The White Giraffe

Martine is ten when her parents are killed and she is sent to live in Africa with her strangely unwelcoming grandmother.

Her new home is Sawubona, a game reserve. It is a place as cruel as it is beautiful, where mysteries and secrets abound. What is her grandmother hiding? Why is Martine made to feel such an outsider? And why is she being kept away from the animals?

One lonely night, Martine looks out of her window and sees a young giraffe, 'silver tinged with cinnamon in the moonlight.' In that instant she knows that she is prepared to risk everything for it. The giraffe looks at her as if it is waiting ...

Myth, legend, danger, intrigue, betrayal, friendship and a special gift are just some of the ingredients in their extraordinary adventure. In a stunning debut, Lauren St John captures the unforgettable bond forged between Martine and the white giraffe in a novel rich with the scents, sounds and intoxicating magic of Africa.

Lauren St John grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa, where she had a pet giraffe, as well as numerous dogs, horses and warthogs. She now lives in London with her partner and two enormous cats. This is her first children's book.

One lonely night, she looks out of her window and sees a young giraffe, silver tinged with cinnamon in the moonlight.

'For a split second their eyes locked, the small sad girl and the slender young giraffe, then the sky went dark. Martine pressed her face to the window, desperate to see the white giraffe again.'

In that instant Martine knows that she is prepared to risk everything for it. The giraffe looks at her as if it is waiting ...

'a spellbinding and mesmerizing debut novel' Publishing News