Customer Reviews

Josefinas Surprise- Hc Book (American Girl)

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Josefina Montoya is a nine-year-old girl growing up on her family's rancho near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1824. Mama died last year, and since then, life for Josefina, her father, and her older sisters, Ana, Clara, and Francisca. Even though things have been better since Mama's sister, Tia Dolores, came to help out, the Montoyas still grieve. Josefina feels that celebrating the Christmas traditions will make her miss Mama more - but they bring her peace and happiness. And one special night gives Josefina courage and hope for the future, and brings Josefina an unexpected gift. This book was very good and I learned a lot about the traditions of Mexican families living on the Southwest frontier in the 1820s.

Josefina and her sisters, Ana, Francisca and Clara are struggling to keep the Christmas alive after Mamå's death. Every year when a girl would turn eight they would recieve the Nina doll. But when Josefina turned 8 they forgot about the tradition since Mama had just died. But this Christmas Josefina is 9 and she wants the doll. But Clara doesn't want to give the doll up since she wants to remember her mother. Then when the doll is lost Josefina just gives up hope but Christmas Eve is always filled with love and surprises.

This is another book in the American Girls series about Josefina Montoya, a ten-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, Josefina and her sisters prepare for Christmas, a grand celebration in New Mexico, made all the more special by the towns use of the Christmas altar cloth made by Josefina's late mother. However, when the altar cloth is brought it, they find out that the flood (Josefina Learns a Lesson) damaged the cloth. The girls rally round to fix the cloth...and perhaps fix themselves at the same time.

The final chapter of this wonderful book is a highly informative look at Christmas in New Mexico in 1824. Jean-Paul Tibbles' excellent illustrations complement the story nicely, and add a great deal to the joy of reading this book.

This is a wonderful story, with some excellent lessons. I liked the way the family pulled together, and worked hard towards something beyond themselves. Also, I like how the family's religion is worked into the book in a warm and inspiring way. This is another excellent American Girls book, one that my daughter and I recommend to you.

Sisters -Josefina and Clara-are sad because last year at Christmas their mother died. In addition, every Christmas their mother would make a dress for the family doll Nina. This tradition allowed the family to connect the past to the present. Many African Africans celebrated Kwanzaa, establishing a tradition that ties them to their past. Yet, traditions change from year to year as Josefina found out in the book. In addition, to keep traditions you have invest time and energy. Furthermore, Josefina learns that sometimes you have to wait to get what want, a lesson that many children need to learn.

This Josefina story blends the joyous with the bittersweet. Like the other books in the series, the book explores the grief that a family has after the death of the mother. That being said, it is not a 'sad' story -- there are happy portions and the ending is full of Christmas cheer. I heartily recommend it.

In this book Josefina gets to be Maria in the Christmas play. She has a happy Christmas.