Maria Josefina Montoya, the newest American Girl, a Hispanic girl with heart and hopes as big as the New Mexico sky, is growing up in 1824 as the Santa Fe Trail pushes America West. In her stories, Josefina and her family keep faith with the traditions practiced for centuries in their tiny village as they face the challenge of change. Full color.
Meet Josefina: An American Girl (American Girls Collection Series: Josefina #1) ANNOTATION Nine-year-old Josefina, the youngest of four sisters living in New Mexico in 1824, tries to help run the household after her mother dies.
FROM THE PUBLISHER Josefina and her sisters are struggling after Mam¿¿¿'s death. But Grandfather brings a surprise from Mexico that lightens their hearts and brightens their future.
FROM THE CRITICS School Library Journal Gr 2-5--The life of Mexican settlers in New Mexico in 1824 is introduced in two easy-to-read stories. In Meet Josefina, the nine-year-old protagonist deals with the recent death of her mother, begins to incorporate her newly arrived aunt into the family, and overcomes her fear of a goat. Lesson continues the family saga, as Josefina, her three sisters, and her aunt cope with the effects of a flash flood. The characters are engaging, the plotting brisk, and the situations ones to which contemporary girls can relate. Accurate historical data is incorporated painlessly into the stories and fleshed out in "Peek into the Past" sections. Glossaries define the Spanish words used in the texts. Sound additions to a time-tested series.--Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Kirkus Reviews The new American Girl on the block is Josefina Montoya, a Mexican girl living on a rancho near Santa Fe in 1824. Josefina's mother has died, and she and her three sisters are struggling to help their father run the rancho without her. The arrival of their aunt from Mexico City brings new affection into their lives, and, for Josefina, the special gift of music, for Tía Dolores has brought along her piano. This well-researched novel includes the usual "Peek into the Past" section that provides a historical context for the story, as well as a glossary of Spanish words. Tripp writes in an undemanding style, with a less dynamic heroine, and a more predictable plot than other titles in the series; still, a familiar format and readers' brand loyalty mean this book will find a ready and eager audience.
|
