweto near Johannesburg. The reader’s heart breaks as we read: “Only a man can crush you inside, in your heart, for no reason other than the colour of your skin.”

A man recalling his youth says: “one policeman… hated me without knowing me.” Despite all this treatment, Tendai is not bitter, believing, “the best revenge is forgiveness… sometimes the thing that hurts your enemies most is to see that you are not like them.” He rises above his situation.

We meet Tendai’s aunt, an older African woman with the gift of sight. She recognises a kindred spirit in Martine. “The gift can be a blessing or a curse.” As Martine uncovers her gift, she realises that she must choose wisely.

Love has kept characters apart. Love will re-unite when the time is right.

I absolutely loved The White Giraffe. It is the perfect read whatever your age as we see the beauty in nature, and witness the growing bond between a young girl and a young giraffe.

JULIA WILSON