In the Shadow of the Alamo

by Sherry Garland

Fifteen-year-old Lorenzo Bonifacio never intended to be a soldier. But when the soldados raid his tiny Mexican village, Lorenzo finds himself forced to join General Santa Anna's army . . . all because of the pesky goatherd Catalina and the haughty Esteban Equivel, son of the wealthiest landowner in the region.
Taken under wing by the kind Sergeant Ildefonso, Lorenzo and Esteban endure boredom, exhaustion, and hunger as the army makes its way across Mexico to San Antonio de Bexar, where rebellious norte-americanos have barricaded themselves inside an old mission called El Alamo . Neither boy can imagine what lies at the end of the march--defeat, death, glory?--and neither can accept the price paid during the fight for Texas.

Genres: Historical Fiction

282 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Sherry Garland is the award-winning author of 30 books for children, teens and adults.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine years ago, Lorenzo's father was conscripted into the Mexican army, leaving behind Lorenzo, his little sister, and their pregnant mother. They never heard from him again. The year is now 1835, and life in their small village has not gotten any easier. Since his mother's death four years ago, Lorenzo has had to care for his two younger sisters. He believes the family is cursed and never expects to see his father again. While working in the fields, Lorenzo and some of the other village men are conscripted into the army to fight in the Texas campaign. Lorenzo, at fifteen, is too young to be conscripted, but the local landowner's son lies and says he meets the age requirement. Lorenzo is forced into a war he doesn't believe in, as his aunt and sisters join the other camp followers. Tragedy after tragedy follow on the long winter march to Texas. Their ultimate destination: the Alamo.

This book is an excellent young adult historical novel showing the "other side" in the Texas Revolution. The Mexican soldiers are portrayed as ordinary men who were forced to join the army and had no choice but to obey their superiors, even when they didn't agree with them.

[Abby Burrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book presented a very interesting view of the Mexican side of the Texas Revolution. Interestingly enough, it doesn't seem that the Mexican soldiers were any more well trained or equipped than the Texas ones; the advantage they had over the Texans (it seems to me) was more men and generals.
I think this book is meant to be more of a children's book, though I'm not sure for what grades or ages. The descriptions were not overtly grisly or gory, but the fact is that it still made me uncomfortable in spots, and so I would recommend it for ages 13 and up. It is factual, sadly, but still not fun to read.
There is also mention of some type of witch-crafty type stuff that I also was not comfortable with, and unlike the violence, I think it could have been done without.
Overall, a alright book telling a not often told view point on an important event in history, but not one that I think I'm going to keep in my library.

[Timothy Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. If you're looking for a good piece of historical fiction, this is it. Garland has done her research on the War surround the Alamo and has captured this experience though the perspective of a 15 year old soldier. Her narrator, Lorenzo, portrays a very believable teenager forced into fighting in a war in which he wanted no involvement. He experiences the gaining of a friend through one he once perceived as an enemy and he experiences the loss of those he cares for the most. In addition, a little teenage love interest begins to take shape sometime in the middle when he is forced to grow up way too fast. Overall, the character and his experiences are easy to relate to.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read it over and over again because it was really clever because I never thought about how the Mexicans got their soldiers and if they actually liked Santa Anna. I thought it was really well thought out and I want to read more of the GREAT EPISODES!! I would really recommend it to people who just really like to read things that make you think about the things this country has done in history. Maybe you want to read these things to get interested in something new. I also thought that if you are trying to learn the language of Spanish, then this would be a good book for you, because they throw in some of the words in that particular language, and it really helped me understand some of the language better, and to know when to run for my life if a Mexican yells it and starts running at me.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Shadow of the Alamo is a middle-grade historical fiction novel about the events of the Battle of the Alamo. Young 15-year old Lorenzo Bonifacio is tired of working on his farmland of his little village in Mexico. He takes care of the land while watching his little sisters with his Aunt, and is forever annoyed by the goatherder Catalina, who may have some attraction to him. But one day, the Mexican army come in and forces many of the abled-bodied men to join the army, Lorenzo included. Despite his protest of his youth, he's to remain as a soldier, no thanks to his landowner's son, Esteban. His family travels with him and the army, along with other women of his village, as they journey to Texas to fight against the North Americans. During this journey, Lorenzo learns to become a soldier and must survive the harsh journey, as classism plays a role in the low treatment of his neighbors; and even forms a friendship with Esteban, despite their initial clashes. All the more, Lorenzo realizes war is not a fun thing, and he will not come back the same boy once he steps onto the battlefront.

Sherry Garland does great storytelling of the Battle of the Alamo through the lenses of a less often spoken part of this history, the Mexican soldiers. Throughout the novel, Garland showed that the Mexican soldiers did not have it easy, with themes of classism, mediocre training, and questionable leadership from El Presidente, or General Santa Ana. In fact, many of them dreaded the day of battle, some even trying to escape the brigade before getting killed. Also, once the chapters get into the battle, there is many descriptive details of how the men died and the visuals on seeing carcasses sprawled about. I read "gritty" novels before, but I was kind of surprised to see a book aimed at younger than teens that gets that detailed. Understandably, this is the author's attempt at keeping accuracy to the real events, so it is necessary to an extent. I do find Lorenzo's voice to be very believable to that of a real teenager, whether when it came to his naivety, the friendship dynamic he has with Esteban, his attachment to his relatives, and his love-hate standing with Catalina. As the novel reaches its climax, it becomes clear that Lorenzo had enough of what he witnessed and stands as a boy who has to learn to grow up very quick in a wartime predicament. A little plus is the integration of a couple of Spanish words in to help with the realism too.

Overall, Lorenzo's wartime journey is one that is a roller coaster of a ride. There are moments where you sympathize with him, laugh with him, and move with him as he progresses to the final stages of the war. There is a happy ending for Lorenzo, but it comes after many emotional trauma he endured for a progress of one whole year, losing a lot of close bonds in the process. I have read only other book by Sherry Garland, that being I Never Knew Your Name, but it shows her strengths in writing books on serious and real subjects. And In the Shadow of the Alamo is no exception to that strength, for it is very well-written for a children's novel. Also, while I am reviewing a library copy, I see that Garland had released this book recently, as it was out of print for a while. I think there is a strong chance I'll be adding this into my own book collection real soon!

[Samuel Steffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best historical fiction novels ever written from the Mexican perspective of the Alamo Battle. The Texan perspective is given so often and this novel was very eye opening.