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American Girl: Josefina #2
Josefina Learns a Lesson: A School Story
Josefina is delighted when Tia Dolores returns to the Montoyas' rancho. But soon after she arrives, a flash flood kills hundreds of the family's sheep. Tia Dolores suggests that the Montoyas could recover from this terrible loss by starting a weaving business -- something Mama never would have done. But Papa likes the idea. Then Tia Dolores decides to teach the girls how to read. Mama didn't read, but Josefina is excited to learn. Then she begins to worry. Will all these changes make the girls forget Mama? The answer to Josefina's question teaches her an important lesson about love.
88 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Valerie Tripp
242 books404 followersValerie Tripp is a children's book author, best known for her work with the American Girl series.
She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.
Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.
She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.
Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
September 15, 2024
The great AG marathon continues. Reading this as an adult, here's what stands out:
- I love that we see Josefina finishing her Christmas dress at the beginning of this. I think that's the first time where a dress that corresponds to one book turns up in another book. The merry scene here with her sisters is so sweet.
- Heck yeah, it's Tía Dolores (back to stay, as arranged in Meet) with an innovative solution.
- The sisters' reaction to how Tía Dolores interacts with their father, compared to the relationship between their mother and father is... a little tough. One the one hand, yes: this culture, this era, the patriarchy. There are some deeply ingrained cultural norms at play. But for their reaction to be so strong, I can't help thinking that Papá can be a bit of a bear when he's upset, for all that he always seems gentle and kind here.
- This book introduces Teresita, a Native woman who works for Tía Dolores. She teaches Josefina to weave using an upright loom since Josefina is still too small to work the big loom her sisters use. She describes herself as Navajo, which led me in this circle: (A) It would have been nice for AG to use the name the Navajo use for themselves, which is Diné, just as the Kaya books would later use Nimíipuu for her people. (B) "Navajo" is the name given to the Diné by the Spanish (thus the "j"), so given how long she has lived with Spanish people, and specifically speaking to Josefina, yes, Teresita probably would say Navajo.
- Teresita and Josefina bond over both losing their mothers as young girls. BUT the situations are vastly different - Teresita was ripped away from her entire family and culture and what exactly are the conditions of her employment with Tía Dolores, hmm? Unclear...
- Francisca starts to feel a little caricature-ish. We get the point, she would like to be a lady of leisure. But I like that some of her resistance here stems from the feeling that by learning new things and changing how they do things, they are losing a bit of their mother - that feels earnest. The solution is found at what feels like lightening speed, but all the same, Tía Dolores comes up with just what the sisters need.
More Josefina babble
Meet Josefina | Josefina Learns a Lesson | Josefina’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Josefina | Josefina Saves the Day | Changes for Josefina
A Reward for Josefina | Again, Josefina! | Josefina’s Song | Just Josefina | Thanks to Josefina | Josefina’s Short Story Collection
Secrets in the Hills | The Glowing Hearts
- I love that we see Josefina finishing her Christmas dress at the beginning of this. I think that's the first time where a dress that corresponds to one book turns up in another book. The merry scene here with her sisters is so sweet.
- Heck yeah, it's Tía Dolores (back to stay, as arranged in Meet) with an innovative solution.
- The sisters' reaction to how Tía Dolores interacts with their father, compared to the relationship between their mother and father is... a little tough. One the one hand, yes: this culture, this era, the patriarchy. There are some deeply ingrained cultural norms at play. But for their reaction to be so strong, I can't help thinking that Papá can be a bit of a bear when he's upset, for all that he always seems gentle and kind here.
- This book introduces Teresita, a Native woman who works for Tía Dolores. She teaches Josefina to weave using an upright loom since Josefina is still too small to work the big loom her sisters use. She describes herself as Navajo, which led me in this circle: (A) It would have been nice for AG to use the name the Navajo use for themselves, which is Diné, just as the Kaya books would later use Nimíipuu for her people. (B) "Navajo" is the name given to the Diné by the Spanish (thus the "j"), so given how long she has lived with Spanish people, and specifically speaking to Josefina, yes, Teresita probably would say Navajo.
- Teresita and Josefina bond over both losing their mothers as young girls. BUT the situations are vastly different - Teresita was ripped away from her entire family and culture and what exactly are the conditions of her employment with Tía Dolores, hmm? Unclear...
- Francisca starts to feel a little caricature-ish. We get the point, she would like to be a lady of leisure. But I like that some of her resistance here stems from the feeling that by learning new things and changing how they do things, they are losing a bit of their mother - that feels earnest. The solution is found at what feels like lightening speed, but all the same, Tía Dolores comes up with just what the sisters need.
More Josefina babble
Meet Josefina | Josefina Learns a Lesson | Josefina’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Josefina | Josefina Saves the Day | Changes for Josefina
A Reward for Josefina | Again, Josefina! | Josefina’s Song | Just Josefina | Thanks to Josefina | Josefina’s Short Story Collection
Secrets in the Hills | The Glowing Hearts
January 21, 2022
I love how the family pulls together in this book to help each other! Josefina is the dearest little girl, and though she doesn’t always make the best choices, she is surrounded by a loving family. Tia Dolores’ wisdom was fun to see here, as she led and directed the girls in the work they had to do. Another fun book in the series. Perfect for the 8-12 age range; I found my attention lagging somewhat by the time we got to the end of this one, but I’m sure we’ll manage to get in all the other books eventually.
August 10, 2018
Another wonderful reread from childhood!
June 30, 2023
Just read this with the 3rd graders and seeing it from their perspective made the lessons much clearer. Cute story!
November 18, 2024
me when there's grief at the function :thumbsup:
November 13, 2019
2.5 stars
This story had a bit more excitement then the first one, but also had some good parts about working together to accomplish things. In this story Josefina’s sister, Francisca, must face the fact that life and changes happen but that isn’t a bad thing. One thing that bugged me is that Ana never seems to actually be a mother or have a husband. Her little boys are mentioned, but not her husband.
I like the “A Peek into the Past” at the back of each book with photographs, and drawings about real life back then.
This was a fun, light read, but I probably won’t be reading it again unless it’s in another dozen years or so for fun.
This story had a bit more excitement then the first one, but also had some good parts about working together to accomplish things. In this story Josefina’s sister, Francisca, must face the fact that life and changes happen but that isn’t a bad thing. One thing that bugged me is that Ana never seems to actually be a mother or have a husband. Her little boys are mentioned, but not her husband.
I like the “A Peek into the Past” at the back of each book with photographs, and drawings about real life back then.
This was a fun, light read, but I probably won’t be reading it again unless it’s in another dozen years or so for fun.
June 11, 2017
It's surprising that an American Girl series can fall apart so quickly. My daughter and I lost interest in this piece quicker than Donald Trumps wives after they say, "I do". Like her father, Betty is not afraid to read 7 books at once but this one was so boring it went to the back of the queue behind Stuart Little, who lives with his yuman parents. And this is harder to believe than Donald Trump's opinion on Islam after he commits treason selling military secrets to Saudi Arabia whom he claimed caused 9/11 and were behind Isis for years while maniacally tween tweet-chiding the Clintons at 3:00am.
October 14, 2022
This feels more like a series compared to the usual one-shot stories.
December 21, 2011
i feel bad giving these books such low reviews. i rated the julie books low in part because i disliked the character so much & because i think presenting the 1970s as a historical era is kind of bizarre & insulting. i like josefina & i think her era of 1820s new mexico is genuinely interesting. or at least, it has the potential for interest. my problem with the josefina books is that that potential is never really realized.
all of the historical characters have a "school book" about the education available to them in their historical moment. because josefina lives on a rancho outside town & pretty much never leaves it, she doesn't really have an education. she & her three older sisters are all illiterate. their aunt dolores can read & write, & she impresses them by showing them the letter their father wrote to their mother, proposing marriage. they respond with interest, & dolores asks their father if she may teach them to read & write. he agrees to allow it if they are interested. josefina spends a chapter wondering if learning to read & write would be a betrayal of her mother, who never learned to read or write (her father read the marriage proposal letter out loud to her). josefina is worried that learning to read & write will make her forget more of her mother's words. when she shares her concern with dolores, dolores shows josefina a book she started keeping when she moved to mexico city. it is full of poems, songs, & sayings that josefina's mother liked. dolores explains that if josefina becomes literate, she will be able write down & reread memories of her mother & keep them close to her in yet another way. that seals the deal & josefina agrees to lessons at the end of the book. but there's nothing in here about how the lessons are conducted.
i think this is also the book where a big storm happens. it causes flash flooding & hundreds of the rancho's sheep are killed. mr. montoya is pretty distraught because it took decades to build up the flock. he doesn't know how the rancho will recover. dolores saves the day by observing that they have a lot of wool left over from the last shearing. she suggests teaching the girls how to weave & everyone working their asses off to weave as many blankets as possible to trade with the nearby pueblo indians for more sheep. josefina's vain sister francisca isn't pumped about this because she thinks they already have enough chores on the rancho, but eventually everyone agrees to the plan. josefina enjoys learning how to weave.
i wish i was more into these books.
all of the historical characters have a "school book" about the education available to them in their historical moment. because josefina lives on a rancho outside town & pretty much never leaves it, she doesn't really have an education. she & her three older sisters are all illiterate. their aunt dolores can read & write, & she impresses them by showing them the letter their father wrote to their mother, proposing marriage. they respond with interest, & dolores asks their father if she may teach them to read & write. he agrees to allow it if they are interested. josefina spends a chapter wondering if learning to read & write would be a betrayal of her mother, who never learned to read or write (her father read the marriage proposal letter out loud to her). josefina is worried that learning to read & write will make her forget more of her mother's words. when she shares her concern with dolores, dolores shows josefina a book she started keeping when she moved to mexico city. it is full of poems, songs, & sayings that josefina's mother liked. dolores explains that if josefina becomes literate, she will be able write down & reread memories of her mother & keep them close to her in yet another way. that seals the deal & josefina agrees to lessons at the end of the book. but there's nothing in here about how the lessons are conducted.
i think this is also the book where a big storm happens. it causes flash flooding & hundreds of the rancho's sheep are killed. mr. montoya is pretty distraught because it took decades to build up the flock. he doesn't know how the rancho will recover. dolores saves the day by observing that they have a lot of wool left over from the last shearing. she suggests teaching the girls how to weave & everyone working their asses off to weave as many blankets as possible to trade with the nearby pueblo indians for more sheep. josefina's vain sister francisca isn't pumped about this because she thinks they already have enough chores on the rancho, but eventually everyone agrees to the plan. josefina enjoys learning how to weave.
i wish i was more into these books.
May 30, 2019
I loved reading this book, and rest from its series, so that I could re-live the books that made me love to read. ❤️
December 21, 2017
So far this is my favorite of the series! It is not your typical American Girl "Learns a Lesson" school story.
[Spoiler Alert!]
The lesson here was more about learning about how to deal with grief, than it was about activities in the classroom. Josefina and her sisters are dealing with the loss of their mother. They have each other to lean on and hare memories, but each are grieving in their own way. The Montoya girls' maternal aunt has come to stay with them for a bit and help. Josefina sees the changes and wonders what her mama would think; her sister Francesca is less accepting of the changes and bristles at Tia Dolores' suggestions.
If you have a young person in your life who is experiencing a similar loss this might be a great book to help process grief. I lost my dad when I was young and can identify with what Josefina and her sisters are going through trying to hold on to their memories.
[Spoiler Alert!]
The lesson here was more about learning about how to deal with grief, than it was about activities in the classroom. Josefina and her sisters are dealing with the loss of their mother. They have each other to lean on and hare memories, but each are grieving in their own way. The Montoya girls' maternal aunt has come to stay with them for a bit and help. Josefina sees the changes and wonders what her mama would think; her sister Francesca is less accepting of the changes and bristles at Tia Dolores' suggestions.
If you have a young person in your life who is experiencing a similar loss this might be a great book to help process grief. I lost my dad when I was young and can identify with what Josefina and her sisters are going through trying to hold on to their memories.
February 16, 2016
One of the dangers of the time (and still today) is sudden flooding. In New Mexico that's rare, but it does happen and in this case a bad storm comes along and it ends up drowning lots of the family's sheep.
Josefina and the other girls come up with a plan whereby they will make blankets on looms and then give them to their father who will trade the blankets for new sheep, giving them a chance to rebuild their stock.
A second storyline involves one of the girl's feelings towards Tia Dolores and a feeling that she is sort of taking the place of their mother and there's some resentment there. That creates an upsetting situation for Josefina.
There's also an interesting historical section with some information on the concept of being able to read at that time in history.
Josefina and the other girls come up with a plan whereby they will make blankets on looms and then give them to their father who will trade the blankets for new sheep, giving them a chance to rebuild their stock.
A second storyline involves one of the girl's feelings towards Tia Dolores and a feeling that she is sort of taking the place of their mother and there's some resentment there. That creates an upsetting situation for Josefina.
There's also an interesting historical section with some information on the concept of being able to read at that time in history.
February 20, 2020
I’m starting the American Girls podcast, so I’m rereading my AG books before I listen to the episodes.
This was really sweet. All the changes that Tia Dolores brings, and the worries Francisca has, are really well portrayed.
I really enjoyed Josefina’s learning to weave and what Teresita teaches her.
(Apparently I only have the first two Josefina books?!)
This was really sweet. All the changes that Tia Dolores brings, and the worries Francisca has, are really well portrayed.
I really enjoyed Josefina’s learning to weave and what Teresita teaches her.
(Apparently I only have the first two Josefina books?!)
April 5, 2008
This series is a really good one. I've read more than what's on my list, but I don't feel like going through 40 somewhat pages. LOLS :) They are easy though.
November 14, 2021
Francisca's argument to not learn to read and write does not make sense, and makes the emotional conflict of the story less convincing.
February 19, 2021
I read this book for the podcast I’m currently listening to called “American Girls” by Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney.
Okay... Well, to be honest, I really don't have much to say about "Josefina Learns A Lesson", but I always do little reviews to each of the American Girl books so I felt like I had to write *something*. This is the story about Josefina Montoya and her (semi - new) life on the rancho now that her Tía Dolores has come to live with the family. Tía Dolores is making a lot of changes. The four Montoya sisters are having to do a ton, especially after a bad flood that has happened to the whole town and the family. Josefina is trying to grow as a person, but is, also, still struggling with her grief over her poor mother and feels like if she grows too much - she will have forgotten her mother and who she wants was.
I liked this second book to the series, I just didn't love it because, like the first one, there is not a lot of things going on in the book (in the sense of actual action). It's not as lively, which makes sense because a lot of the things happening are about emotions and the things that happen inside you internally (especially) when someone you love dies. This is NOT a bad book by any means, I just wish it had a little bit more happening in it than a flood that wipes out half of the sheep (although that is a terrible thing that sadly does occur in the book... poor sheep). Compared to other books in the American Girl universe, I just feel like the Josefina story (so far) is a little slow for me and while I love Josefina so much more as a character compared to some (*cough, cough* Felicity *cough, cough*)... The events in her world just haven't really captivated me. In Felicity's time, we were dealing with the Revolutionary War and there was a lot of violence, sadness, and just, in general, crazy times. In Josefina's time, all we've really seen so far is animals ruining things or things ruining animals. I love the internal stuff that Josefina is dealing with as a reader because grief is a very difficult, necessary theme (and thing apart of life), but very little has actually occurred in the actual world she lives in and so it just makes the reading a bit sluggish, to be honest...
However, despite this critique, I still very much liked "Josefina Learns A Lesson" and I'm excited to see what our girl will do next. As a person, Josefina (and her family!) are much more likeable than Felicity and the rest of the Merriman clan. I hope it's going to be a good Christmas for Josefina in the next book, but I know that it will probably be a hard one without her mother being around. Also, as always said when I write these, I do not support the servitude that takes place in this book (or any American Girl book) with the Native American people. I do not think this adds anything to the series and I think Valerie Tripp does just as terrible of a job addressing it in here as she does with Felicity's slave - owning family in the Felicity series. I feel the need to mention this in almost every review because it just truly bothers me...
Okay... Well, to be honest, I really don't have much to say about "Josefina Learns A Lesson", but I always do little reviews to each of the American Girl books so I felt like I had to write *something*. This is the story about Josefina Montoya and her (semi - new) life on the rancho now that her Tía Dolores has come to live with the family. Tía Dolores is making a lot of changes. The four Montoya sisters are having to do a ton, especially after a bad flood that has happened to the whole town and the family. Josefina is trying to grow as a person, but is, also, still struggling with her grief over her poor mother and feels like if she grows too much - she will have forgotten her mother and who she wants was.
I liked this second book to the series, I just didn't love it because, like the first one, there is not a lot of things going on in the book (in the sense of actual action). It's not as lively, which makes sense because a lot of the things happening are about emotions and the things that happen inside you internally (especially) when someone you love dies. This is NOT a bad book by any means, I just wish it had a little bit more happening in it than a flood that wipes out half of the sheep (although that is a terrible thing that sadly does occur in the book... poor sheep). Compared to other books in the American Girl universe, I just feel like the Josefina story (so far) is a little slow for me and while I love Josefina so much more as a character compared to some (*cough, cough* Felicity *cough, cough*)... The events in her world just haven't really captivated me. In Felicity's time, we were dealing with the Revolutionary War and there was a lot of violence, sadness, and just, in general, crazy times. In Josefina's time, all we've really seen so far is animals ruining things or things ruining animals. I love the internal stuff that Josefina is dealing with as a reader because grief is a very difficult, necessary theme (and thing apart of life), but very little has actually occurred in the actual world she lives in and so it just makes the reading a bit sluggish, to be honest...
However, despite this critique, I still very much liked "Josefina Learns A Lesson" and I'm excited to see what our girl will do next. As a person, Josefina (and her family!) are much more likeable than Felicity and the rest of the Merriman clan. I hope it's going to be a good Christmas for Josefina in the next book, but I know that it will probably be a hard one without her mother being around. Also, as always said when I write these, I do not support the servitude that takes place in this book (or any American Girl book) with the Native American people. I do not think this adds anything to the series and I think Valerie Tripp does just as terrible of a job addressing it in here as she does with Felicity's slave - owning family in the Felicity series. I feel the need to mention this in almost every review because it just truly bothers me...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2023
When I was a little girl, I only read Josefina's first book as it was the companion book to my Josefina doll. I recently re-read Meet Josefina and I was actually shocked that Josefina and the Montoya family did not know how to read. Actually shocked!
I am reading the rest of Josefina's book series as an adult, and it reads like a slice-of-farm-life book, where not much happens except a young girl and her family live their lives, and maybe some of them learn how to read and write. Josefina learns how to weave, which is a very smart move in my opinion.
I believe it was Fransisca who felt like they were going to forget mama with all the book learning they're doing. This was not something mama would have ever had the girls do, apparently. I don't fully agree with that, but okay. I think even if Mama hadn't died, Tia Dolores would have still arrived and if needed, she would have convinced mama to allow the girls to learn how to read and write and weave. If this were a different book, Mama may have even extremely disliked the idea of Josefina learning how to weave.
I greatly appreciate the historical rabbit holes that this series of books can often lead me into.Diving into the history of Mexico, Spanish colonisation, and American expansion at this time- things begin to get more interesting, and I wonder how Josefina would have lived and what she would have thought during her adult years.
I like that this book gives a few mentions to God and Catholicism because that was (and still is) very important to Mexican & Spanish culture.
I am reading the rest of Josefina's book series as an adult, and it reads like a slice-of-farm-life book, where not much happens except a young girl and her family live their lives, and maybe some of them learn how to read and write. Josefina learns how to weave, which is a very smart move in my opinion.
I believe it was Fransisca who felt like they were going to forget mama with all the book learning they're doing. This was not something mama would have ever had the girls do, apparently. I don't fully agree with that, but okay. I think even if Mama hadn't died, Tia Dolores would have still arrived and if needed, she would have convinced mama to allow the girls to learn how to read and write and weave. If this were a different book, Mama may have even extremely disliked the idea of Josefina learning how to weave.
I greatly appreciate the historical rabbit holes that this series of books can often lead me into.Diving into the history of Mexico, Spanish colonisation, and American expansion at this time- things begin to get more interesting, and I wonder how Josefina would have lived and what she would have thought during her adult years.
I like that this book gives a few mentions to God and Catholicism because that was (and still is) very important to Mexican & Spanish culture.
April 20, 2023
In this story Tia Delores comes back to live with the girls and their father. With her comes a lot of new ideas and lessons for everyone. When a nasty storm drowns hundreds of their sheep with a flash flood, Tia Delores has the wonderful idea to make blankets to trade for more sheep. Along with weaving lessons, there is the promise of reading and writing lessons as well. However, these changes have the girls worried they will forget all that their mother taught them too. Especially Francisca, which I think the story centered on her struggles with grief.
Although the story is not as exciting, I appreciate that it actually centers on grief and how the sisters have to learn to embrace change, but also still keep their mother in their hearts. I really appreciate as well the reader is able to experience a little bit of Mexican culture. I personally would probably love weaving, among other lessons learned in the story. I also thought it was really neat that embellishing one's name shows their fondness for the recipient and giving a suitor a squash is a polite "no" for marriage. A really good and wholesome story.
Although the story is not as exciting, I appreciate that it actually centers on grief and how the sisters have to learn to embrace change, but also still keep their mother in their hearts. I really appreciate as well the reader is able to experience a little bit of Mexican culture. I personally would probably love weaving, among other lessons learned in the story. I also thought it was really neat that embellishing one's name shows their fondness for the recipient and giving a suitor a squash is a polite "no" for marriage. A really good and wholesome story.
November 8, 2023
Josefina is eager to help her family replace the sheep they lost in a flash flood during a horrible storm. At Tia Dolores's suggestion, they can use the wool they have already shorn to weave blankets to trade to the Americanos, who are very interested in their patterns and colors of woven blankets. Josefina looks up to Tia Dolores who makes the business proposal to her papa since she is a woman and business isn't for women. Papa is impressed with her suggestion and all the girls are excited to help except Francisca, who is growing resentful of Tia Dolores -- she feels Tia is trying to mold them into people they aren't, giving them too much work, and pulling them further and further from their mama by encouraging them to read and write, which their mama never learned. However, Josefina is excited to learn to read, write, and weave. She gets lessons in weaving from Tia's servant, Teresita, a Navajo woman. When Tia shows Josefina a small book she used to record their mama's thoughts, poems, songs, and sayings, Josefina shares this with Francisca and they both become excited to read their mother's words.
February 12, 2019
The motherless Montoya girls' aunt wants them to learn to read. At first they're not sure whether this would even be disloyal to their uneducated mother...but we all know the American Girls stories weren't going to let the anti-literacy side win, although that happened in some real families in 1815.
As always in this series, the purpose of the story is to give children information about a period in history, with extensive notes and gorgeous color pictures of the things people used and wore. I liked Josefina better than the other American Girls because her stories always came out with a Spanish edition for parallel reading. All the Girls are very nice characters who have nice learning experiences about things that were going on at their period in history, though. My sisters, in grades six and seven, thought this series was childish when it came out; it's really ideal for grades two through four, but some sixth grade students still seem to like it.
As always in this series, the purpose of the story is to give children information about a period in history, with extensive notes and gorgeous color pictures of the things people used and wore. I liked Josefina better than the other American Girls because her stories always came out with a Spanish edition for parallel reading. All the Girls are very nice characters who have nice learning experiences about things that were going on at their period in history, though. My sisters, in grades six and seven, thought this series was childish when it came out; it's really ideal for grades two through four, but some sixth grade students still seem to like it.
September 25, 2022
Tia Dolores has been helping rhe girls learn things to help out their Papa. Josefina loves learning new things but her sister Francisca is such a lazy girl and a downer. She basically expected their Tia to do all their work when she stayed not teach them to do more. She's the reason this was demoted 1 star to be honest; she really annoyed me lol
Tia Dolores was a huge help when their Rancho could have gone into potential ruin from a storm, but her ideas saved them and her lessons might actually bring Josefina closer to her mother. Loved that part. The written word can really open doors for us.
Tia Dolores was a huge help when their Rancho could have gone into potential ruin from a storm, but her ideas saved them and her lessons might actually bring Josefina closer to her mother. Loved that part. The written word can really open doors for us.
December 27, 2019
New to the American Girl series...at 40 somthing in age - I find them wonderful and SO wish they had been around when I was younger... or at least discovered them sooner.
This story is about young women in New Mexico in the 1800's coming of age with out their mother and and aunt stepping in to help.
The end of the book offers some wonderul 'real life' information about the time and culture
This story is about young women in New Mexico in the 1800's coming of age with out their mother and and aunt stepping in to help.
The end of the book offers some wonderul 'real life' information about the time and culture
July 2, 2021
This one is pretty slow-paced. I did like the way Francisca's and Josefina's feelings about losing their mother are explored. As time moves on and things change, poor Francisca feels she is losing hold on memories of her mother.
I liked the character of Teresita though I wonder what her Navajo name was. Does she still remember? And how must she feel having to smother such an important part of herself? A truly interesting character whom I doubt will be explored in depth.
I liked the character of Teresita though I wonder what her Navajo name was. Does she still remember? And how must she feel having to smother such an important part of herself? A truly interesting character whom I doubt will be explored in depth.
August 23, 2021
I enjoyed this one, too. Josefina is relatable in the way she doesn’t want to forget her mother, yet she thinks things through and decides she should learn to read and write, and that it may bring her closer to her mother by writing the poems and sayings she would tell them. We meet Teresita, a Navajo woman who’s a servant(?) for Dolores. Teresita is very sweet, but I do wonder if she was stolen by Josefina’s family to become a servant. Still worth the quick read overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2021
Like all the American Girl historical books, this one is also a short story that should not have taken my 10 year old and me over a year to finish.
This series is rather boring. The other time periods are so fascinating and usually teach a principle. Josefina and her sisters argue a lot and then will finally work together the last few pages of the book. Probably will continue the series because the next one is the Christmas one and it’s December so why not?
This series is rather boring. The other time periods are so fascinating and usually teach a principle. Josefina and her sisters argue a lot and then will finally work together the last few pages of the book. Probably will continue the series because the next one is the Christmas one and it’s December so why not?
May 30, 2022
I was thrown off by this one and thought I was accidentally reading the third/Christmas book. There's a weird time jump so that Tia Dolores is back at the rancho even though she was just departing at the end of the last book. And Josefina makes her Christmas dress.
While there were some odd choices, this one was pretty good. I like that it approaches issues (death of a parent) kids may go through a bit more seriously than the Felicity books do. So far these books are giving us more of a cultural context than a historical one. By that I mean there isn't a big historical event the story has latched onto yet. I think it took the Felicity series a few books to get going on the American Revolution, so there might still be something along those lines to emerge (not only do I not know my American West history very well, I don't know the West, so I guess it will be a surprise).
While there were some odd choices, this one was pretty good. I like that it approaches issues (death of a parent) kids may go through a bit more seriously than the Felicity books do. So far these books are giving us more of a cultural context than a historical one. By that I mean there isn't a big historical event the story has latched onto yet. I think it took the Felicity series a few books to get going on the American Revolution, so there might still be something along those lines to emerge (not only do I not know my American West history very well, I don't know the West, so I guess it will be a surprise).
March 17, 2024
This is not your typical “learns a lesson” book, as schooling as we know it was not accessible or simply didn’t exist during Josefina’s time.
Tia Dolores returns and helps the girls learn many useful skills and even begins to teach them reading & writing.
The girls grow afraid that the longer their aunt is in their lives, the more they’ll forget about their mother. But Josefina and Tia Dolores show the family there are many ways to keep the memory alive of those who have been lost.
Tia Dolores returns and helps the girls learn many useful skills and even begins to teach them reading & writing.
The girls grow afraid that the longer their aunt is in their lives, the more they’ll forget about their mother. But Josefina and Tia Dolores show the family there are many ways to keep the memory alive of those who have been lost.
November 5, 2024
This story was interesting because I expected Josefina to go to an actual school (hence the title), but instead she learned from her aunt (which was still cool, just not what I expected). It was interesting to learn about Josefina's time period and what her family does, but overall her story didn't interest me enough to finish the series. Perhaps one day I will, but for now, I'm okay with not continuing.
January 18, 2021
Maybe this is the series where the tried and true AG formula started to fall apart a bit. This is supposed to be Josefina's school story, but she doesn't go to school in any real sense. Not a complaint, but there is something comforting in basically knowing what each book would set out to do, and it was interesting to be able to see such direct comparisons of time periods.
October 23, 2021
This was an interesting read and I learned that Josefina's aunt Dolores didn't learn to read until she lived with her aunt in Mexico City. The aunt taught her how to read and likely how to write.
I'd always thought she learned as a kid and couldn't figure out how it was that Josefina's mother didn't since the girls would've grown up in the same house.
I'd always thought she learned as a kid and couldn't figure out how it was that Josefina's mother didn't since the girls would've grown up in the same house.
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