The opening of Lauren St John's debut novel is so hot it almost burns. The White Giraffe opens as 11-year-old Martine Allen is at home in bed when her dream turns into a very real nightmare.
She wakes up feeling very hot, but it's the middle of winter. To her horror, Martine realises that her bedroom is filled with dense black smoke and roaring flames. The house is on fire!
Martine manages to get to the window and jump out. Her parents don't escape and die in the flames.
This tragedy is the beginning of an unexpected new life for Martine and the start of an enthralling first novel by London-based journalist Lauren St John.
Martine has to live with her only relative, her grandmother, who runs a game reserve in South Africa. Why had her mother never spoken about her own mother? Martine knew nothing about a grandmother.
Once in South Africa, Martine's nightmare continues. Her grandmother is cold and aloof and the last thing she wants is to take care of a teenaged girl.