Kept Animals

May 4, 2020
In Milliken’s moving debut, a California ranch becomes the stage for tense conflicts of class and family. In 1993, 15-year-old Rory Ramos is a talented horseback rider working at Leaning Rock Ranch alongside her stepfather, Gus. Through the job she becomes friends with June Fisk, the daughter of a rich neighbor who comes for riding lessons, sparking feelings that make Rory confront her own sexuality. After Gus inadvertently causes a car accident that kills the son of a famous actor who lives nearby, Rory becomes close with Vivian Price, the actor’s troubled older daughter, who begins carrying on a secret romantic relationship with Rory while dating June’s twin brother, Wade. But as wildfire season approaches, tensions rise among Rory and Vivian, until one fateful night changes Rory forever. In a separate narrative, Rory’s daughter, Charlie, must untangle what actually happened between the group of friends 22 years earlier. Changing perspective throughout, Milliken excels at capturing each character’s unique voice and perspective—particularly Rory’s guarded quietness and Vivian’s performed jadedness. Her attention to details of place and time, as well as the casual cruelties those of privilege can inflict on those who have less, provide astute undercurrents to the propulsive plot. Milliken’s electric tale keenly documents the power of first love and the lingering hurt of trauma.

Narrator Rebecca Lowman ably depicts the volatile emotions engulfing three California families in the aftermath of a toddler's tragic death. This visceral coming-of-age story is enhanced by Lowman's keen characterizations and emotional acuity. The narrative alternates between 1993 and 2015, transporting listeners between Rory's seminal year on a horse ranch in California and her daughter Charlie's later probing into her mother's obscured past. Lowman's vocal range shifts easily between teenaged Rory and her stepfather, Gus, as they grapple with sexuality and alcoholism, respectively. Next-door neighbor Vivian, the daughter of largely absent parents, self-medicates after losing her brother. Racism and class differences also feature strongly as events develop. The story of the characters' increasingly interconnected lives culminates in a challenging conclusion. J.R.T. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine