Product Description

Josefina has heard tales and legends all her life: rumors of gold and silver buried in the hills, and even stories about the ghostly Weeping Woman who haunts the countryside. But she never imagined that such stories might be true until the day a mysterious stranger arrives at her rancho. This suspenseful tale is set in New Mexico in 1826 and includes an illustrated "Looking Back" essay and a glossary of Spanish words used in the story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #144001 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-21
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 184 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781593690977
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-Two more winning entries in a popular series. In Secrets, Josefina lives on her family's New Mexico homestead in the 1820s. She is fascinated when a mysterious man with an injured leg is brought to her house and she and her family must care for him. While laundering his clothes, Josefina accidentally discovers a treasure map in a pocket. Could it lead to buried treasure somewhere in the hills around her house? In Peril, Felicity lives on her family's Virginia plantation where she dotes on her prized horse, Penny. As things begin to heat up between the Loyalists and Patriots, the girl is intrigued by a local visitor, Mr. Haskall, who admires Penny and studies local plant life. However, Felicity begins to suspect he is not who he pretends to be when she discovers detailed maps of her family's plantation in his notebooks. Each story begins slowly, but methodically weaves in clues as it builds on the mystery. Background information is carefully integrated, especially in Josefina's story, which is rich with tales of buried treasure and local traditions, foods, and crafts. Both books include a historical note with color photographs and illustrations.-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. Ernst adds to her growing list of books in the American Girl Mystery series with this entry, set in New Mexico in the 1820s. Josefina, a Spanish rancher's daughter, is learning how to be a curandera, or healer, from her aunt. While her aunt is away, anxious Josefina is the town's sole healer, and she worries when her herbs and prescriptions fail to improve her patients. Then she heals a gravely ill traveler, who invites her to join his search for treasure rumored to be hidden near Josefina's home. The story hangs on several contrivances, and a second mystery about a restless ghost isn't always well integrated. Still, readers will be easily drawn in by the search for gold and the chilly hints of the supernatural, and they'll see themselves in Josefina's realistic sibling squabbles and her yearning to develop her talents and help her community. An appended section adds historical and cultural context, and the flap copy includes a treasure map key that is alluded to in the text. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

A colorful, informative tale about Josefina, and the land she calls her home
The year is 1680. Ten-year-old Maria Josefina Montoya has heard all kinds of stories and legends about the countryside and hills surrounding her families rancho. From La Llorona, the Weeping Woman, a ghost who haunts the countryside, crying for her drowned children; to the tales of the silver and gold that is hidden, and marked with peculiar designs in the hills. While the legends are enjoyable to learn about, and tell while surrounded by friends and family at campfires, Josefina tends to feel that these stories are untrue. They are just legends that people tell. However, when an American and an injured Hispanic man searching for his families buried treasure arrive at her Rancho, Josefina begins to take the legends more seriously. Suddenly, as she helps the injured man regain his health, thoughts of the treasure begin swirling through her brain, and she feels that it is her duty to help locate the treasure that has evaded him and his family for so many years. As if that weren't enough, Josefina is dealing with family troubles, as her older sister, Francisca, has been bitten by the green-eyed monster, and is suddenly jealous of Josefina's studies as a curandera with Tia Magdalena. Now, Josefina must find time to locate an illustrious treasure, play curandera by keeping the local townspeople well-maintained and cared for until Tia Magdalena returns home, and make amends with Francisca by doing her fair-share of chores, otherwise her problems just may take on a life of their own.

While I obviously grew out of the AMERICAN GIRLS tales years ago, I am pleased to admit that the new line of American Girl inspired mysteries is enjoyable even for those who have progressed in the reading level department, but still want to experience excitement with some of their favorite characters. While I have never read any previous books starring Josefina, I have vowed that I will read through the entire mystery series, and was quite pleased with the tale Josefina was involved in. Josefina is a fun, spirited character, whose discipline in learning to become a curandera, and remembering the different remedies to heal the sick around her is admirable; while her large, boisterous family, and the various celebrations they take part in are enjoyable, and make the reader want to join in the festivities. Those who enjoy ghost stories, urban legends, and historical tales will find the facts about hidden gold and the Weeping Woman enjoyable; and American Girl fans will adore having the opportunity to read more about lovable Josefina. A colorful, informative tale about Josefina, and the land she calls her home.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Not As Good As I'd Expected
Well I consider myself Josefina's biggest fan, having fallen in love with her six-book series, and I enjoy mysteries, so I was really looking forward to reading my favorite character's single installment in this series. But I thought it lacked a lot of the interest of the other AG mysteries. The story switches between a ghostly legend and a search for treasure, both of which plots would have been better on their own but were poorly combined. There were a lot of fortunate coincidences in the plotline, and Josefina essentially followed around while others solved the mystery. She was not proactive like the other heroines, such as Kirsten, and seemed unsure and almost melodramatic, which is out of character. Frankly, I found myself bored and hoping the story would pick up, but it never did. For much younger children this may be an interesting story, but I'm personally hoping Josefina will receive a better mystery soon.

Excellent book
Purchased this book for my 11 year old daughter for a Christmas gift. She had read it before the day was over! Another quality story from the American Girls series. My daughter loves the adventures in the books as well as the good morals the girls have.