Come, Llamas
Jennifer Morris
Yearling

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Jennifer Morris’ - „Come, Llamas“ commences as JT Kinnaman of the Alaskan Kinnaman Llama Ranch anticipates the birth of his very own first llama. He hopes the first born will be to Snow, his favorite of the female llamas in the family herd.

Following family tradition; nine year old JT is now old enough to start building his own herd. It was last summer that family patriarch, Grandpa, had promised that the first cria born this season would be JT’s.

The reader follows Joey to most, Joseph Turre on rare occasions and JT to his best friend along with his Grand Dad, as he cares for the small llama, the surviving twin born, Snow. It is not often that llamas produce twins, and JT had hoped both would survive, but he is happy that at least little Elmo, while very small, is doing well.

The grim realities surrounding both joy and sorrow felt by those who raise critters as their income at times becomes almost overwhelming. The Kinnaman family llamas are trained as guard animals, as pack animals, and are sheared for their wool. Losing llamas can mean hardship and problems for the family. Enclosures must be maintained, bears, wolves and coyotes all must be kept at bay. Breeding stock must be shielded from harm, plus the animals sold to others for use as guard animals must be kept out of harm's way.

JT tends to faces life head on. JT’s wish to become a pitcher on his local baseball team, his school work, the ongoing threat from rapacious animals who often attempt to get to the family herd, working on the ranch, and coming to realize that his beloved Grand Dad is not going to be with him forever are all part of his life.

Disaster strikes when a grizzly succeeds in breaking through the perimeter fencing. JT is all but overwhelmed, to learn that gentle, beautiful Snow has been killed and her Cria, his own first llama, Elmo cannot be found.

More significantly to the family as a whole is the fact that at least half the herd is now scattered and may fall prey to predators. When the round up is completed, and all remaining animals are housed in the barns until the fence can be repaired nearly half the herd is missing or slain and Grand Dad has been taken to hospital.

Farm kids grow up knowing from early age that life and death are all part of the continuum of nature.

Writer Morris has set down a saga packed with rich detail, animation and a child’s growing comprehension that while some life ends, other life goes on, in addition to understanding that bemoaning the situation is not something to do; whatever the emotion or sorrow there are things that must be done, and done now, because they are right to do. And, JT learns that sometimes very hard decisions must be made.

Told in the first person from the point of view of a nine year old; the Alaska setting and life with llamas comes to life.

Worth of family, worth of life, as well as community coming together for common good, are all clearly spotlighted in this account of a youngster’s growing up and beginning to fully comprehend that growing up is at times very hard to accomplish. Readers also begin to understand that life is now and again filled with unforeseen duty, joyfulness and hurting.

Happy to recommend Jennifer Morris’ - „Come, Llamas“ for mature 9-12 year olds. Jennifer Morris’ - „Come, Llamas“ is a good choice for family night reading as Dad reads aloud to the family.

Note to parents of younger children: Elmo is found, hurt, and JT does nurse him to health against all advice.