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The Myth of the Llama
Andy Spenser has a goal in save the world from destruction. If only things would go right for him! He moves to a new home and a new school where bullies beat him up. And then he loses his best friend. On top of that, his father gives him a young, unfriendly, badly trained llama who doesn't even like Andy. But Sinbad has one talent that nobody guessed. He drags Andy into a strange world where Andy's dreams, or possibly his nightmares, might just come true.
146 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
5 people want to read
About the author
Jeri Massi
100 books103 followersJeri Massi is the author of the Peabody Adventures, the Bracken Series, the Peabody High Mysteries (SF), and more
A passionate fan of classic Doctor Who, Jeri Massi has been regaling fans with space opera, SF mystery, and forensic procedurals for more than 30 years. A martial arts master in Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan, with a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Jeri further perfected her grasp of science and engineering by working in pharmaceutical research and validation for 20 years.
She has published short stories on the web, in fanzines, and in reading anthologies for large publishing houses before choosing Indy writing. Her novel, Valkyries, published by Moody Press, was nominated for a national book award. Jeri's SF relies on suspense, some horror, comedy, and vivid, relatable characters.
You can track her booklist, adventures with cancer, and articles on great books on her Substack page.
https://jerimassi.substack.com
A passionate fan of classic Doctor Who, Jeri Massi has been regaling fans with space opera, SF mystery, and forensic procedurals for more than 30 years. A martial arts master in Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan, with a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Jeri further perfected her grasp of science and engineering by working in pharmaceutical research and validation for 20 years.
She has published short stories on the web, in fanzines, and in reading anthologies for large publishing houses before choosing Indy writing. Her novel, Valkyries, published by Moody Press, was nominated for a national book award. Jeri's SF relies on suspense, some horror, comedy, and vivid, relatable characters.
You can track her booklist, adventures with cancer, and articles on great books on her Substack page.
https://jerimassi.substack.com
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 15, 2024
There were things about this book I liked and things I didn't care for. Having read several other books by this author, I was already familiar with their writing style, and this book was very similar in that regard, which made reading it quite easy.
Some other things I liked were: the inclusion of llamas, the portal fantasy elements, and the main character learning to find his courage. I also appreciated the perspective of looking at life in a way that acknowledges that this world isn't all there is.
But there were some other things I wasn't enthusiastic about. There are two instances where a child uses the terms "fag" and "fairy" as a slur (a note: this book was written and published in the late 80s), and I don't find that appropriate content for a middle grade book. I also wasn't in love with the portrayal of a female God-figure. The plot and pacing also fell a little flat, and some of the plot points felt forced. One point especially kept getting brought up ad nauseum. Character development was all right for the main character, but there was another character arc that really needed more page time to grow the way the story wanted it to.
Overall, it was okay. Not something I'd recommend to others. If you want to read a better quality sampling of this author, check out Derwood, Inc. or The Bridge/Crown and Jewel/The Two Collars.
Some other things I liked were: the inclusion of llamas, the portal fantasy elements, and the main character learning to find his courage. I also appreciated the perspective of looking at life in a way that acknowledges that this world isn't all there is.
But there were some other things I wasn't enthusiastic about. There are two instances where a child uses the terms "fag" and "fairy" as a slur (a note: this book was written and published in the late 80s), and I don't find that appropriate content for a middle grade book. I also wasn't in love with the portrayal of a female God-figure. The plot and pacing also fell a little flat, and some of the plot points felt forced. One point especially kept getting brought up ad nauseum. Character development was all right for the main character, but there was another character arc that really needed more page time to grow the way the story wanted it to.
Overall, it was okay. Not something I'd recommend to others. If you want to read a better quality sampling of this author, check out Derwood, Inc. or The Bridge/Crown and Jewel/The Two Collars.
Displaying 1 of 1 review