Josefina's Surprise: A Christmas Story

The third in a sad but relatively uneventful children's historical fiction series. The main point of interest in this one would be learning about Las Posadas, a nice Christmas tradition that involved the whole community to act and sing out Mary and Joseph (Marie & José) being repeatedly denied a place to stay. It is still practiced today, but probably not in the way depicted in this book that included the whole village.

The main story is still about the girls coping with their mother's death. That's not the most exciting story, but it could be invaluable to kids in similar circumstances.

It's Christmas time and all the sisters are having trouble looking forward to the festivities when mama has been gone for a year. Josefina doesn't feel ready to play Maria in the Posadas, and her older sister won't find the doll that should have gone to her the year before. Interesting to hear about the Christmas customs in old New Mexico.

Summary: It's Christmas time in 1824 New Mexico, and Josefina is hoping that this year will bring much better times than the previous--the year her mother passed away. She learns a lot about courage, family, and staying strong through the power of remembering the good times she had while her mother was alive.

Personal Reaction: As one who has been reading the American Girl books for years, I can really say that I enjoyed this particular story. I think that it would be a great book to read for ages 8 and up.

Classroom Extension: "Josefina's Surprise" would be good to read around Christmas time. Along with a Christmas party, children could write a paragraph about a favorite Christmas memory or tradition their family has shared.

Josefina Montoya is a nine-year-old girl growing up on her family's rancho near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1824. Mama died last year, and since then, life for Josefina, her father, and her older sisters, Ana, Clara, and Francisca. Even though things have been better since Mama's sister, Tia Dolores, came to help out, the Montoyas still grieve. Josefina feels that celebrating the Christmas traditions will make her miss Mama more - but they bring her peace and happiness. And one special night gives Josefina courage and hope for the future, and brings Josefina an unexpected gift. This book was very good and I learned a lot about the traditions of Mexican families living on the Southwest frontier in the 1820s.

Christmas won't be the same without Mamá, and Josefina fears one special tradition will be forgotten. But La Noche Buena—Christmas Eve—brings surprises for all.

The second Christmas after their mother has died, Josefina and her three sisters find that participating in the traditions of Las Posadas helps keep memories of Mama alive.

Josefina and her sisters are missing Mama especially during Christmas, but Ti’a Dolores has ideas to make their memories of her more happy than sad. She brings the girls together repairing the altercloth Mama made for the church, and Clara finally gives Josefina Nina because she is only now ready to share her.