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American Girl: Josefina #5
Josefina Saves the Day: A Summer Story
Josefina is going about Santa Fe with her family when she meets an American trader named Patrick. He's funny and friendly, but can he be trusted?
70 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1998
9 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Tripp
272 books442 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 73 reviews
October 28, 2020
Josefina did not hesitate to trip that old man and I respect that.
March 7, 2025
"By God's grace," Josefina answered, "I am Josefina Montoya."
Just an example of how respectful ten-year-old Josefina is.
I think the reason I'm incredibly impressed by Josefina as a character is because the reason she's respectful is because it's what she's been taught and she genuinely wants to show respect.
No pretense. Not to impress others. Just a sweet girl, doing her best.
And the way she helps an "americano" was interesting.
Just an example of how respectful ten-year-old Josefina is.
I think the reason I'm incredibly impressed by Josefina as a character is because the reason she's respectful is because it's what she's been taught and she genuinely wants to show respect.
No pretense. Not to impress others. Just a sweet girl, doing her best.
And the way she helps an "americano" was interesting.
July 27, 2012
I liked this book because people from America were coming to New Mexico. An American scout named Patrick O'Toole came to New Mexico first, and Josefina was the first to meet him, and they became friends. Josefina's family had woven blankets to trade for other stuff that they needed on their ranch. Josefina's father said that Josefina and her sisters could each have one blanket and trade for something that they would like for themselves. Josefina's oldest sister, Ana, wanted to trade her blanket for two pairs of boots for her boys, Antonio and Juan. Francisca, her second oldest sister, wanted to trade her blanket for a mirror. Clara, her third oldest sister, wanted knitting needles, and Josefina wanted a little toy barn. She also wanted Patrick O'Toole's violin for her father, because he was so good at playing it. They didn't get to buy it, but Patrick O'Toole gave it to them. At first Josefina thought that the little toy barn she wanted was gone, but then she realized that Patrick O'Toole bought it to give it to her. -by Felicity
September 15, 2024
The great AG marathon continues. Reading this as an adult, here's what stands out: While the last third of the book is exciting, it requires everyone to twist themselves in knots in order to get us to a point where Josefina does, in fact, save the day.
What's extra weird: Josefina DID save the day in the last book by being able to treat Mariana's snake bite wound. Did no one think, Hey, let's make that the Save the Day plot and take the Santa Fe trip over Josefina's birthday?
As is, here's Problem #1: O'Toole leaves the violin in the church and the note on the hill so as not to wake the household. But given that he also had a deal with Senor Montoya in progress, perhaps it would have been better to wake someone and explain the situation? Or send his friend with a message that day, even if he didn't have all of the money ready yet? The message could even be "oh and tell the girls I left their thing in the church" if he wanted to keep the surprise. This is not rocket science, and in fact is a lot simpler than a note on a hillside with a piece of turquoise and hoping Josefina (a) finds it first and (b) puts the clues together.
Problem #2 is that Josefina and her sisters decide that Papá wouldn't possibly believe their story without the hard proof of the violin. Give him a chance, maybe? Tell him the story before he rides out, and if he's iffy about it, have him come with you to check the church. We never see anything from Papá to suggest that he lashes out at the girls, or can't abide any ideas but his own, but this is not the first time the girls are hesitant to just go talk to him. It's clear that this is a society with strict gender divides (exhibit A: we're five books in and as readers, we have never met Ana's husband. We've barely seen her sons. Yet other than this book, she's around all the time), and it's clear that children are trained strictly in how they relate to adults. Yet in the last several books, we repeatedly see Josefina and Papá together. JUST TALK TO HIM.
So that's where Tripp's editor fell short, frankly. A few other thoughts about the book as it is:
- It’s nice to get a new setting! And Santa Fe, of course, is a real place where one could go and visit the real San Miguel Chapel (which, a quick Google tells me, boasts of being the oldest church in North America)
- Josefina’s reaction to a toy farm that looks like a typical Eastern farm is a great reminder that Anglo-American archetypes are not universal defaults.
- The excitement of meeting the americanos is fun, the excitement of the marketplace is fun. The nighttime escapade is, as above, manufactured drama, but it is exciting and centers Josefina, which puts it in the top half of her series, after Surprise and Birthday, even despite some dumb plotting.
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
What's extra weird: Josefina DID save the day in the last book by being able to treat Mariana's snake bite wound. Did no one think, Hey, let's make that the Save the Day plot and take the Santa Fe trip over Josefina's birthday?
As is, here's Problem #1: O'Toole leaves the violin in the church and the note on the hill so as not to wake the household. But given that he also had a deal with Senor Montoya in progress, perhaps it would have been better to wake someone and explain the situation? Or send his friend with a message that day, even if he didn't have all of the money ready yet? The message could even be "oh and tell the girls I left their thing in the church" if he wanted to keep the surprise. This is not rocket science, and in fact is a lot simpler than a note on a hillside with a piece of turquoise and hoping Josefina (a) finds it first and (b) puts the clues together.
Problem #2 is that Josefina and her sisters decide that Papá wouldn't possibly believe their story without the hard proof of the violin. Give him a chance, maybe? Tell him the story before he rides out, and if he's iffy about it, have him come with you to check the church. We never see anything from Papá to suggest that he lashes out at the girls, or can't abide any ideas but his own, but this is not the first time the girls are hesitant to just go talk to him. It's clear that this is a society with strict gender divides (exhibit A: we're five books in and as readers, we have never met Ana's husband. We've barely seen her sons. Yet other than this book, she's around all the time), and it's clear that children are trained strictly in how they relate to adults. Yet in the last several books, we repeatedly see Josefina and Papá together. JUST TALK TO HIM.
So that's where Tripp's editor fell short, frankly. A few other thoughts about the book as it is:
- It’s nice to get a new setting! And Santa Fe, of course, is a real place where one could go and visit the real San Miguel Chapel (which, a quick Google tells me, boasts of being the oldest church in North America)
- Josefina’s reaction to a toy farm that looks like a typical Eastern farm is a great reminder that Anglo-American archetypes are not universal defaults.
- The excitement of meeting the americanos is fun, the excitement of the marketplace is fun. The nighttime escapade is, as above, manufactured drama, but it is exciting and centers Josefina, which puts it in the top half of her series, after Surprise and Birthday, even despite some dumb plotting.
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
November 21, 2022
So… Papá/Dolores is definitely endgame.
March 7, 2025
Sweet little story about Josefina making a new friend and helping her family to replace their sheep. And I still love the sister relationship.
January 7, 2026
Wonderful, again!
The characters, the settings, and everything that happens and doesn't happen.
I honestly didn't know how it would end!
Very good! None of these have been disappointing.
The characters, the settings, and everything that happens and doesn't happen.
I honestly didn't know how it would end!
Very good! None of these have been disappointing.
June 5, 2008
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rattle snake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rattle snake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2024
I'm never the biggest fan of Saves The Day stories, but boy, this one was REALLY not my style. Didn't like it! I don't like this "oh no did we get scammed" plot. I don't like the explanation. I don't like seeing Josefina sneak out into so much danger, something which just makes no sense for her character.
February 7, 2025
Loved revisiting my girl <3 Did Josefina truly pull off some heroics and save the day? Not really. But I love seeing her courage and kindness shine. Her stories are always so beautiful.
November 14, 2019
I think this story might be my favorite so far, not because of the excitement, but because Americans are finally in the story, and mentions of catholic things were vague. It was an interesting look at Santa Fe in the early stages of trading.
In some ways Josefina acts older than her age, but in other ways she didn’t. I do like that Francisca is not mean or unkind in this book.
A short, fun book to read.
In some ways Josefina acts older than her age, but in other ways she didn’t. I do like that Francisca is not mean or unkind in this book.
A short, fun book to read.
August 3, 2022
This was a fun story! It took a couple of days to get through, but both my sister and I were hooked from the beginning. I’ve always been fascinated by the Santa Fe Trail, so I loved to see a picture of what that might have looked like on the New Mexican end. This book also had an excellent mystery throughout the story, which added an element of excitement and risk. A fun read, overall!
November 30, 2021
I read this book for the podcast I’m currently listening to called “American Girls” by Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney.
Oh, Josefina…
While I totally didn’t mind what was going on in this Josefina book (“Josefina Saves The Day”), I found a lot of different parts of this book to be weird, uncomfortable, and unnecessary.
Let’s talk about what I liked at first… Well, for starters, I liked that we finally got out of Josefina’s town and we got to explore more in her world, in Santa Fe, where at this point in the “Felicity: An American Girl” series, it felt like Felicity had already ran around all over Williamsburg. It finally felt like something was happening in this book, even if it wasn’t that much. In comparison to the last book, that did have a lot of drama going on with the fucking rattlesnake at the end, I was definitely more bored in the book prior than this one. This one was just done better throughout the entire thing, while the last one had nothing going on - dragging the reader by - till the last chapter (the snake bit was also so predictable, while I didn’t feel like this one in Santa Fe really was at all [despite the comparisons to how it’s exactly the same from Felicity’s Save The Day book]). Furthermore, I liked that the kids got to have some fun (like the fact that Tía Dolores and Papá were going to let them trade their blankets for whatever they wanted), got to meet some new characters (like Patrick O’Toole), and just overall got to experience a different type of life… With that said, that’s really all “Josefina Saves The Day” was able to offer me.
What I didn’t like? Well, thanks for asking.
The first thing I didn’t like was the fact that the girls didn’t really get to enjoy one of the first times they got to be sort of selfish. They got these blankets to trade for whatever they want and instead Josefina convinces her sisters to use the trade to better her father’s life. Sweet, right? Of course. But it’s gotten to the point where I just feel sorry for Josefina. She’s so kind and caring for everyone and, while that’s very heartwarming, she’s missing what it’s sort of like to just be a kid. While Felicity was constantly a kid, needing to grow up, and struggling with caring for anyone else besides herself.
Second, I did not like sort of touched on sexual assault/harassment/predators/pedophiles multiple times. It talked multiple times about how Sante Fe wasn’t safe, women weren’t allowed to go out without a servant in the day - but especially at night. Of course, one of the only times Josefina is rebellious (I COULD NOT BELIEVE SHE HAD DONE WHAT SHE DID AT NIGHT) - which was also extreme and very unrealistic because out of all the things for Josefina to do, this one was extreme in the sense of how much she could have gotten hurt and how could have Peter known that Josefina would have found that piece of paper in the rain only slightly ruined???? - and in the process of her being rebellious, she’s close to getting kidnapped or abuse by incredibly older, adult men who say things like ‘two senoritias!’… Gross! Ew!
Finally, the last thing I hated during this book was obviously all the sexual tension between Tía Dolores and Papá. It’s everywhere. It’s where Papá has asked Dolores if he has told the girls the news (which did end up being about the trading blankets, but STILL - THE NEWS!!!) and Dolores giving trading advice to Papá when he doesn’t know what to do between Josefina’s news and Abuelita’s worried opinion on the situation and then the end!!!! WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER OVER THE VIOLIN GIFT FROM THE SISTERS AND THEN JOSEFINA WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO SEE TÍA DOLORES STARING AT PAPÁ PLAY WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS ASLEEP IN HER DOORWAY!!!!!!! I CANNOT!!!! I SWEAR TO GOD, VALERIE TRIPP! SO HELP ME GOD IF THEY GET TOGETHER. HOW DARE YOU DO WHAT I THINK YOU ARE ABOUT TO!! Of course, the next book is literally called “Changes For Josefina” and honestly what other change could really occur besides a new stepmother???? It’s not like a ton has been going on in Josefina’s time besides Americanos coming in this last book… If it’s nothing in Josefina’s external life that’s changing than it must be something in her internal, personal life and IF IT IS HER DEAD MOM’S AUNT HOOKING UP WITH THE DAD… I WILL GAG. PLEASE. STOP THE CRAZY TRAIN I AM ON!!!!!
And so, with that, that is my review of the fifth Josefina book. Lord, help me… When it comes to this next one, if I think what’s happening ends up going on… Save me!! Send help!!
Oh, Josefina…
While I totally didn’t mind what was going on in this Josefina book (“Josefina Saves The Day”), I found a lot of different parts of this book to be weird, uncomfortable, and unnecessary.
Let’s talk about what I liked at first… Well, for starters, I liked that we finally got out of Josefina’s town and we got to explore more in her world, in Santa Fe, where at this point in the “Felicity: An American Girl” series, it felt like Felicity had already ran around all over Williamsburg. It finally felt like something was happening in this book, even if it wasn’t that much. In comparison to the last book, that did have a lot of drama going on with the fucking rattlesnake at the end, I was definitely more bored in the book prior than this one. This one was just done better throughout the entire thing, while the last one had nothing going on - dragging the reader by - till the last chapter (the snake bit was also so predictable, while I didn’t feel like this one in Santa Fe really was at all [despite the comparisons to how it’s exactly the same from Felicity’s Save The Day book]). Furthermore, I liked that the kids got to have some fun (like the fact that Tía Dolores and Papá were going to let them trade their blankets for whatever they wanted), got to meet some new characters (like Patrick O’Toole), and just overall got to experience a different type of life… With that said, that’s really all “Josefina Saves The Day” was able to offer me.
What I didn’t like? Well, thanks for asking.
The first thing I didn’t like was the fact that the girls didn’t really get to enjoy one of the first times they got to be sort of selfish. They got these blankets to trade for whatever they want and instead Josefina convinces her sisters to use the trade to better her father’s life. Sweet, right? Of course. But it’s gotten to the point where I just feel sorry for Josefina. She’s so kind and caring for everyone and, while that’s very heartwarming, she’s missing what it’s sort of like to just be a kid. While Felicity was constantly a kid, needing to grow up, and struggling with caring for anyone else besides herself.
Second, I did not like sort of touched on sexual assault/harassment/predators/pedophiles multiple times. It talked multiple times about how Sante Fe wasn’t safe, women weren’t allowed to go out without a servant in the day - but especially at night. Of course, one of the only times Josefina is rebellious (I COULD NOT BELIEVE SHE HAD DONE WHAT SHE DID AT NIGHT) - which was also extreme and very unrealistic because out of all the things for Josefina to do, this one was extreme in the sense of how much she could have gotten hurt and how could have Peter known that Josefina would have found that piece of paper in the rain only slightly ruined???? - and in the process of her being rebellious, she’s close to getting kidnapped or abuse by incredibly older, adult men who say things like ‘two senoritias!’… Gross! Ew!
Finally, the last thing I hated during this book was obviously all the sexual tension between Tía Dolores and Papá. It’s everywhere. It’s where Papá has asked Dolores if he has told the girls the news (which did end up being about the trading blankets, but STILL - THE NEWS!!!) and Dolores giving trading advice to Papá when he doesn’t know what to do between Josefina’s news and Abuelita’s worried opinion on the situation and then the end!!!! WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER OVER THE VIOLIN GIFT FROM THE SISTERS AND THEN JOSEFINA WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO SEE TÍA DOLORES STARING AT PAPÁ PLAY WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS ASLEEP IN HER DOORWAY!!!!!!! I CANNOT!!!! I SWEAR TO GOD, VALERIE TRIPP! SO HELP ME GOD IF THEY GET TOGETHER. HOW DARE YOU DO WHAT I THINK YOU ARE ABOUT TO!! Of course, the next book is literally called “Changes For Josefina” and honestly what other change could really occur besides a new stepmother???? It’s not like a ton has been going on in Josefina’s time besides Americanos coming in this last book… If it’s nothing in Josefina’s external life that’s changing than it must be something in her internal, personal life and IF IT IS HER DEAD MOM’S AUNT HOOKING UP WITH THE DAD… I WILL GAG. PLEASE. STOP THE CRAZY TRAIN I AM ON!!!!!
And so, with that, that is my review of the fifth Josefina book. Lord, help me… When it comes to this next one, if I think what’s happening ends up going on… Save me!! Send help!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2022
I think this book represents the most connection to history we'll reach with Josefina. It's disappointing, but it follows the pattern from the Felicity books that this series can't or won't breach the real issues. I can't understand how slavery, colonial-era imperialism, and native peoples were so controversial to talk about in the 90s.
This one is set at Josefina's grandparents' house in Santa Fe. Famous sites like the San Miguel (the oldest church in the US) are mentioned and visited in the story. Josefina's family is attempting to complete a deal with an American trader in order to replace the animals they lost. The story revolves around the question of trust, as the family would have little or no recourse if they were scammed.
I finished this book while in Santa Fe. I even visited El Rancho de las Golondrinas, which Valerie Tripp mentioned in the history at the end of the first Josefina book. I think she based the family's rancho outside of Santa Fe on this. It was huge, and there was even a village (one was mentioned in the books), but I didn't have time to see that part.
This one is set at Josefina's grandparents' house in Santa Fe. Famous sites like the San Miguel (the oldest church in the US) are mentioned and visited in the story. Josefina's family is attempting to complete a deal with an American trader in order to replace the animals they lost. The story revolves around the question of trust, as the family would have little or no recourse if they were scammed.
I finished this book while in Santa Fe. I even visited El Rancho de las Golondrinas, which Valerie Tripp mentioned in the history at the end of the first Josefina book. I think she based the family's rancho outside of Santa Fe on this. It was huge, and there was even a village (one was mentioned in the books), but I didn't have time to see that part.
December 26, 2017
Not my favorite of the series, but still very good!
This one featured the result of "blankets to sheep" and included the meeting of several cultures. The stress of meeting a new person who does not speak the same language and having to trust someone you just meet in business transactions translates well for the reader.
This one was had a different tension throughout the story. We didn't see family grief as much as anxiety about the success of trading and the future of the rancho.
Another good read.
This one featured the result of "blankets to sheep" and included the meeting of several cultures. The stress of meeting a new person who does not speak the same language and having to trust someone you just meet in business transactions translates well for the reader.
This one was had a different tension throughout the story. We didn't see family grief as much as anxiety about the success of trading and the future of the rancho.
Another good read.
September 1, 2008
I read these books in Spanish. I liked them a lot.
May 22, 2017
Another cute book in the "Josefina" series of American girl books. My daughter & I have really enjoyed these.
July 7, 2021
The mystery surrounding Patrick and the violin seemed like a prelude to the American Girls mystery series. A fun book.
August 25, 2021
I like Josefina and think she is a cute girl.
January 21, 2023
Not as high of stakes as the other "saves the day" stories, but I did enjoy meeting Patrick O'Toole!
November 11, 2023
Not my favorite book of the series. I feel like Saves the Day should have been swapped with Happy Birthday. Josefina actually saves someone's life in that book and in this book, she convinces her sisters to trade their 3 blankets for a violin for Papa. However, they think they have been swindled when an Americano, Patrick, leaves without the trade for Papa's mules or the girls' blankets for his violin. This book revolved more around gift-giving than Happy Birthday did. Also, the book ends without any definitive resolution. When Josefina finds a "note" from Patrick telling them where the violin was and that he hadn't left with their blankets and a fair trade. Josefina and Francisca go to the city in the middle of the night to find the violin, which is very dangerous considering the bawdy nature of the town after dark with all the traders partying. There is no explanation about him leaving or if the mule trade was successful. I assume he had to leave before telling them, but the story just ends with Josefina seeing Papa and Tia Dolores making music quietly together, which I take it they have fallen in love and will tell the girls in the last book of the series. I think the story could have been better with a definitive ending.
March 20, 2025
In this fifth installment in Josefina's story, she travels to the big city of Santa Fe and meets an American trader named Patrick. It was interesting to see how business was conducted during that time, and even more interesting to get a glimpse of what city life was like during that time period. Rather than paying for goods with money, most people trade goods. Josefina is given one of the family's handwoven blankets to trade for anything she likes and is overwhelmed with her choices but particularly drawn to a handmade, wooden farmhouse toy. In this book, Josefina takes more risks than she has in other books, sneaking out of the house and into the city at night to try to make things right for her father.
I never read this Josefina book growing up, so reading it with my daughters was actually my first time reading it. I enjoy how much history Valerie Tripp is able to embed within the story, particularly because I have never read much about the history of what is now modern-day New Mexico during the time period that Josefina's story is set. Josefina, despite being only 10 years old, has an active role in her family's life and livelihood and feels the weight of that responsibility.
I never read this Josefina book growing up, so reading it with my daughters was actually my first time reading it. I enjoy how much history Valerie Tripp is able to embed within the story, particularly because I have never read much about the history of what is now modern-day New Mexico during the time period that Josefina's story is set. Josefina, despite being only 10 years old, has an active role in her family's life and livelihood and feels the weight of that responsibility.
November 5, 2019
Era más fácil leer este libro, porque ya aprendí las palabras "frazada" y "reboso" en los otros libros. Me gustaba la historia, y el joven que toca el violín. El clímax de la historia no habría haber sucedido si Patrick había tenido el celular. ¿Cuántas historias de literatura no habrían haber sucedido si los personajes habían tenido los celulares? Romeo y Juliet, por ejemplo.
Sin embargo, no era necesario que Josefina y Francisca corrieran a la iglesia durante la noche. Ellas podrían haber mostrado el dibujo a su papá en la mañana, y el Señor Montoya podría haber buscado el violín antes de marcharse buscando a Patrick. Sencillo.
Sin embargo, no era necesario que Josefina y Francisca corrieran a la iglesia durante la noche. Ellas podrían haber mostrado el dibujo a su papá en la mañana, y el Señor Montoya podría haber buscado el violín antes de marcharse buscando a Patrick. Sencillo.
March 17, 2022
Josefina does not act like herself at all here. Her bringing a strange man home in the first chapter is uncomfy. I dislike Patrick. White Americans are painted in a very good light and it makes me nervous for the future of Josefina's family once the Americanos steal their land and make them conform to their European ways. Men in this book are disgusting, it should have been handled better in a kids book. Reading as an adult makes my mind go crazy with possible rape. And Josefina already saved the day in the last book. The only thing she's saving here is Patrick's reputation and I find his presence very inappropriate. Is a white dude really necessary? The whole books is about Patrick! Could nothing really happen without him?
April 20, 2023
This book was honestly so wholesome. I really enjoyed it! The sisters put this blankets together to give their father a violin that belongs to the Patrick, an American scout for American traders passing through New Mexico. And if it was not clear to everyone in several of the previous entries to the series Tia Delores and Josefina's father are for sure going to end up together lol. I don't remember if that happens in the last book (guess I will find out in a little bit), but I honestly hope so because that would be a sweet ending. Either way, this was a nice entry to the series.
February 16, 2022
This is pointless, but after reading this again (been a couple years) this morning, I went to Sugarfuse in Dover for a coffee, and I was tickled to see that they had big bags of coffee with the name 'Josefina and Mario' on them. Just sort of an interesting coincidence that sometimes happens to book people, I suppose. 🙃
September 25, 2022
Loved this one! Josefina's family goes to trade their goods and when Josefina meets an American with a violin, she has set her heart on getting it for her father.
Things seem to go wrong though and it's up to the girls to get to the bottom of the situation. I was inclined to believe the worst too, but it was fun discovering what happened. Fun story!
Things seem to go wrong though and it's up to the girls to get to the bottom of the situation. I was inclined to believe the worst too, but it was fun discovering what happened. Fun story!
August 25, 2021
Josefina ensured that her father wouldn’t make a fatal mistake in his trade(s) with the Americans. She also tripped a guy which I loved. I really like how Josefina is growing up through these stories!
March 17, 2024
This book focuses on a trade deal between Josefina’s father and an American. It was alright and gives a peek into trading in the west in the 1800s. There is still a lot of lush imagery and you do feel like you’re there with Josefina.
July 23, 2024
4 stars. "__ Saves the Day" books in the AG series can be hit or miss for me but this one was good. Definitely my least favorite book in the series but it wasn't bad. I liked it and thought it was fun but the conflict felt a bit forced.
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