Just Josefina (American Girls Short Stories)

Rating:
Summary: Lively Nine Year Old Learns That She is Just Josefina
Review: "Just Josefina" is the most recently published (and fourth) short story about Josefina. "Just Josefina" fits between the books "Meet Josefina" and "Josefina Learns a Lesson". Josefina's grandparents have brought Tia (Aunt) Dolores to stay with Josefina's family and to visit. Josefina and her sisters greet their grandparents with respect, and then Josefina helps Abuelita freshen up after her journey. It is clear that Abuelita holds a special place in her heart for Josefina. It is also clear that Abueblita expects Josefina to be a quiet, well mannered girl who follows the rules of conduct, even when her sisters don't.

Josefina is torn between wanting to please her Abuelita and wanting to be herself. At a party, Tia Dolores plays her piano while the friends and neighbors dance. She urges Josefina to show them the new dance that she has learned, but Josefina is too young to dance in front of others. Abuelita is shocked at Tia Dolores's suggestion, and claims that Josefina is too shy. But dance is exactly what Josefina wants to do, and ends up doing, to Abuelita's disapproval.

Then, her skirt button pops. Abuelita had given the skirt to Josefina because it was the skirt of Josefina's deceased mother, and Abuelita's oldest daughter. Josefina tries to give Abuelita the skirt back, because, like Abuelita's image of Josefina as being shy and obedient like her Mama, it just didn't fit. In the end, the skirt button can be adjusted to fit, just like how Abuelita sees Josefina can be changed to accept Josefina as "Just Josefina".

This book is my favorite out of the Josefina short stories because of the clear, dignified portrayal of Abuelita as a traditional Spanish matron. I also enjoyed this book because Josefina learns that she can communicate who she is without compromising her relationship with her grandmother.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent story
Review: This is another one of the American Girls Short Stories series about Josefina Montoya, a nine-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. When Josefina's grandparents arrive with her aunt Dolores, Josefina finds herself suddenly torn. She had always been her grandmother's favorite, and mainly because she reminded her so much of her dead mother, a fact that Josefina had always been proud of. But now, she is getting older and is beginning to grow in directions her mother never had, a fact that her grandmother finds disappointing. What can Josefina do?

The final chapter of this book is a fascinating look at women's rights in 1824, both in Mexico and in the United States. (Plus there are directions for making apple empanditas, and delicious apple tart!) And, as always, Jean-Paul Tibbles' illustrations are excellent, and help to make this a truly wonderful book.

This is an excellent story, and a wonderful addition to the Josefina stories. My daughter and I both enjoyed the story for itself, and I like the lesson it taught, both for children and the ones who love them. My daughter and I both highly recommend this book.