The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John

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.

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