An emotional; rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America.
"Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes..."
Woodrow Wilson Nickel; age 105; feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct; he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.
It's 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe; and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events; the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones; including the world's first female zoo director; a crusty old man with a past; a young female photographer with a secret; and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.
