West with Giraffes

• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Originally Published: 2021
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Divided into chapters; approx. 371 pages, approx. 10 hours and 29 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: West with Giraffes is a historical novel inspired by real events. It follows Woodrow Wilson Nickel, a Dustbowl orphan, and two giraffes on a cross-country road trip during the Great Depression. The novel explores themes of adventure, resilience, and the human-animal bond as Woodrow and the giraffes embark on an epic journey from New York City to California. Along the way, they encounter challenges and unexpected friendships.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of historical hardship and the challenges faced during the Great Depression; suicide; occasional use of outdated, offensive, or racist terms in both the novel and paired texts; animal abuse

Lynda Rutledge, Author

• Bio: Contemporary American author known for her storytelling and ability to blend history, human connections, and unexpected journeys; writes fiction, nonfiction, restaurant and film reviews, and articles for national and international publications; has an MFA in creative writing and a BA and MA in American literature; often highlights the extraordinary of everyday life in her works
• Other Works: Woven of Water (2011); Faith Bass Darling’s Last Garage Sale (2012)
• Awards: Writers League of Texas Novel of the Year (2013); Texas Great Read (2023)