Operation Rhino

Animal Healer #5

by Lauren St. John

The final African adventure in Lauren St John's award-winning WHITE GIRAFFE series.

When the rhinos at Sawubona Game Reserve are attacked, the poachers leave behind a terrified calf. Devastated but determined to help, Martine and Ben agree to take the rhino baby to a sanctuary near the mysterious Golden Gate Highlands National Park, a place where dinosaurs once walked.

But the sanctuary is hiding a precious secret - one that must be guarded from the poachers at all costs. When the secret gets out, Martine and Ben find themselves in the fight of their lives to save one of the rarest animals on earth. But who can they trust?

Genres: Animals, Africa, Childrens, Middle Grade, Adventure

186 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Lauren St John grew up on a farm and game reserve in Africa, the inspiration for her acclaimed memoir, Rainbow's End, and her award-winning White Giraffe series for children. Dead Man's Cove, the first in her Laura Marlin mystery series, won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award in 2011. Her bestselling One Dollar Horse trilogy for teenagers was followed by The Glory, a breathtaking YA adventure and romance about a long distance horse race across the American West. Formerly a sports and music journalist, Lauren is the author of Seve and Hardcore Troubador: the Life & Near Death of Steve Earle, a superb, gripping biography of an Americana legend. The Obituary Writer, her first adult novel, was published in 2014 and she is currently at work on her second. Both The White Giraffe and The Glory have been optioned for film.

Reviews

[Row · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quote from the book:
“If we don’t wake up and learn to love
We’ll lose this precious gift of the wild
No, it doesn’t take a lot to see
There’s only one way to be and that’s free
Born free, forever free”

[Jule Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren St John's wonderful "Operation Rhino" is the fifth book in "The White Giraffe" series - a welcome return for young conservationist heroes Martine and Ben. It's an astounding feat of storytelling for children - a book that deals unflinchingly with rhino poaching, but is palatable for younger readers and a real page-turner.

First and foremost, it is a love-letter to an ancient species on the brink. She shows rhinos to be not only highly sympathetic victims of man's greed, but also loveable creatures that are existing an terrifyingly small numbers by grace of a few honourable individuals in the face of almost over-whelming odds. Her narrative on poaching is well researched and intelligent, and obviously comes from the perspective of a long-time wild-life campaigner who cares passionately about her subject. It is an unblinking portrayal of the brutality and tragic absurdity of the trade in rhino horn.

At the same time, fans of Martine's particular combination of charming, flawed, very human child super-hero, won't be disappointed. There is a subtle narrative about being influenced against your better judgement by fame and beauty, that most younger readers will find it easy to identify with.

Ben and Martine's maturing and more complex relationship as they worry about their transition to high school is also beautifully played out. And there are new, interesting friends too.

This is a flawless piece of writing for 8-12 year olds and a perfect addition to a classic children's series.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

DIT WAS MIJN JEUGD

[Chris Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Operation Rhino is the latest exciting episode in challenging life of Martine, the young heroine. The magical sights, smells and sounds of the South African bush are all around as Martine, her friend Ben, and Jemmy the white giraffe do battle with the evil poachers intent on wanton destruction for profit. The friends have to turn detective, and cope with all sorts of threats and dangers along the way. My sons have read all the other stories in the series, and tried to pinch Operation Rhino when it came through the letter box and before I’d read it. No chance.

[AFMK · Rating 4 out of 5]

تقييمي للرواية ٤ من ٥، وهي الجزء الأخير من سلسلة روايات الزرافة البيضاء والتي تتناول موضوع حماية الحياة البرية. تقع أحداث هذه الرواية في أفريقيا، بين البراري والمحميات الطبيعية مع كل ما فيها من مخاطر متنوعة تبدأ من الحيوانات المفترسة والثعابين وتصل إلى خطورة الصيادين الذين يهددون حياة الحيوانات وخصوصا القابلة للإنقراض. بطلة الرواية مراهقة فقدت والديها في انجلترا فانتقلت لتعيش مع جدتها في إحدى المحميات الطبيعية في أفريقيا حيث تبدأ المغامرات الشيقة. الرواية لا تخلو من لمسة خيال ، أعطيتها ٤ لأنها كانت أقل تشويقا من رواياتها السابقة رغم أنها كانت لا تخلو من الإثارة.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending for a series perfect for people passionate about conservation of nature

[Katie Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this heart-touching story. Felt like everything was happening right in front of me!
Heartbroken by the beginning, but kept me excited for more!

[TheTimeyWimeyNerdfighter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WISH THERE WAS A BOOK 6

[Sinead M O Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching

This book is so amazing and heart warming. Just sad that it is the last one in the series 😢

[Austral Scout · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this aloud to the girls (ages 3, 5 and 7). The elder two were very into it, from the outset. Horses AND wild animals? Horses and wild animals for your very own? Horse and wild animals racing each other? They were smitten! Esky appreciated being reunited with the white giraffe she knew from the book so named. Meanwhile, Mia's feet were ceiling-ward and her hands were animated characters. Alas, the reading went on (with minimal murmuring from the listeners about the static). We read this as part of an Africa Inquiry (Home-school) Unit, and as always, the fiction text generated more questions than any of the non-fiction offerings we have out from the library; "What's 'Zulu'?" and "What's 'a reserve?'" I think they're much more likely to remember the answers given the fiction-based context too. Unfortunately...I really didn't care for the writing style or story much at all, myself. My greatest pet peeve was how there was very little distinction between character and narrative voice...children uttered lines I couldn't buy into and there wasn't varied personality between characters. I wanted this book to be over! Sooooo...I recommend this for readers around 10 years of age who rip through books, who are interested in hard topics like poaching receiving treatment for a junior audience with a sprinkling of rhino and African trivia.


Review copy received from Hachette.

Original review here:
http://strikingkeys.blogspot.com/2017...

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That was a fantastic end to this MG series.

To say that I only found out a couple of years ago that this book had been written and added to the series, I didn't think I'd ever find/get to it. Rereading this series has been fairly special, more so because this is a very mature final book. Not that the others don't handle big topics amongst the truths of why certain animals are endangered, but Operation Rhino felt more so, and a little different. But in a good way.

I also enjoyed getting to see different slightly sides of Martine and Ben, now they're about to move on to high school, ect. I love those two. Overall, I'm sure this will be a MG series I keep coming back to again in the future.

[Tanja Nayak · Rating 4 out of 5]

After taking a walk with wild rhinos at Imire Game Park in Zimbabwe St. John was inspired to write a story about these vulnerable creatures who are sadly often the target of poachers for their horns.

Once again the story follows an adventure with Martine and her friend, Ben which has them desperately trying to save the life of a young rhino after his parents are poached. A bit of mystery is thrown in for good measure.

A well-written and engaging story suitable for children in the 10-12 age group.

[Ra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book some time ago for my non-reading son, and now that we are changing continents again it was time to donate it. I was not aware that this book formed a part of a series, but it was a good read, although it tries to cram so many things into one story.
The story is sadly dated because the white rhino is now officially extinct. I wish it was otherwise and one could imagine that the efforts of the conservationists have born fruit.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous story for the 9-12yo set! Mystery, adventure, emotional turmoil, sadness . . . with a hint of animal preservation information. I was team facilitator for a reading competition that included the book so I had to read the book. However, I'm glad I did because now I recommend it to our year 5 - 7 students who have been enjoying it too.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much. Love the entire series.

[Saloni Porwal]

Please visit our blog for Quick Book Reviews https://salonivibhi.blogspot.com. We upload fun reviews along with short summaries. You can comment with books that you would like us to review.

[Jill CD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it is a series, it can be read as a standalone. Lots of adventure and action wrapped up in this story about rhinos and poaching. Grades 3/4 and up will enjoy.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein letztes wunderbares Buch der Geschichte mit Martine in Südafrika. Habs sehr gerne gelesen trotz der erschreckenden Wahrheit über Wilderei

[h · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute series from my childhood that gives me all the good feels. I think this is the last book that's going to be released.

The descriptions of Africa and the amazing sounding food make me want to visit.

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved it! There are few series of which I can say that I loved every single book in the series. The White Giraffe is definitely such a series. Every book an exciting adventure, a beautiful story of friendship and embedded an important message about the plight of an endangered animal. I learned so many interesting facts about the animals at the center of each story - never thought for example that rhino have a very gentle nature, similar to the one of horses. In addition, each book took me back to Africa - the beautiful descriptions of the setting made it so easy to see Martine's world, experience Southern Africa and her grandmother's game reserve in particular.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - even though it is a children's book, it tears at the heart strings. Having been fortunate to have been on two safari holidays and seen black and white rhinos, it is heart rending to think of these awful poachers who steal their horns. Anyone who loves animals, will love this book.