The most important thing to tell yourself when analyzing word choice is that you should choose the shortest and simplest word that conveys the meaning that you want or are looking for.
It’s to see the how the Holocaust was through the eyes of a young girl.
the travelers and the llamas are connected. "Knitting their cheeks" is figurative language implying that the people and llamas are analyzing the travelers' movement and displacement from the scene. Knitting refers to the close scrutiny of the travelers and the gaze weaving and intertwining their narratives.
