West With Giraffes

In 1938, a hurricane strikes the New York harbor, leaving two young giraffes stranded on the docks. Woody Nickel, an eighteen-year-old orphan fleeing the Dust Bowl, joins the "Old Man," a grumpy zookeeper, to transport the animals across the United States. They drive a custom truck from the Atlantic coast to the San Diego Zoo, navigating flooded roads, mountain passes, and the racial tensions of the Jim Crow South. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of an aged Woody looking back on his life, detailing his encounters with circus performers, photographers, and common people struggling through the Great Depression.

Historical fiction readers who enjoy stories based on true events will find a detailed account of early animal conservation efforts and the logistics of mid-century travel. The plot appeals to those interested in the ecological history of North America and the specific challenges of the 1930s. Readers finish the book with a concrete understanding of how humans formed bonds with exotic wildlife before modern technology existed. It provides a direct look at the grit required to move large animals across a landscape that was often hostile to outsiders and their cargo.

Clear-cut; an easy read.

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