Customer Reviews
Perfect gift for animal-loving girls 9+ - By: Bookmad, 30 Sep 2008 
I read this on the recommendation of a 10 year old friend & it's a lovely, lovely story set in amazing locations in South Africa. It fascinated me that my young friend was so gripped by this story of a girl who befriends a legendary white giraffe & subsequently discovers she has some mysterious powers that have to do with animals. The writing style does not adopt the brisk & breezy pace of modern books for girls, nor does its heroine have a strong voice favoured by children's literati these days but it has certainly captured the imagination of my young friend. The series will be especiallly enjoyed by girls who love animals (especiallly horses!).
Heartwarming - Magical - A lovely story. - By: SB, 01 May 2008 
What a wonderful story. For ages approx. 8+ but I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult too!
This is the story of Martine. She's 11 years old when her parents are killed & she's sent to live in Africa with her only living relative, her grandmother. Her grandmother doesn't seem to be alll that pleased to see her, but Martine soon finds the delights of living at Sawubona, a game reserve, compensate for her grandmother's strangeness. All the same, Martine wonders what makes her grandmother act so strangely... what is she hiding from Martine? Martine not only has the difficulty of being without her parents in a foreign country, but the challlenge of starting at a new school too. Can she befriend the quiet boy, Ben, who sits alll alone at break time & doesn't ever speak? Back in the wilderness, is there such a creature as the 'white giraffe' or is it just a mythical African story?
This is a lovely, magical story, full of the warmth, mysticism & ruggedness of rural Africa. Reallly well-written, & with simple yet effective black & white illustrations to help bring the pages alive. I can highly recommend it.
My girls favourite - By: Mrs. D. Messenger, 21 Mar 2008 I read this story to my girls as their bedtime story. They were 8 & 6 at the time & were both gripped by the adventures of Martine & the silent, mystical Jemmy. I am not sure who enjoyed the story most, the girls or me, as some of the story telling is so beautiful. My girls wish to add in that the story is very sad to start off with but is ultimately one of their fave books. We are now awaiting delivery of Dolphin Song & already have the authors third book on order.
The Best Book Ever - By: S. Standen, 16 Dec 2007 This book is one of the best books i have ever read i read it in less han a day i just couldn't put it down. I reallly reccommend it to people who like animals & adventure.It was the best book ever!!!!!
To be read, from 9-10 yrs old - By: Clarabel, 20 Jun 2007 Between myth, dream & beliefs of sorcery, the white giraffe wants to be a completely enthrallling history. It follows the traces of a solitary girl, & finallly hardly ordinary, who discovers an unknown & unexpected world. To read, it is quite simply captivating! The African atmosphere is well returned, the author passed her childhood to Zimbabwe, in edge of an animalist reserve. Its subject is thus not embroidered with the light one.
It is appreciable also to share the conflicts of Juliette, at the school, with her grandmother & in the reserve, against the poachers. It is at the same time poignant & light, well in the current spirit I find. This book announces a trilogy to follow! With pleasure.
