Basic Introduction

My book report is on a book called Legends of the Animal Healer – The White Giraffe.  This is a realistic fiction book.  I think the author wrote this wondrous book because she might have had a pet giraffe and might have wanted to ride it.  Also because she might really care for animals.  The author’s name is Lauren St. John.

What is this Book About?

            The story line in this book is about a girl who loves animals and has healing powers to care for them.  The theme or message of this book is always believing and fighting for what is right, even in crucial times. 

Why I Chose this Book?

I chose this book because the presence of animals keeps the book interesting.  The magical healing powers expressed in this book create a very good impression in my mind about the ways of Africa and provides an enriching experience while reading.  I feel as if I am part of this book, just being a narrator of the story while I recite it to myself.

Book Summary

In the beginning of the book Martine’s parents are killed in a fire which forces Martine to move to a game reserve in Africa with a grandmother she didn’t know she had.  Martine’s grandmother, Gwynn Thomas, is stern but loving.  Martine is an eleven year old who loves animals, and is kind, loving, caring, and sort of emotional girl.  She is the main character of the book.  Tendai picked Martine up from the airport and takes a quick stop at Grace’s house.  Tendai is an African bushman who knows many helpful herbs, loves animals, and is also kind and caring.  Tendai’s aunt, Grace, is a sangoma, or African medicine woman.  She is kind, warm, and is ever so good at cooking.  Martine ponders about why her grandmother is so uncongenial and unpalatable and why it seems like everything is kept as a secret from her.  

In Africa she goes to a new school as a new student, where she meets Luke & Lucy part of the Five Star Gang.  The Five Star Gang is a club formed by popular kids at school.  The kids in the Five Star Gang sometimes talk about Ben, a “wimp”.  Later on Martine considers Ben as her best human friend.  Ben is quiet, strong, and caring.  Within a few days, her class goes on a field trip.  Mrs. Volkner, the teacher had to go back to the bus for a couple of minutes and that was when the havoc started.  Luke found an Egyptian goose with a hurt wing and starts “playing around” with it.   Martine tries to fight for what is right and in turn gets the nick name “Witch” because she heals the Egyptian goose with a magic touch and the goose flew away.

In the middle of the book, on one night she sneaks into the game reserve, Sawubona, and meets a white giraffe which she rides.  The white giraffe, Jeremiah, Jemmy for short, is the giraffe that lets Martine ride him.  He is sweet and cute.  Jemmy takes Martine to his secret sanctuary.  She finds a cave which she names The Memory Room.  Inside, she finds some cave paintings.  Out of the blue, she finds Grace who tells her more about the pictures which depict her destiny. 

At the end of the book, the white Jemmy gets drugged by a member of the five star gang’s dad, the mayor of that town.  Along with Jemmy are a few other illegally drugged animals held captive on Ben’s father’s boat, the Aurora.  Some of the animals included were snakes, parrots, monkeys, sheep, and a baboon.  Martine finds a way to get Jemmy on his feet and running toward the exit of the boat before it left the dock.

What I Like/Dislike About this Book?

I like that the author describes in color about each characters’ qualities and how every scene and setting looks.  I like the setting of this book because most of it is held in Africa, one of the places I would really like to go to.  The closest I got to going to Africa was a safari ride in Disney World.

I would have liked to know specific information on which time period the story took place, which would have helped a bit to research about conditions in Africa.

If I Would Change this Book, what Would I Propose?

If I would change the end of this book, I would have written that Ben would have siblings so they all could help more of the animals that were hidden and drugged in the boat. 

Why I Would Suggest this Book to Read for my Fellow Classmates?

This book is an adventure, and it provides sensations as if you are going through an electrifying roller coaster ride of emotions.   The vivid, interesting imagination of the author makes you feel part of the story and once you start reading you cannot stop.   Enjoy!