I recently discovered a sweet story about a family who raises llamas. The main character is a 16-year-old girl named Hildy, who learns important lessons about love, acceptance, and forgiveness. The theme—loving people are loved people—and setting make it perfect for Christmas time reading! Interest level: middle school.
C.J. Fosdick wrote this interesting note about her story: “There were several llama farms in or near Rochester at the time this was written. The author owns several horses, but did consider adding a llama to her herd during research for this story. Llamas were ‘in’ back in the late 1980’s, and even used as 4H projects, but often cost as much or more than a horse at the time; averaging $2000-$6000.”
Season of Acceptance (full text)
Study Questions:
- The story takes place in 1969. What incredible world event had taken place that year?
- When Dad brings in something Hildy mistakes for a 30-pound feed sack, she discovers it is actually . . . what?
- Where does this story take place?
- Who is Ivan?
- What other animals does Hildy’s family own?
- Why has the llama’s mama (see what I did there?) rejected it?
- Hildy relates the llama’s rejection to a real-life rejection she has experienced. Explain:
- Who is Brewster?
- Describe Brewster’s relationship with Hildy:
- Explain why Brewster is eventually banished from the house:
- While Mother is visiting Grandfather, she calls and asks Hildy to do what?
- When Grandfather comes to stay with the Boardmans, how does he act? How does he treat his grandchildren?
- How does Grandfather make Hildy cry?
- At one point in the story, Hildy thinks to herself that Brewster and Grandfather are a lot alike. Explain:
- What does Hildy give grandfather for Christmas?
- What does Grandfather give Hildy?
- On Christmas day, Grandfather cries because he misses his wife and because he feels he let her down. How does he believe he let her down? Do you think he let her down?
Journal Time!
During the story, Mother gives these words of wisdom to Hildy: “Loving people are loved people.” Explain her saying in a well-worded paragraph or two.
At the beginning of the story, Hildy says that 1969 was “a year of discovery and of gifts that didn’t come wrapped in bright-colored paper.” Write 2 to 3 paragraphs on what Hildy meant by that statement.
Renee Ann Smith teaches literature in a Christian high school by day and writes stories by night. She reviews books and shares inspirational posts on her blog Doorkeeper at http://reneeannsmith.com/. You can also find her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ReneeAnnSmith.