Cry of the Giraffe

by Judie Oron

One girl's harrowing trek from exile and slavery to hope in a new land -- all based on a true story. In the early 1980s, thousands of Ethiopian Jews fled the civil unrest, famine and religious persecution of their native land in the hopes of being reunited in Yerusalem, their spiritual homeland, with its promises of a better life. Wuditu and her family risk their lives to make this journey, which leads them to a refugee camp in Sudan, where they are separated. Terrified, 15-year-old Wuditu makes her way back to Ethiopia alone. "Don't give up, Wuditu! Be strong!" The words of her little sister come to Wuditu in a dream and give her the courage to keep going. Wuditu must find someone to give her food and shelter or she will surely die. Finally Wuditu is offered a solution: working as a servant. However, she quickly realizes that she has become a slave. With nowhere else to go, she stays -- until the villagers discover that she is a falasha, a hated Jew. Only her dream of one day being reunited with her family gives her strength -- until the arrival of a stranger heralds hope and a new life in Israel. With her graceful long neck, Wuditu is affectionately called "the giraffe." And like the giraffe who has no voice, she must suffer in silence. Based on real events, Wuditu's story mirrors the experiences of thousands of Ethiopian Jews.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Africa, Ethiopia, Historical Fiction, Historical, International

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2010

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fictionalized account of a young Ethiopian Jewish girl (a falasha) in northern Ethiopia as she tries to survive after being separated from her family while they are on their way to be airlifted to Israel. What struck me particularly is how, in this day and age, people, even in Africa, can still believe that Jews can deliver curses and hexes and such. Such ignorant prejudice! I will never understand the urge to destroy someone who is different from you. I couldn't put the book down, and was on the edge of my seat with suspense, wondering if her life would ever get better and if she would ever be reunited with her family. This is an outstanding novel that I wish more young people would read. Highly recommended!!

[Betty-Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving. Exile. Slavery. Hope.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wuditu, an Ethiopian Jewish girl, has her life disrupted by war and anti-Jewish violence in her home country. She and her family are separated on their escape to Israel. She has to survive on her own, a teenager hiding her true identity, for years before she can rejoin them.

The book is written in a simple, straightforward manner that's suitable for young adults, but it contains fairly graphic scenes of violence and sexual assault, so judge accordingly.

I knew very little about this part of Jewish history and culture before reading the book, despite the fact that my cousin works for Yahel, an Israeli organization serving the Ethiopian Jewish community. I'm glad I read it, and I will certainly learn more.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story caused me to feel such sadness for this particular girl, named Wuditu, who lived in Ethiopia and because of her and her family's Jewish faith, they needed to escape their country, hoping for a new start to life in Jerusalem. What a heartwrenching story of how non-Jewish people turned against the Jewish people. Finally, Wuditu's family (father, mother, father's 2nd wife and all of their children) fled on foot to Sudan. Their guide, Daniel, died on the way to Sudan trying to lead to a refugee camp. Once in the camp, Wuditu and her sisters had to be very careful to stay right by their mothers or their father or a male relative to protect them from being attacked/raped by other men. It was such a hard and desperate situation, with bad food and water and terrible living conditions. Finally, her dad had a really bad eye condition, so he had to be airlifted to Israel, with Wuditu's mother. So she was left with her stepmother, whom she also loved, and her sisters. But one night, soldiers came to the camp and they got separated, Wuditu and her sister were off with a group of strangers when the soldiers dumped them at the border and told them to return to their village in Ethiopia. So they started the journey on foot, with no shoes, no spare clothing, only a little bit of sugar and a can for water. They got sick on the way. They said many prayers to God to get them safely to a village where they could find some relatives. Finally, they found some relatives and Wuditu left her younger sister with them and Wuditu left to find work so she could earn money to get them to another town and then hopefully to Israel to be reunited with family. The story begins in 1985 when she is just 9 years old. The bulk of the book takes place when Wuditu is 12-16 years old. My heart was breaking for her to read of all the terrible things that happened to her - being alone, looking for work, seeing other young girls work as prostitutes' and getting hurt and even dying from the terrible treatment they received at the hands of rough, mean men who abused and took advantage of them, how Wuditu herself was raped and then became pregnant and she drank a terrible concoction to cause an abortion, and the lies she had to continually tell to hide the fact that she was Jewish and her true story and roots and intentions. She had to sleep on the streets, in terrible housing with not nice people, she had to work so hard for very little money, and in the end she became a slave to a very mean, cold and demanding young women, who paid her nothing for years. She had painful sores all over her body and her hair was a mess. It was such a sad story. And the worst part is that this has happened and keeps happening to children all over the world.

[Akaiya Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel Cry of the Giraffe by Judie Oron is about a girl named Wuditu and her family making a dangerous journey trying to escape religious persecution in Ethiopia. Since Wuditu’s family are Beta Israel, which are Jewish people who live in Ethiopia, some people like Christians think they are evil. In order to not get caught, all the Beta Israel’s must hide their true identity even when they go to school. Along the way the family is challenged with a series of obstacles to try and get to Yerusalem. Even when the times get tough they know that they can not give up and they do it for each other.
My favorite section of the book was part three because I got so attached to the characters that everything that happened made me feel the rage that they did. Also, all the suspense in part three made me want to keep reading. Wuditu was actually my favorite character because she had so much love for everyone in her family, especially Leeweth, and she did everything that she could in order to help and keep them safe. Even when Wuditu was scared or sick she wanted to help anyway that she could. The way this novel was written made me feel emotionally attached to all the characters especially because it was based on a true story.
I did not like the way people were treating the Beta Israel because no one should be treated that way just because of what they believe. Everyone believes in different things and because you do not have the same opinion does not give you the right to judge anyone else. Something else that I found frustrating was the way that people were joking about the Beta Israel being killed or hurt. Also, the way that people were using Wuditu no matter what she did nothing was good enough. I believed that since Wuditu was so young people thought that they could just disrespect her which is not okay in any way.
I gave this novel a five star rating because it had the perfect amount emotional pull and suspense. It made me feel sad, happy, angry, and disgusted. Also the way that the book was sectioned into parts made it way easier to read and understand altogether. I enjoyed reading this novel a lot more than most novels I have read, especially because this was based on a true story and people actually went through this. I would recommend everyone to read this novel.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wuditu is a Jewish girl part of a group living in the mountains of Ethiopia. The family learns that there are efforts to efforts to help the Jews get to Israel and they determine to go. First they travel to Sudan and stay in a refugee camp, which is being used as a cover for the assisting organization. When Wuditu becomes separated from her family, can she survive and escape her native land? Based on actual events.
It is always interesting to me to read how people live in other parts of the world. Here is a story of the ways that Jews have been persecuted, and the lies that are spread, and how a family fights for survival. Wuditu says at the beginning that her sister is very brave but I believe it is Wuditu who is the brave one - enduring what she did in order to survive from one day to the next.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, the story of this young girl is amazing yet horrible. I read this as part of a challenge to read 50 books set in 50 different countries. This young Ethiopian girl's journey to Israel takes about 7 years. She starts off with her family and then spends the last few years as a slave and thinking she will never see them again. Even before she was made a slave I just kept thinking how lucky I am to be born in a time and place of freedom from religious persecutions. I had a hard time putting this book down.

[Molly Koeneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant look into the Beta Israel community and their story of suffering was a new story to me. This book does its job explaining the historic relevance of the community and their amazing journey to Isreal.

The book itself is told heresay by the white Israeli woman who helped the Beta Israel community leave Ethiopia, so the story has a strong linear feel and is lighter on the human experience of it all. Very matter of fact when relaying the journey that Wuditu endeavored when she was a young girl.

[Abhilasha Jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

Israel is the land of Wuditu’s dreams, and those of her family. As Jews living in Ethiopia, they are feared and hated by their Christian neighbours — and they dream fervently of escaping Ethiopia to live in Israel. When Wuditu is 13, she and the family she loves make the long trek to Sudan, hoping that once there, they can be transported — in a secret and dangerous rescue — to Jerusalem. They know that it will be an arduous journey, but they trust that all will be well if they rely on God and stay together.

Staying together proves much more difficult than they thought. They face the death of one uncle, the squalor and danger of the refugee camp and further family emergencies that leave Wuditu and her siblings alone. Just when it seems that life couldn’t possibly get worse, she and many others from the camp are forced back to Ethiopia.

What follows is Wuditu’s harrowing journey and quest to survive, this time without any of the family who cherishes her. Back in Ethiopia, Wuditu is at the mercy of strangers who would torture, maim, or even kill her if they find out she is Jewish. Her only “weapons” are her fiercely strong faith in God, and her own resourcefulness, determination, cunning and intelligence. Even those inner treasures don’t save her from being molested, raped, and humiliated as a slave. All the while, her only solace is also her primary motivation to keep going: holding onto hope for a joyous reunion with her family in Jerusalem.

Complete with an author’s note that puts Wuditu’s experiences in the context of the entire ordeal shared by all Ethiopian Jews, and a glossary of Ethiopian words used throughout the book, Cry of the Giraffe is based on Wuditu’s amazing true story. It is told in clear, simple language by Judie Oron, the journalist who finally saved Wuditu and brought her back to her family. This is a heartwrenching but ultimately joyous story for mature readers, about holding hope, dignity and faith close, even in the midst of dark oppression, shocking ruthlessness, senseless hatred and infuriating prejudice.

Reviewed by Christina Minaki in Canadian Children's Book News (Winter 2011, Vol. 34, No. 1)

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway and am so glad I did. What a wonderful, and heartbreaking, tale. Meant for young adults, it is an eye opening read for adults as well.

Wuditu is a young Ethiopian girl of the Beta Israel, or Ethiopian Jews. They, like all Jews, long to return to Yerusalem, especially as Wuditu's family faces the kind of prejudice Jews around the world face. She is part of a close family unit, with father, mother, stepmother, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc., but is especially close to her sister, Lewteh, two years younger. They live a good life in Ethiopia and Wuditu is even allowed to attend school until age 12, when her brother returns from Israel to tell them the family's time has come for for them to return to their spiritual home. Unfortunately, they must walk to Sudan first and live in a refugee camp until the Israelis can come and get them.

The camp is as you have heard in all the news reports and becomes truly terrifying when Wuditu and Lewteh are separated from the family and thrown back across the border into Ethiopia. Wuditu is 13 and Lewteh 10 when this occurs, but Wuditu saves them both by finding family members to take Lewteh in. Wuditu decides to travel to a nearby town to find work and locate the people who will take them to Israel. Instead she finds herself living in a brothel and is raped by one of the soldiers who comes there. She leaves and finds her way to another town, where she becomes a slave to a woman who nearly starves her.

In the end, however, she is rescued and makes her way to Israel to be reunited with her family. Judie Orton, the woman who risks her life to bring Wuditu to Yerusalem, is listed as the author of this book, but it is all Wuditu's story and a compelling one it is. I highly recommend this as a way of communicating the plight of not only the Ethiopian Jews, but many refugees throughout the world just trying to find a safe place to live.

[Raja Subramanian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up the book Cry of the Giraffe for three reasons. One, the title that promised something interesting. Two, it was set in Africa, specifically in Ethiopia. Three, it is said to be based on a true story.

Africa must be the most ravaged continent ever. Whenever we hear anything of Ethiopia, it is likely to be of some misfortune or the other - usually man-made. Once I recall telling my friends that I had some awesome food in an Ethiopian restaurant and liked the Ethiopian cuisine. One of my friends retorted with some disdain that the term "Ethiopian Cuisine" must be an oxymoron (What a moron!).

The fact remains that Ethiopia has been caught in the deadly pincers of man-made miseries like war, pillage, rape as well as famine. Man has, for time immemorial, been engaged in untold cruelties and killing of fellow human beings - all in the name of religion and God! This book did not disappoint me. Instead it made for engaging reading, tugging away at my heartstrings all the way.

The story is about a little Jewish girl Wuditu living among people who hated the Jews in a war torn village in Ethiopia. The story is about her horrific experiences as her family attempts to cross over to neighboring Sudan and then on to the promised land - Israel. Separated from her family, Wuditu encounters many horrors and emerges a survivor. Judie Oren, the author, helps Wuditu to reach Israel and be reunited with her family. I hope that many read this book and develop some empathy for the poor kids who lose their childhood and yet emerge with their necks held straight and proud - like a Giraffe!

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had won Cry of the Giraffe by Judie oron from first reads. What a wonderful but very sad true story. It is a quick read and one that you will not want to put down as the fate of the main character Wuditu's life hangs by a thread. The story begins in a small Ethiopian village where Wuditu and her family live. They are Jewish. In Ethiopia they are known as the Beta Israels. Unfortunately their village does not take well to the Beta Israels calling them by a slang name the Falashas and believing that they are evil. This belief is so widely held in the village that Wuditu's family decides they must leave and go to Israel. So, they begin their trek to Israel picking up some other family members on the way. Their journey leads them to a camp where they become split up. Wuditu is left with her sister Lewteh. Lewteh becomes ill and she is left in the care of some family friends as Wuditu tries to find some work. Wuditu ends up in various horrible situations and she and Lewteh are separated. In the end Wuditu ends up being a slave for a religious Christian lady whom she pretends that she too is Christian so that they will treat her kindly. However in the end they find out that she is Jewish and treat her terribly. The story ends with Wuditu being saved by an American lady who reunites Wuditu with her family in Israel. This is a Story that although is very sad, makes one understand the human struggle that exists.

[Jeannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is hard to read because it is just so painful. The young heroine faced so many hardships. She was mistrusted for being a black Jew in Ethiopia, fought to get the most minimal education, lived in a wretched refugee camp (that's probably about the only kind there are), kicked out of Sudan without her family, and that is just the beginning. The author writes of Wuditu's experiences in a very dignified style, and although I think some of the subject matter is too old for the 12 year olds I work with, the book is written in a very tasteful manner. The end seemed a bit rushed and forced when Wuditu meets the author, and I'm not quite sure why. The book, however, is amazing because many of us don't know much about Jews in Africa and the horrid conditions they faced (still face?) in very recent times. A quick but powerful read. The Return by Sonia Levitin is a similar story also worth reading.

[Aramis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess it was OK but I found the book extremely difficult to read because it was so poorly written. Maybe it was intended as YA, but even then, it's written as a text book for special ed kids. Every other word was explained and it completely broke the fluidity of the story.
There are many choices that Wuditu makes and are difficult to follow but then I had to remind myself this is a 13-14 years-old girl that went through very horrific situations and one cannot expect her to make the mos asserted choices.
Ironically, I picked this book because I wanted to read some Hebrew fiction only to find out this is actually a translation from English... In fact a very stilted translation that is completely foreign to how a young person in Israel would speak/write. It's a pity and I really wish it were better written because the story is worth retelling and the things Ethiopian Jews went through should not be forgotten.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

They too are my people.
This fiction story, is based on the true story of Wuditu, an Ethiopian Jew, one of the Beta Israel, called falashas which means strangers, who escaped from a life of persecution in Ethiopia beginning in the late 1980s to go to Israel. Although there were many outsiders trying to help the falashas, the Christian people of Ethiopia and Sudan believed that the falashas were evil murderers who killed their Lord and who would put the evil eye on people and curse them and they hated and persecuted the Beta Israel, just as Jews have always been persecuted throughout the world. As Wuditu fled with her family to try to get to Yerushalem, they were separated and when her younger sister became ill, Wuditu left to find work and help. For several years Wuditu was forced to be a servant, then a prostitute, then a slave before she finally was found and rescued and reunited with her family in Israel. The story is sad and touching.

[Shreela Sen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, I was surprised by the "Jews against the world" POV of the author's note & the Prologue.
It felt as if this precludes the suffering of the rest of the ethnicities who are facing the same war, same famine, same horrible situation.
However, an experience is by definition personal, & Wuditu's escape is specific to her life, & this novel is her story.
I do not know whether to classify it as non-fiction.
The writing is okay, the story is painful & informative. It's not recreational reading, but it is an important story to tell. In another person's pen, it might have been more of literature, Judie Oron's writing did not impress me. But, what did impress, is her courage in helping Wuditu in politically volatile geography, personally!!

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't know about Ethiopian Jews, nor about awful conditions there, how the society just tolerates child slavery, prostitution. So thankful for a stable political situation and basic human rights protection when I read stories about helpless victims of injustice. I preferred the way this story is told to 'The Bite of the Mango' (story of Mariatu Kamara's terrible wartime experiences in Sierra Leone), but I much prefer Sharon McKay's writing when it comes to writing about children in war situations (War Brothers, Thunder over Kandahar)--there's more plot & suspense, more character development. A worthwhile read, a story that deserves to be told, but not gripping.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story, Oron sheds light on the troubles and flight of Ethiopian Jews in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Following one girl, Wuditu, in her efforts to reach Jerusalem and save her family and herself, Oron's story is one that will elicit strong emotional responses, and questions about the trials of refugees. Because the story is compelling, clearly connected to the Exodus, and because we still have refugees fleeing for safety every day, I recommend this book for faith development middle school and youth programs, and for small group study in congregations.

[Morganne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twin text I chose for Cry of the Giraffe is I am Abraham Lincoln. I chose this because Abraham Lincoln is out president that abolished slavery, and Cry of the Giraffe has to do with a girl who is forced into slavery. I believe that as children read, it is good for them to learn the history about what they are reading. This picture book about Abraham Lincoln is a good way to get the message across to the children and give them history of our nation through a person's eyes of a different country.

[Hollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, intense, fictional read of Wuditu's journey from an Ethiopian Beta Israel (Jewish) village to a Sudan refuge camp to an Ethiopian slave and finally to Yerusalem. It is a shocking realization that such ignorance, prejudice, brutality and inhumane cruelty to human beings still exists in the world. It was an inspiring and courageous story of survival and a good overview of a little known history of Ethiopian Jews in the 1970s. I read it in an afternoon.

[Lori Clark-Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Topic and time: 1980 19s

What did you like best about your book? I liked that it showed interesting Jewish traditions
What did you dislike most about the book? I disliked that it took a like longer to get interesting

Summary: The book is about a Jewish girl name Wuditu. People living in Ethiopia dream about going back to their home country Israel. When they try to go back Wuditu goes thru a lot of bad experiences.

[Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waditu's story was en-captivating. The story was well-written with details allowing the young reader to get a sense of the history and geography of the time and the situation of the Beta Isreal people. There were times during the book when I yelled at Waditu for the decisions she made. But at the end I cried of tears of joy and relief.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this as a first reads. It is a very engaging story that I finished in less than a day. Based on a true story, it is well written and gives an excellent portrayal of what the Beta Israel people have endured. Although this is the story of a young girl, Wuditu's experiences make for a very adult story.

[Zoe]

Just met Judie Oron author of Cry Of the Giraffe who spoke about her wonderful book and told the outstanding story of her daughter Waditu's journey to Israel. I'm very excited to read this now even more than I was before this event.

~ Zoe

[Rakhi Dhawan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compelling, true account of a young Ethiopian Jewish girl, Wuditu. The book tells her remarkable journey from her village in Ethiopia to a Sudanese camp, and, finally, to her destination - Israel. The challenges and hardships that she faced during her journey and her determination to reunite with her family in Isreal is really moving and inspirational. All in all, a very nice read.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on real events about how Ethiopian Jews managed to get to Jerusalem. Wuditu(13 years old) and her family are separated and she ends up surviving slavery and cruelty. Will she get to Jerusalem. Hard to believe that anyone so young could survive under these conditions for so long.

[Helensn1234 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the author's actual life, this book chronicles Judie Oron's story of her daughter's escape from Ethiopia, where she was persecuted for being Jewish, to her eventual adoption in Israel. The true hero is Oren, who risked so much to ensure the safety of her daughter. A beautiful story.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good, fast read. It gave a glimpse of what it was like to be an Ethiopian Jew in the 80's. that glimpse has given me a thirst to learn more about their history. The end of the story was bittersweet.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, well-written story about Ethiopian Jews trying to make their way to Israel. Based on a true story. Insightful, moving, and memorable.