Book One/Chapter One: Meet Josefina

Meet Josefina, an American Girl
The first book in the Josefina series introduces us to Josefina (ho-seh-FEE-nah) Montoya, her three older sisters (Ana, Francisca, and Clara), her Papá (Father), Abuelito (Grandfather), and Tía (Aunt) Dolores.


The setting is the Montoya family rancho (ranch), near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1824.


As you read the book, you may find it helpful to refer to the following study/discussion questions:


Chapter One: "Primroses"

1. Josefina lives on her Papá's rancho. From what you have read, do you think the rancho is in the city or the country? Why?

2. How long had the rancho belonged to Papá's family?


3. Why was Josefina going to the stream with her sisters?

4. How is the way Josefina and her sisters washed and dried their clothing different from how we wash and dry our clothing today?

5. What did Josefina see across the stream that reminded her of her Mamá?

6. What did Josefina keep in her memory box?

7. Why were Josefina and her sisters looking forward to Abuelito coming back?

8. Who used to "protect" Josefina from the goats?

9. Who is Florecita?

10. What happened to Josefina's flowers?

Did you know? 

The yucca plant that Josefina used to wash her clothes is the State Flower of New Mexico.

*Photo of Yucca elata (soaptree yucca) flowers at the Desert Demonstration Garden in Las Vegas, taken May 2004 by Stan Shebs. Used under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 license.

We begin with Josefina, by way of a brief introduction...

 
Josefina an American Girl (The American Girls Collection) - This series explores the life of Josefina Montoya, a nine (and by series end, ten) year old girl living in 1820's New Mexico.

Recommended age range - 8 and up (according to the publisher)

Recurring themes found in the series - Family Bonds, Grief and Loss, Personal and Community Responsibility, Overcoming Obstacles, Conquering Fears

Historical background - New Mexico in 1824 was not a part of the United States. It was a part of Mexico, which had achieved independence from Spain in 1821.

Religious content*- Josefina and her family are Catholic, and references to prayers and Christian religious celebrations, rituals and beliefs are throughout the books.**

Why did I choose to include this series of books for the YLHFS blog? 
1- Easily accessible.
2 - Reader-friendly introduction to the historical fiction genre.
3 - Strong female characters.
4 - The books' historical content has been authenticated by an advisory board listed in the back of each book.
5- Each book has a section of historical background information that relates to the story and helps place the story in its historical context. These background sections are well-done, with color photographs and colorful artwork and graphics.
6 - And, on a personal note, my daughter likes the "American Girl" franchise, so I was happy to use it to steer her toward an appreciation of history.

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*For explanation of why this is included in the overview, see FAQ.
**In my opinion, the religious content is not excessive in the context of the family's culture. To remove the religious aspect of the family's life would be inconsistent with the culture of the period.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010, and welcome to the start of the Young Ladies' Historical Fiction Society blog!

Here on the YLHFS, you will join my daughter and me on a journey through popular historical fiction. On the blog I will be providing questions, reviews and insights that I have developed to help my daughter as she studies history using historical fiction as a jumping off point. My sincere hope is that you will find this material useful to you as well.

Our first Historical Fiction books that we will be discussing are the American Girl series of books, in particular, the Josefina series. Look for the first discussions here in the coming days.

I am delighted that you are joining us on our journey through historical fiction. Feel free to share any comments or book suggestions.

Welcome to the Young Ladies' Historical Fiction Society!

A quick FAQ* before we get started...

What is the Young Ladies' Historical Fiction Society?
The YLHFS is a blog dedicated to encouraging the study of history through the jumping-off point of historical fiction.


Why "Young Ladies"?
Because some people seem to think that history is for "the boys."

Why do you highlight "religious content" in your book overviews?
There are parents who have strong views about religion and what their children are exposed to along that vein. Some people want their children to be exposed to a variety of cultures and religions in the context of their educational experience. Other parents want their children to be exposed only to those beliefs that fit within their own worldview. I simply give this information to assist those parents who feel that having this information is important when choosing reading materials with their children.

Why don't you provide "answers" for the book study/discussion questions?
The study questions are not intended to have an entirely "traditional school" feel to them. (Though some may have that bent.) They are provided to help guide readers in a basic understanding of the plot and themes of the text, and are meant to be thought-provoking to the reader. Think of it as more "book club" and less "literature class."


But, Krista, I'm using the questions for my child's education? Why can't you just give me the answers?
I am delighted that you are using my blog as a resource for your child's education. I encourage you to read the books along with your child. You will find that reading the books will lead to a richer discussion with your child than merely checking that your child has gotten the "right" answers to a list of questions. Some questions don't have "right" answers, per se, and to get a full picture of your child's grasp of the content, your own knowledge of the books themselves is key.


But, what about time constraints?
As a busy parent, I, too, understand time constraints. The books I have chosen are relatively quick reads with reasonably engaging plots, and you have the freedom to take the books at your own pace. I hope by providing the study/discussion questions I have removed some of the hassle of coming up with the questions yourself, so that you can simply enjoy the books along with your child, without the added pressure of "designing" a curriculum around them.


I still want the answers...
Well, maybe when a publisher asks me to write the YLHFS book. Maybe I'll give the answers then. But, probably not. ;-)


Are you affiliated with the publishers or authors of the books featured on this blog?
Nope.

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*Or STBAQ (Sure to be asked questions). ;-)