COME, LLAMAS
by Jennifer Morris
Yearling
ISBN-10: 0440420245
ISBN-13: 9780440420248
Ages 8-12
208 pages

If you've never lived or worked on a llama ranch in Alaska, no problem. Because now you can spend some time on the Kinnaman Ranch with nine-year-old JT and his Grandad. JT has always wanted to raise his very own llama, and this spring he finally gets the chance to do so.

But as JT's Grandad says, "Things keep growing and changing on a llama ranch." And not always for the best. JT's baby llama, named Elmo, is born very small and needs special attention. JT learns why one cannot spend more than three minutes at a time caring for a new baby llama, and how to watch out for infection.

Just as Elmo is starting to grow, one of the most frightening and terrible things happens to the Kinnaman Ranch. A giant grizzly bear breaks through a fence, and the ranch loses almost half its llamas! As a result, the ranch's yearly income is seriously affected. And to make matters worse, little defenseless Elmo is missing.

They say that bad things happen all once, and this is unfortunately the case with JT and his family. Grandad gets very sick and has to be rushed to the clinic while everyone is trying to find whatever llamas are still alive. And JT, a member of his school's baseball team, may get to pitch in the season's most important game --- if the coach thinks he's good enough. But how can JT find time to practice when so many terrible things are happening?

While Grandad lies seriously ill in the clinic, JT miraculously finds Elmo, who has a broken leg. Llamas with broken legs have not survived on the Kinnaman Ranch. And although JT does get to pitch in the season's last game, Grandad is not there to cheer him on. It takes incredible hope and spirit for JT and Elmo to make it through this saddest yet most inspiring of springs.

COME, LLAMAS, Jennifer Morris's debut novel, is a most unusual and moving story.

   --- Reviewed by Bob Oksner

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