LAMPMAN — Local writer Maureen Ulrich invites readers on a transformative voyage through Kenya in her latest novel, Kimeto's Journey, a middle-grade book capturing the adventure and challenges of an 11-year-old Maasai boy on a mission to save an orphaned elephant. The book was released in mid-October.
Known previously for her works in youth and young adult fiction, Ulrich has crafted this story for younger readers aged eight to 12, blending real-world conservation themes with the vivid backdrop of Kenya's landscapes.
Ulrich, a Lampman-based author, was first inspired to write the book after a visit to Kenya in 2014, when her daughter was interning with the African Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA).
"As a mom, I figured after three weeks she was probably going to hit some kind of a wall of, 'Wow, I'm here for six months,'" Ulrich recalled.
So she boarded a plane and spent two weeks with her daughter, immersing herself in the culture, wildlife and complex issues of conservation.
One of her first stops in Kenya was the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, a sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants whose mothers have been killed by poachers.
"I was very inspired by seeing the type of work they did," she said.
When they are about four years old, elephants are sent back to herds in parks like Amboseli, which Ulrich also visited during her trip.
The experience sparked the initial idea for Kimeto's Journey, which follows Kimeto, a Maasai boy who rescues an elephant calf and sets off on a journey across Kenya to make sure the animal is safe. Ulrich's experiences at the sanctuary and visits to a Maasai village helped her build the foundation for Kimeto's story.
For Ulrich, the project was about much more than storytelling.
"What a privilege it was to spend a little time in Kenya, which faces the challenge of balancing the demands of a growing population with conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat," she said. "It is my sincere wish that I have accurately and fairly depicted these challenges, as well as the magnificence of the animals and landscape, and the generous spirit of the Kenyan people."
Ulrich's firsthand experiences brought authenticity to the novel, but she was mindful of the cultural sensitivities involved in writing about Maasai culture from an outsider's perspective. To ensure accuracy, she consulted Nairobi-based cultural advisor Jean Wandimi, who reviewed her work and provided extensive feedback.
"I'd been looking for 10 years for someone who would be my sensitivity reader," Ulrich said, noting that this process was essential for the book's integrity. "From the point of view of an 11-year-old Maasai boy, that's not my cultural experience, so I needed to make sure that I was being accurate."
Writing Kimeto's Journey also marked a creative shift for Ulrich, who typically writes longer works for teens and young adults. With just 100 pages, the novel is designed to engage young readers, sparking their curiosity about the wider world. She also noted that her new book challenges young readers to consider complex social and environmental issues.
"The story means a lot to me, because there's a lot of questions that are asked in the book, and it's really up to the reader, a young reader, to decide how they feel about some issues. It's not black and white. It's complex."
The plot of Kimeto's Journey begins as Kimeto and his sisters walk to school and discover a dead elephant, left behind by poachers. In a nearby unfinished well, they find a trapped baby elephant. The young Maasai boy takes action, rescuing the calf, which is then taken to the Nairobi Elephant Sanctuary. When he learns the elephant might not survive without its mother, Kimeto sets out alone, determined to see his new friend through the journey.
"He is changed by the journey, but he also changes the people around him," Ulrich said.
As an ex-educator, Ulrich was particularly impressed by the Kenyan students and teachers she met during her travels, observing their determination to learn and teach despite limited resources. Her respect for the students' perseverance inspired many of the character traits in Kimeto.
Ulrich's book Kimeto's Journey is available at Henders Drugs, through herself, and online via Amazon.
