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American Girl: Josefina #4
Happy Birthday, Josefina!: A Springtime Story
Josefina is pleased and proud when her godmother, T'a Magdalena, asks for her help with springtime chores. T'a Magdalena is a respected healer in the village, and Josefina hopes to become a healer just like her someday. Then one day at T'a Magdalena's house, Josefina makes an awful mistake that shatters her hopes. She's sure T'a Magdalena will never teach her now! But when Josefina visits her Pueblo Indian friend Mariana, a terrifying adventure shows her just how much she's already learned.
69 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1998
14 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Tripp
254 books439 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 69 reviews
November 2, 2022
I freaking love the Montoya family.
(And also, may I just say: the way Tripp foreshadows Papá and Tía Dolores? ✨ Sensational. ✨)
(And also, may I just say: the way Tripp foreshadows Papá and Tía Dolores? ✨ Sensational. ✨)
August 15, 2018
This books are just so charming!
September 15, 2024
The great AG marathon continues. Reading this as an adult, here's what stands out:
It's springtime, Josefina is turning ten, and she's ready to take on new challenges.
Where Surprise feels like three strands braided together, this one feels more like three steps that build on each other: first nursing the baby goat, then helping Tía Magdalena, then saving both Mariana and Sombrita from the snake venom.
It's nice to see Josefina with a special friend outside her family, but Mariana might be the least developed friend in AG canon - and that's next to Kirsten, whose friends keep leaving. Josefina's family is such a major focus of the series, it leaves very little time for other friends. When Josefina goes into the village, we're told she's known everyone there all her life, and she seems friendly with the other kids, but no one is featured. Mariana rates a portrait on the Friends & Family page, but she only gets a few pages of actual story.
Given all that, it's awfully generous of Mariana to take on that snake for the sake of Josefina's pet. (The snake is another thing I remembered from my 2013 read of this series. I am not a fan.)
The through-line of this book is Josefina exploring the idea that she may have a calling as a healer, a curandera. Raising Sombrita is one expression of this, and Tía Magdalena suggests that, in a larger way, this is a possible future for Josefina.
Our girl does have a bit of a setback where she just can’t resist trying to handle Tía Magdalena’s heirloom apothecary jar - and breaks it. I always hate this kind of WHAT WERE YOU JUST TOLD conflict, but it the realism is undeniable. And to be fair, Josefina clearly hates it too: she’s the kind of kid who beats herself up about things, probably more effectively than any other punishment. Fortunately, we don’t end there: she gathers the courage to apologize as she should, and in knowing how to handle the snake venom, she begins to prove herself as the newest member of Future Healers of New Mexico.
Other than the two spots I don’t like, this is a lovely installment in the series. It moves Josefina’s story forward, gives her interesting and exciting things to do, and suggests where her future may lie. For that, I will put up with a snake and a bad decision.
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
It's springtime, Josefina is turning ten, and she's ready to take on new challenges.
Where Surprise feels like three strands braided together, this one feels more like three steps that build on each other: first nursing the baby goat, then helping Tía Magdalena, then saving both Mariana and Sombrita from the snake venom.
It's nice to see Josefina with a special friend outside her family, but Mariana might be the least developed friend in AG canon - and that's next to Kirsten, whose friends keep leaving. Josefina's family is such a major focus of the series, it leaves very little time for other friends. When Josefina goes into the village, we're told she's known everyone there all her life, and she seems friendly with the other kids, but no one is featured. Mariana rates a portrait on the Friends & Family page, but she only gets a few pages of actual story.
Given all that, it's awfully generous of Mariana to take on that snake for the sake of Josefina's pet. (The snake is another thing I remembered from my 2013 read of this series. I am not a fan.)
The through-line of this book is Josefina exploring the idea that she may have a calling as a healer, a curandera. Raising Sombrita is one expression of this, and Tía Magdalena suggests that, in a larger way, this is a possible future for Josefina.
Our girl does have a bit of a setback where she just can’t resist trying to handle Tía Magdalena’s heirloom apothecary jar - and breaks it. I always hate this kind of WHAT WERE YOU JUST TOLD conflict, but it the realism is undeniable. And to be fair, Josefina clearly hates it too: she’s the kind of kid who beats herself up about things, probably more effectively than any other punishment. Fortunately, we don’t end there: she gathers the courage to apologize as she should, and in knowing how to handle the snake venom, she begins to prove herself as the newest member of Future Healers of New Mexico.
Other than the two spots I don’t like, this is a lovely installment in the series. It moves Josefina’s story forward, gives her interesting and exciting things to do, and suggests where her future may lie. For that, I will put up with a snake and a bad decision.
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
March 7, 2025
Still very impressed with Josefina in book 4 of the series. She's relatable, kind, respectful, and curious.
This one could have been renamed 'saved the day."
Grief still weighs heavy in this one ~ as it should.
This one could have been renamed 'saved the day."
Grief still weighs heavy in this one ~ as it should.
November 18, 2024
wasn't sure if i'd give this one a 3 or a 4, but i'll feel generous. this one just didn't feel very cohesive. i loved the stuff about springtime bringing new growth and hopes, but i dunno. the jar plot + rattlesnake felt off to me.
March 25, 2015
A touching story about self discovery and growing up. It was nice to learn who Josefina was named after and about herbs and healing people.
Read
February 14, 2019I like this book because the is a brave person when she broke the toy that she really wanted.
March 28, 2017
It's a good story. I like the full circle josefina comes to with florecita and sombrita.
July 27, 2014
It's spring and time for Josefina's birthday, she'll be ten this year and Josefina has decided she wants to be a curandera or healer like her godmother Tia Magdalena. Josefina's responsibility and strength is put to the test when she decides to had raise Florecita's orphaned baby and she's tested yet again when her friend Mariana is bitten by a venomous snake, will Josefina prove that she's growing up and can be a curandera and also have a happy birthday?
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.
January 13, 2009
A childhood favorite; very interesting, but now it's not quite as good as when I was little.
Read
March 2, 2014Followed by a descent into the alluring whirlpool that is our local American Girl store.
November 24, 2018
Honestly cried
November 27, 2021
I read this book for the podcast I’m currently listening to called “American Girls” by Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney.
Welp, it finally happened.
They couldn’t all be perfect, could they? Up to this point in the “Josefina: An American Girl” series, I was really enjoying them - mostly because of the characters and how thoughtful they are. Unlike in “Felicity: An American Girl”, Josefina and her family are very respectable, don’t make terrible decisions, and treat everyone really kindly (and carefully). Now, that’s not to say that all that didn’t happen in “Happy Birthday, Josefina!” because it did. The characters are still very good and thoughtful especially Josefina, which is completely unlike Felicity’s character. Josefina made some mistakes in this book, but was able to really recover from them by owning up to what she had done eventually and being better (which is something Felicity struggled to do all throughout her series of books). So you might be asking, “Megan, if this is all the case, why did you give the book two stars?”… Well…
I’m bored, to put it plainly. But, also, more importantly, something is brewing… Something is brewing that I just don’t like…
First, let’s look at the first one: Boredom. How very true for this book. I struggled to read it all for like a week and half (or two?) because I just couldn’t have cared less. For a lot of what’s going on in this book, nothing is really going on except for like in the final chapter. It was also very predictable, which I know it’s a book for CHILDREN, okay??? But I’ve read some of these other American Girls books and could never tell you what in the hell is gonna happen next to them, in them. With this one, there just seemed to be too much foreshadowing to the snake incident and Josefina wanting to be a healer (although I did like the Josefina wanting to be a healer arc, what happened to the snake and how this connects to her father, and the addition of little Sombrita). But, even with that predictability, I didn’t care too much to read on. It’s one thing when the girls are going into the emotional depth of the loss of their mother, which we’ve gotten for several books now and what I really like… However, I think the point of this Springtime story was to focus on the grief less, as them moving forward (but obviously not forgetting anything they’ve went through, of course) which makes total sense as they should do… But Valerie Tripp struggled to find anything going on for this family (now outside of their grief) in this one, which just left the reader bored. If we are going to take away the emotional depth because it’s time to in the story, fine, but you need to replace it more with something than just these still images of the Josefina’s world that move at the pace of a snail, in my opinion. For a lot of this book, it was just Josefina cleaning things, trading blankets, and so on till a snake does a thing and then we have a birthday party/Saint’s Day celebration (which all happens in the final chapter pretty much). It’s like Tripp can’t strike a good balance. In “Felicity: An American Girl”, it’s too much. In “Josefina: An American Girl”, it’s not enough. The next book seems a little bit more promising in plot, so I am looking forward to that one… I’d like to be more in the thick of something even if the thick of something might not actually be entirely accurate to necessarily the historical period at this point because I AM BORED. Felicity was such a mess of a child, but had so many interesting things happening in her world. Josefina is so perfect and angelic, but there is nothing going on in her outer world currently at all. I wish Valerie Tripp could just give me both - someone to root for, but the stakes are high in the time period she’s living in! It shouldn’t have to be a picking and choosing of a likable person or an interesting time period/place.
However, what I will say, in regards to the second issue, is actually the bigger problem of this book… Something is brewing (I THINK) potentially and if it is what I think it is - I just do not like it. So help me God, Valerie Tripp. If you do what I think you’re about to with a certain Tía Dolores and a certain male, known as Josefina’s Papá… I will scream. At the top of my lungs. In no way do I want Dolores and Josefina’s dad to be hooking up in the future of these books. Do I support the dad finding another wife eventually after time goes on with his grief? Absolutely. Do I want it to be his dead wife’s sister that he remarries with? Absolutely fucking not. But little comments and things keep happening all THROUGHOUT this book. Tía Dolores touching Papá’s hand and how Papá looks in Dolores eyes with an unspoken question that she understands and nods. How Tía Magdalena is saying Dolores needed the family and needed Josefina. How Dolores says we all need second chances sometimes and then how Josefina repeats this back to her dad at the end of the book and Papá says, “Does she? Does she indeed?”… I CANNOT. While I understand that this was very typical and common of the time historically, I am telling you as a reader of this series, which up to this point I’ve been very happy and fond of, if Valerie Tripp hooks up Tía Dolores with Josefina’s father… Good Lord, it will ruin everything she has built here for me. I’m fine with Dolores being her aunt, taking on the mothering role, and doing what she can to help the rancho BUT I WILL NOT TAKE IT WELL, WHATSOEVER, IF HE ENDS UP DOING THE DEED WITH HER AND THEY GET TOGETHER IN THE END LIKE ONE BIG HAPPY, CONVENIENT FAMILY. All the grief we explored, emotions we went through, and things we did will really be lost and overshadowed by that one decision if Mrs. Tripp decides to pull the trigger on it like I think she ultimately is.
I never thought that would be something I’d have to say about a kid’s book series, but oh well. Here we are.
Welp, it finally happened.
They couldn’t all be perfect, could they? Up to this point in the “Josefina: An American Girl” series, I was really enjoying them - mostly because of the characters and how thoughtful they are. Unlike in “Felicity: An American Girl”, Josefina and her family are very respectable, don’t make terrible decisions, and treat everyone really kindly (and carefully). Now, that’s not to say that all that didn’t happen in “Happy Birthday, Josefina!” because it did. The characters are still very good and thoughtful especially Josefina, which is completely unlike Felicity’s character. Josefina made some mistakes in this book, but was able to really recover from them by owning up to what she had done eventually and being better (which is something Felicity struggled to do all throughout her series of books). So you might be asking, “Megan, if this is all the case, why did you give the book two stars?”… Well…
I’m bored, to put it plainly. But, also, more importantly, something is brewing… Something is brewing that I just don’t like…
First, let’s look at the first one: Boredom. How very true for this book. I struggled to read it all for like a week and half (or two?) because I just couldn’t have cared less. For a lot of what’s going on in this book, nothing is really going on except for like in the final chapter. It was also very predictable, which I know it’s a book for CHILDREN, okay??? But I’ve read some of these other American Girls books and could never tell you what in the hell is gonna happen next to them, in them. With this one, there just seemed to be too much foreshadowing to the snake incident and Josefina wanting to be a healer (although I did like the Josefina wanting to be a healer arc, what happened to the snake and how this connects to her father, and the addition of little Sombrita). But, even with that predictability, I didn’t care too much to read on. It’s one thing when the girls are going into the emotional depth of the loss of their mother, which we’ve gotten for several books now and what I really like… However, I think the point of this Springtime story was to focus on the grief less, as them moving forward (but obviously not forgetting anything they’ve went through, of course) which makes total sense as they should do… But Valerie Tripp struggled to find anything going on for this family (now outside of their grief) in this one, which just left the reader bored. If we are going to take away the emotional depth because it’s time to in the story, fine, but you need to replace it more with something than just these still images of the Josefina’s world that move at the pace of a snail, in my opinion. For a lot of this book, it was just Josefina cleaning things, trading blankets, and so on till a snake does a thing and then we have a birthday party/Saint’s Day celebration (which all happens in the final chapter pretty much). It’s like Tripp can’t strike a good balance. In “Felicity: An American Girl”, it’s too much. In “Josefina: An American Girl”, it’s not enough. The next book seems a little bit more promising in plot, so I am looking forward to that one… I’d like to be more in the thick of something even if the thick of something might not actually be entirely accurate to necessarily the historical period at this point because I AM BORED. Felicity was such a mess of a child, but had so many interesting things happening in her world. Josefina is so perfect and angelic, but there is nothing going on in her outer world currently at all. I wish Valerie Tripp could just give me both - someone to root for, but the stakes are high in the time period she’s living in! It shouldn’t have to be a picking and choosing of a likable person or an interesting time period/place.
However, what I will say, in regards to the second issue, is actually the bigger problem of this book… Something is brewing (I THINK) potentially and if it is what I think it is - I just do not like it. So help me God, Valerie Tripp. If you do what I think you’re about to with a certain Tía Dolores and a certain male, known as Josefina’s Papá… I will scream. At the top of my lungs. In no way do I want Dolores and Josefina’s dad to be hooking up in the future of these books. Do I support the dad finding another wife eventually after time goes on with his grief? Absolutely. Do I want it to be his dead wife’s sister that he remarries with? Absolutely fucking not. But little comments and things keep happening all THROUGHOUT this book. Tía Dolores touching Papá’s hand and how Papá looks in Dolores eyes with an unspoken question that she understands and nods. How Tía Magdalena is saying Dolores needed the family and needed Josefina. How Dolores says we all need second chances sometimes and then how Josefina repeats this back to her dad at the end of the book and Papá says, “Does she? Does she indeed?”… I CANNOT. While I understand that this was very typical and common of the time historically, I am telling you as a reader of this series, which up to this point I’ve been very happy and fond of, if Valerie Tripp hooks up Tía Dolores with Josefina’s father… Good Lord, it will ruin everything she has built here for me. I’m fine with Dolores being her aunt, taking on the mothering role, and doing what she can to help the rancho BUT I WILL NOT TAKE IT WELL, WHATSOEVER, IF HE ENDS UP DOING THE DEED WITH HER AND THEY GET TOGETHER IN THE END LIKE ONE BIG HAPPY, CONVENIENT FAMILY. All the grief we explored, emotions we went through, and things we did will really be lost and overshadowed by that one decision if Mrs. Tripp decides to pull the trigger on it like I think she ultimately is.
I never thought that would be something I’d have to say about a kid’s book series, but oh well. Here we are.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
A touching story about Josefina's 10th birthday. The Montoya family is finally seeing progress from the women's labor in the household (who would have to make so many blankets in addition to the labor of running the household). Josefina's enemy, the goat Florecita, gives birth to a kid and dies shortly after. Josefina convinces her father that she can nurse the goat, which she does successfully, and the kid becomes her shadow, so they call her Sombrita "little shadow". Josefina gets to put all of her grief and desire to be mothered herself into the love she has for this kid. With her father being emotionally distant, she is desperate for a connection based on nurture.
Josefina spends time with her Tia Magdalena, who is curandera. Josefina says she wants to be a curandera, but Tia Magdalena says she must first prove that she can heal. She tells Josefina about how Papa had once survived a rattlesnake bite and she gives Josefina a root to carry with her in case of a bite. (Of course someone will need this by the end of the book.)
Josefina travels with Papa to the Pueblo village to finalize the trade of blankets for goats with an old friend. Josefina and her Pueblo friend, Marianna, go outside to play with dolls and when Sombrita wanders away, they find her in a standoff with a rattlesnake. The snake ends up biting Marianna and Josepfina saves her with the root.
At home, Josefina gets to dress in her Mama's precious accessories and they have a big party. Papaa gives her a rattlesnake tail for her memory box. Tia Magdalena agrees that Josefina is a healer. I like this for Josefina, and since women had to "become a woman" earlier than we do now, it makes sense that she would discover relatively early what her affinity is.
I'm surprised this wasn't a "Saves the Day" which makes me think they next book will be a little more bonkers.
Josefina spends time with her Tia Magdalena, who is curandera. Josefina says she wants to be a curandera, but Tia Magdalena says she must first prove that she can heal. She tells Josefina about how Papa had once survived a rattlesnake bite and she gives Josefina a root to carry with her in case of a bite. (Of course someone will need this by the end of the book.)
Josefina travels with Papa to the Pueblo village to finalize the trade of blankets for goats with an old friend. Josefina and her Pueblo friend, Marianna, go outside to play with dolls and when Sombrita wanders away, they find her in a standoff with a rattlesnake. The snake ends up biting Marianna and Josepfina saves her with the root.
At home, Josefina gets to dress in her Mama's precious accessories and they have a big party. Papaa gives her a rattlesnake tail for her memory box. Tia Magdalena agrees that Josefina is a healer. I like this for Josefina, and since women had to "become a woman" earlier than we do now, it makes sense that she would discover relatively early what her affinity is.
I'm surprised this wasn't a "Saves the Day" which makes me think they next book will be a little more bonkers.
March 7, 2025
In this book, Josefina spends some time with her aunt Magdalena, who is her father's older sister. Magdalena is a curandera or community healer and Josefina wonders if she would like to be a curandera when she is older. But Magdalena tells her that it's not something you choose, but innate traits that you must discover if you possess. Later, while visiting her friend Mariana, Josefina has an encounter with a rattlesnake that helps her understand how she responds in emergencies when others need her help.
This book had more action than previous Josefina books! The rattlesnake encounter later on in the book proved to be very tense and had my daughters both gasping in concern. My daughters also really enjoyed reading about Josefina taking care of the orphaned baby goat. I liked learning more about the role of the curandera during the 1820s and how they might have treated their patients with herbal remedies. It's so fun reading these books and getting insight into the history of the time period and place in such a fun way.
This book had more action than previous Josefina books! The rattlesnake encounter later on in the book proved to be very tense and had my daughters both gasping in concern. My daughters also really enjoyed reading about Josefina taking care of the orphaned baby goat. I liked learning more about the role of the curandera during the 1820s and how they might have treated their patients with herbal remedies. It's so fun reading these books and getting insight into the history of the time period and place in such a fun way.
October 28, 2020
Happy Birthday Josefina is a quick read book that is part of a series by Valerie Tripp. This is the fourth book in the Josefina American girl series. It is set in New Mexico in 1824. I recommend this book to girls around third to sixth grade, who are interested in adventures full of history and culture. The main character, Josefina is the youngest of four daughters, her papá is a rancher, and her mamá died a year ago. Josefina and her sisters have a lot of chores and responsibility but that doesn’t stop them from having fun.
I like the Josefina seiries very much. I can relate to Josefina and I find myself very similar to her, this makes it easer for me to understand the story. This book makes me want to read the next one to see what adventure Josefina will go on next.
I like the Josefina seiries very much. I can relate to Josefina and I find myself very similar to her, this makes it easer for me to understand the story. This book makes me want to read the next one to see what adventure Josefina will go on next.
June 13, 2022
There was a lot of movement in this book and also surprisingly little focus on the birthday. First Josefina goes to the village to help Tia Magdalena, and later she visits the nearby pueblo. Tia Magdalena (a curandera or traditional healer) teaches her how different plants are used. Disappointingly, but not surprisingly after seeing how Tripp can avoid mentioning slavery on a plantation setting in the Felicity books, the difference between the pueblo and village aren't explored. The difference between the native people and customs and the Spanish ones isn't mentioned. Josefina's Native American friend is just used as a quick plot device.
The best thing about this one is that there is a cute baby goat (of whom there are not enough illustrations).
The best thing about this one is that there is a cute baby goat (of whom there are not enough illustrations).
December 26, 2017
I love how this one is filled with second chances!
We see Josefina finding the sprouts from her mother's favorite flowers, a kid, a terrible mistake, a future occupation, and a wonderful birthday celebration!
One of the reasons I am loving this series is the attention to detail with regards to the traditions on the New Mexicans in the early 1800s without modernizing them (too much). We see the connection to God, neighbors, family, and simple traditions.
The story is well crafted and written. It is a quick, enjoyable read for an adult. Should be a fun read for a younger person. This series gives a glimpse of history and culture we don't learn about in school.
We see Josefina finding the sprouts from her mother's favorite flowers, a kid, a terrible mistake, a future occupation, and a wonderful birthday celebration!
One of the reasons I am loving this series is the attention to detail with regards to the traditions on the New Mexicans in the early 1800s without modernizing them (too much). We see the connection to God, neighbors, family, and simple traditions.
The story is well crafted and written. It is a quick, enjoyable read for an adult. Should be a fun read for a younger person. This series gives a glimpse of history and culture we don't learn about in school.
March 16, 2022
See, Josefina gets over her hatred of goats and learns to love them! The plot felt rather forced here. Why doesn't Tia Magdelana live with the family? Why didn't she step in like Tia Dolores when Mama died? It seems Josefina gets along much better with Tia D. The topic of shame isn't handled well. Josefina feels shame for a pure accident that isn't her fault and all the adults make encourage her to be ashamed. Accidently breaking a glass jar isn't a terriblw mistake you should feel guilt about. This book reinforces the idea that Josefina or you the reader must be perfect at all times.
June 10, 2019
Is it okay to admit to crying when reading many if these books to my daughter? There is something so touching about how the characters face hard times and allow those difficulties to help them grow. The caring family dynamic, even with the brokenness of grief, is very sweet. I appreciate that though the adults are never unkind, they do uphold boundaries and teach the children to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. My daughter loved this one!
November 13, 2019
2.5 stars
This was a short was fun story. There was talk about saints and celebrating them, but that as it as far as the catholic stuff went in the story. Now in the “A Peek into the Past” there was a little more.
Josefina and her family are sweet and I do like them, even if the story line isn’t complex. Ana’s husband is actually mentioned as being at the rancho!
While this was a light story and I enjoyed it, I probably won’t be reading it again unless it’s a long time from now.
This was a short was fun story. There was talk about saints and celebrating them, but that as it as far as the catholic stuff went in the story. Now in the “A Peek into the Past” there was a little more.
Josefina and her family are sweet and I do like them, even if the story line isn’t complex. Ana’s husband is actually mentioned as being at the rancho!
While this was a light story and I enjoyed it, I probably won’t be reading it again unless it’s a long time from now.
May 12, 2022
I’m enjoying this trip down memory lane as much as my sister is enjoying discovering Josefina for the first time! In this book, Josefina goes to visit her godmother, a healer, which I found especially interesting. I’m always curious to know more about what kinds of plants God has put into the world around us to help us take care of our different ailments. The way Josefina was able to use the knowledge she learned made for a fun story.
September 25, 2022
I liked this story. It was less about Josefina's birthday and more about her proving she has what it takes to be a healer when she gets older. I like seeing the exchange with Native Americans, and how she cared for her baby goat, and how brave she acted when her friend was in trouble. Another good story in this awesome collection 😄
March 6, 2025
I did like Josefina's arc in this one, but the best parts of the series so far have been the exploration of grief and the family dynamics, and both seemed less important in this story. But I do love how Josefina has been having small arcs throughout the series and how these arcs don't seem to be retreading the same ground (*coughKayacough*).
March 17, 2024
3 stars because this book was wild and all over the place!
It is no surprise that Josefina wants to become a curandera, considering she had already been the one to help with her family’s emotional healing.
It is no surprise that Josefina wants to become a curandera, considering she had already been the one to help with her family’s emotional healing.
June 30, 2025
While I understand why so much of Josefina's story deals with the death of her mother, it is a nice change of pace that that's not the primary focus here. It's also cool that we get a glimpse of Josefina potentially becoming a healer when she's older.
September 12, 2017
Wonderful book for the American Girls series.
September 21, 2020
It was a happy and exciting story.
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January 26, 2021Josefina was after my time so I'd never read any of her books before. And it's too bad, because this is dark af.
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