Martine has just experienced the worst thing possible, her parents are killed in a fire, her home is destroyed and she has nowhere to go. Or does she? She finds out her guardian is her grandmother who lives on a wildlife reserve in South Africa. Martine didn't even know she had a grandmother, much less one who lived in Africa! Martine makes the journey from England unsure of what to expect. Her grandmother's letter hadn't sounded inviting, in fact it sounded like she didn't want Martine at all. As soon as she arrives, Martine hears the legend of a mythical animal living on the reserve, The White Giraffe. One stormy night she sees the supposed mythical being down by the watering hole. Martine's life is changed forever by her encounter with this beautiful creature. She gets mixed up with poacher's, a magic woman, and some cruel kids from school. A fast-paced adventure full of danger and mystery with a little magic to top it all off. Though the main character is a girl, boys should still appreciate the intrigue of this story.
Stand Tall
By Siena Siegel
by Joan Bauer
Putnam, 2002, 182 pgs Realistic Fiction
Tree is 12 years old and over 6 feet tall. That would be great if he were a basketball player, but he is not. Dealing with his unusual size is not Tree's only challenge. Tree's parents have recently gone through a divorce, and his grandfather has had his leg amputated as the result of an old Vietnam War injury. The strength of this book is the characterizations. All of the main characters are dimensional and sympathetic. Bauer sets the characters in real and often funny family situations. Best of all is the character of Tree. He is boy with a heart to match his stature. This is a great book for boys or girls ages 9-12, as a read aloud or for individual reading. This book could also be a good Rx book for children whose families are going through divorce, or for anyone who feels like they don't fit in.
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