Grades 9-12: Cry of the Giraffe by Judie Oron (Based on a True Story) by Margaret Robbins

Oron, Judie (2010) Cry of the Giraffe.  Toronto: Annick Press.
USBBY Winner in 2011, Grades 9-12 Category

I chose this book because I have both a professional and a personal interest in books that are a voice against anti-Semitism.  This book is based on a true story of a Canadian journalist who helped an Ethiopian Jewish girl to escape to Israel during the 1980s.  As I continue to read this book, here are the questions I have that I think could be good for pedagogical discussion and for a discussion of the writer's craft:

1. Why do you think Judie Oron chose to write the story from Wuditu's voice, rather than writing her own memoir account?
2. What can we learn about Ethiopian culture from this book?
3. How can this book educate the reader about Jewish culture and customs?
4. What traits of this book make it an International book?
5. Do you think this book is better suited for a middle school classroom or a high school classroom?  Or, could it potentially be used in either?  Explain your rationale.