70 pages • 2 hours read
Lynda RutledgeWest with Giraffes
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Character Analysis
Woodrow Wilson Nickel
Woodrow is the central protagonist and narrator of the novel. The novel is told through his point-of-view, so readers are given an in-depth look into his psyche. Woodrow is a traumatized young man who seeks to find a new life for himself. He is resilient, hardworking, and loving. His connection with the giraffes emphasizes his deep connection to animals, a connection that sets him apart from many people in his time period. Despite his poverty, Woodrow doesn’t see animal life as more expendable than his own. Furthermore, his generosity of spirit is highlighted by the sacrifices he makes for his “family” (the giraffes, Riley, and Red). Woodrow lives a long life riddled with heartache, but he finds joy in his growth and his connection with the giraffes. His decision to write his story for Red’s child demonstrates his belief in the power of memory and storytelling.
Riley Jones
Riley is a pivotal secondary character in this novel. He acts as mentor, father figure, and moral guide through Woodrow’s arduous and life-changing journey across America. His past is a mystery, making his present the representation of his true self. He is kind, generous, and committed to animal welfare. Riley is well-experienced, and he is forgiving in a time period where people were closed off from one another due to immense poverty and oppressive policies.
Augusta “Red” Lowe
Augusta, known throughout the novel as “Red,” is a young woman who is determined to make her dreams come true. She fantasizes about traveling and being an important photojournalist. In many ways, Red subverts feminine stereotypes of her era. She wears pants, travels on her own, and leaves her husband behind to have an adventure of her own. However, she is also a victim of oppressive gender norms. She is on the run from law enforcement, who chase her down to return her to her husband. She is bound to her biology when she discovers she is pregnant. Many of her dreams do not come true because of the limitations placed on her as a woman, wife, and mother. Red is Woodrow’s love interest in the novel, and he carries her memory throughout his life, well after her death.
