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Dear America
Valley of the Moon: The Diary of María Rosalia de Milagros
María Rosalia is a Mestizo servant in a Spanish home. Orphaned years ago, she and her brother Domingo work on a ranch run by the stern Señor Medina. María¹s writing captures the intense tradition and culture of the Spanish as she observes the war that Alta California ultimately loses to the Americans.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
9 people are currently reading
2039 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Garland
29 books60 followersSherry Garland is the award-winning author of 30 books for children, teens and adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 28, 2022
I have a huge list of historical fiction books to learn about various eras and places around the world. I am an adult but I love to read children's literature including this (relatively) new genre of small historical fiction books that give a real flavor of the times and places they depict. I want to learn about these eras but the information goes down easier when eaten in small bites. I've been doing most of my self-designed course in chronological order, starting with the Sumerians, but I skipped ahead to 19th-century California because I wanted something different for a little while.
This particular entry was more interesting than most to me, because it A) depicts life in a place not too far from where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, places where I have myself visited; and B) was about a time and people that are very seldom written about in the history books, as far as I know. I mean, when I learned California history as a child, there were a few paragraphs in the history book about the Native Americans, then maybe a few pages about the Missions, and maybe we did a project building a scale model of a mission using sugar cubes or something, and then - BAM! gold was discovered and we became a United State! Whew, that was fast!
But now I learn, from books like this one, that hey! There were lots of poeple living here other than the missionaries and the sadly diminishing numbers of Native Californians. Lots of Californios who had their legal rights taken away from them when the Americans came here, and who lost their lands. Why didn't the history books have much about them? Anyone who's lived in California for more than a microsecond can tell that Spanish history here is huge, given all the place names (San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Sierra Nevada . . ..sometimes it seems like over half the place names here are in the Spanish language). But yet, I didn't read much about the Spanish in school, other than the missionaries (whose cruelty toward the Indians was not accurately depicted either for that matter). Sometimes it seems as if, at least when I was a child in the 70's, some people's histories were more important than others'. I don't know if textbooks nowadays are more fully representative of diversity or not, but I hope they are.
Anyway, to get back to the book (I have a habit of digressing, but I hope I made a good point), I thought it depicted the times and places of this girl's life in a very interesting and informative way. I did feel that the way her character was portrayed as a little dry and stilted; I didn't feel there was much real drama in the story. But I'm very glad I read it nonetheless. I think this would be an excellent book for a teacher to use in a unit about Latino life in the U.S., past and present. Or Native Americans' interactions with Europeans. I feel that I have a larger view of the area where I live, and a more open mind, because of it.
This particular entry was more interesting than most to me, because it A) depicts life in a place not too far from where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, places where I have myself visited; and B) was about a time and people that are very seldom written about in the history books, as far as I know. I mean, when I learned California history as a child, there were a few paragraphs in the history book about the Native Americans, then maybe a few pages about the Missions, and maybe we did a project building a scale model of a mission using sugar cubes or something, and then - BAM! gold was discovered and we became a United State! Whew, that was fast!
But now I learn, from books like this one, that hey! There were lots of poeple living here other than the missionaries and the sadly diminishing numbers of Native Californians. Lots of Californios who had their legal rights taken away from them when the Americans came here, and who lost their lands. Why didn't the history books have much about them? Anyone who's lived in California for more than a microsecond can tell that Spanish history here is huge, given all the place names (San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Sierra Nevada . . ..sometimes it seems like over half the place names here are in the Spanish language). But yet, I didn't read much about the Spanish in school, other than the missionaries (whose cruelty toward the Indians was not accurately depicted either for that matter). Sometimes it seems as if, at least when I was a child in the 70's, some people's histories were more important than others'. I don't know if textbooks nowadays are more fully representative of diversity or not, but I hope they are.
Anyway, to get back to the book (I have a habit of digressing, but I hope I made a good point), I thought it depicted the times and places of this girl's life in a very interesting and informative way. I did feel that the way her character was portrayed as a little dry and stilted; I didn't feel there was much real drama in the story. But I'm very glad I read it nonetheless. I think this would be an excellent book for a teacher to use in a unit about Latino life in the U.S., past and present. Or Native Americans' interactions with Europeans. I feel that I have a larger view of the area where I live, and a more open mind, because of it.
December 14, 2020
I grew up in California, and I even visited all 22 of the Spanish missions as a child, AND I once read this book as a child....yet somehow I still never got the big picture of how California came to be. What is it about human nature that we find something that we like and just *take* it by force from the people who already owned it?? I wish my California history classes had spent more time on the native tribes that were on California soil first, and not just on the Spanish colonization of the land. Heaven knows how useful it is that I learned to build a California mission with macaroni noodles.
How ironic that American settlers received grants from the Mexican government to settle in California if they agreed to become Mexican citizens, become Catholics, and learn to speak Spanish. White Americans’ favorite thing to say (besides “Make America Great Again”) is “Welcome to America, speak English.” Do they not understand how their ancestors came to this land?
How ironic that American settlers received grants from the Mexican government to settle in California if they agreed to become Mexican citizens, become Catholics, and learn to speak Spanish. White Americans’ favorite thing to say (besides “Make America Great Again”) is “Welcome to America, speak English.” Do they not understand how their ancestors came to this land?
February 23, 2011
Valley of the Moon (California) / 0-439-08820-8
Maria Rosalia is an orphan, half-Mexican and half-Indian, whose American Indian mother died of smallpox years ago when Maria was only a small child. Employed as a servant in the household of the rich Medina family, she longs to know where she came from and what her heritage is.
This fascinating doorway into California in the 1840's realistically portrays the tensions between the californios (the Spanish Californians) and the americanos (immigrants from the United States) as the settlers to the California territory struggle against each other in order to determine who shall rule California. Those caught in between this struggle - the American Indians and the relatively powerless women and children in the area - must simply watch and pray that their lives are not too uprooted by the violent atmosphere rapidly developing. Maria's life, as she watches these events carefully, revolves around the daily demands of the Medina daughters. As she interacts with both Spanish gentry and American Indian servants, Maria seeks to find her true identity through her mixed heritage.
"Valley of the Moon" is a compelling read, with wonderful attention to historical detail and beautiful cultural touches. For parents, there is some amount of violence (a bull fight), some mortal danger (a sick child who everyone fears may die, and a miscarried pregnancy), and some references to sex and sexuality (the eldest Medina daughter is being courted for her "hips and thighs" which are widely regarded in the area as being good for childbearing). However, these topics are handled with grace, as is usual for the Dear America books.
~ Ana Mardoll
Maria Rosalia is an orphan, half-Mexican and half-Indian, whose American Indian mother died of smallpox years ago when Maria was only a small child. Employed as a servant in the household of the rich Medina family, she longs to know where she came from and what her heritage is.
This fascinating doorway into California in the 1840's realistically portrays the tensions between the californios (the Spanish Californians) and the americanos (immigrants from the United States) as the settlers to the California territory struggle against each other in order to determine who shall rule California. Those caught in between this struggle - the American Indians and the relatively powerless women and children in the area - must simply watch and pray that their lives are not too uprooted by the violent atmosphere rapidly developing. Maria's life, as she watches these events carefully, revolves around the daily demands of the Medina daughters. As she interacts with both Spanish gentry and American Indian servants, Maria seeks to find her true identity through her mixed heritage.
"Valley of the Moon" is a compelling read, with wonderful attention to historical detail and beautiful cultural touches. For parents, there is some amount of violence (a bull fight), some mortal danger (a sick child who everyone fears may die, and a miscarried pregnancy), and some references to sex and sexuality (the eldest Medina daughter is being courted for her "hips and thighs" which are widely regarded in the area as being good for childbearing). However, these topics are handled with grace, as is usual for the Dear America books.
~ Ana Mardoll
April 28, 2013
Title of Book: Valley of the Moon
Author: Sherry Garland
Summary:
What would it be like to be a servant? Maria Rosalia has been a servant for nine years of her life and her brother Domingo is a stable boy. But they have been well treated by the Medina family and other servants who feel like family to them. Being a servant and a stable boy is not that bad for them. They have close friends that fill that empty spot in where there family would be but they aren’t alive and they only remember their mom and that is it.
Maria Rosalia and Domingo’s story start when they were living in Mission Rafael and facing small pox spreading all over and making people sick and die. While at Mission Rafael with small pox they have to face seeing their poor mom dying from it. They have Padre Ygnacio who takes them to the Medina family to work and to be in a better place without being worried about small pox there. When Domingo and Maria Rosalia first came to live with the Medina family they felt like they were lucky to be there. They felt like family to them and the servants basically raised them as their own. But still they questioned who their dad was and who else was a part of their life was as well. They know they are half Indian and half Mexican. They don’t know how their future will change from questioning for who their family is. When Maria Rosalia finds where Padre Ygnacio is and she wants him to reveal the secrets he has kept them away from them for four years. What has Padre Ignacio revealed to them that changes their future completely.
Rate this book: I would rate this book 4 stars because it had a great story line. It was also interesting and I love the part of history it had in it.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history. I would recommend to anyone who also likes to read the Dear America series.
Author: Sherry Garland
Summary:
What would it be like to be a servant? Maria Rosalia has been a servant for nine years of her life and her brother Domingo is a stable boy. But they have been well treated by the Medina family and other servants who feel like family to them. Being a servant and a stable boy is not that bad for them. They have close friends that fill that empty spot in where there family would be but they aren’t alive and they only remember their mom and that is it.
Maria Rosalia and Domingo’s story start when they were living in Mission Rafael and facing small pox spreading all over and making people sick and die. While at Mission Rafael with small pox they have to face seeing their poor mom dying from it. They have Padre Ygnacio who takes them to the Medina family to work and to be in a better place without being worried about small pox there. When Domingo and Maria Rosalia first came to live with the Medina family they felt like they were lucky to be there. They felt like family to them and the servants basically raised them as their own. But still they questioned who their dad was and who else was a part of their life was as well. They know they are half Indian and half Mexican. They don’t know how their future will change from questioning for who their family is. When Maria Rosalia finds where Padre Ygnacio is and she wants him to reveal the secrets he has kept them away from them for four years. What has Padre Ignacio revealed to them that changes their future completely.
Rate this book: I would rate this book 4 stars because it had a great story line. It was also interesting and I love the part of history it had in it.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history. I would recommend to anyone who also likes to read the Dear America series.
March 1, 2010
The year is 1845, the place Sonoma Valley in Alta California. Raised as a Catholic at a Spanish mission in Northern California along with her younger brother before the two of them were taken in to be the servants of a wealthy Mexican family on their ranch, thirteen year old Maria Rosalia de Milagros barely remembers her Indian mother, who died of smallpox when she was six. She doesn't even know who her father was, only that he was a white man, or even what her real name was - Maria Rosalia was the name given to her by Padre Ygnacio, the priest who saved the lives of her and her little brother. Even though she is well treated by the family she works for, the Medinas, Maria Rosalia longs to know who her parents were. Her only hope would be to find Padre Yganico, and she doesn't have any idea where he is after all these years. Still, Maria Rosalia is able to find joy in holidays and celebrations, in writing in her diary, and in a new American friend, but there is a great deal of sorrow as well.
This was an excellent addition to the Dear America series (and one of my favorite books in the series) that revealed a great deal about a way of life that has vanished into the depths of time, and taught me about a period in American history that I knew little about.
This was an excellent addition to the Dear America series (and one of my favorite books in the series) that revealed a great deal about a way of life that has vanished into the depths of time, and taught me about a period in American history that I knew little about.
July 3, 2021
Back in the Dear America saddle! This book was really interesting because it was about a chapter of American history I wasn’t taught at all, because it predates/coincides with the arrival/colonization of the United States in California. I didn’t know about ranchero life in the Bay Area at all, or about the complex identity crisis residents there suffered again and again and again as different groups vied for power and cultures mixed. I don’t feel I got a lot of a Native American voice in this story since the MC resided with a wealthy Mexican-Spanish ranch family, and would have loved that to come through stronger and more critically. I also was pleased that overall, United States citizens are portrayed negatively as violent, ill-mannered colonists except for one family. Overall, I appreciate that this chapter in North American history being included in the series.
February 1, 2016
This 1846 story is about Maria Rosalia who lives in the area we now call California but at that time was part of Mexico. She is part-Spanish, part-Indian and an orphan, working as a servant for some moderately rich people who own their own ranch. She also has a brother, Domingo.
The story covers a lot of what transpires in her daily life as a servant, showing the type of work she has to do, along with showing that she is not treated badly at all by her employers. There's a lot about an older daughter of the ranch owner and her engagement and eventual marriage and the work Maria has to do to help prepare for the wedding feast.
Also, part of the story deals with Maria's desire to find out just who her mother was which leads to a very interesting development later in the story.
After that the story gets much darker, though, as there is question of war with the United States, squatters on the ranch lands and eventually a group of white men who arrest the leader of the area and go around pretty much wrecking havoc wherever they go.
The U.S. does attack and eventually takes the area from Mexico by force as part of the U.S./Mexican war, resulting in California becoming part of the U.S. Various problems for the family follow from that and the epilogue covers the events.
It's a good book but once again shows that the U.S. of the time was a very aggressive nation, developing a pattern of aggression with Mexico and Spain that did not end until the turn of the century and resulted in even another war, the Spanish-American war of 1898.
The story covers a lot of what transpires in her daily life as a servant, showing the type of work she has to do, along with showing that she is not treated badly at all by her employers. There's a lot about an older daughter of the ranch owner and her engagement and eventual marriage and the work Maria has to do to help prepare for the wedding feast.
Also, part of the story deals with Maria's desire to find out just who her mother was which leads to a very interesting development later in the story.
After that the story gets much darker, though, as there is question of war with the United States, squatters on the ranch lands and eventually a group of white men who arrest the leader of the area and go around pretty much wrecking havoc wherever they go.
The U.S. does attack and eventually takes the area from Mexico by force as part of the U.S./Mexican war, resulting in California becoming part of the U.S. Various problems for the family follow from that and the epilogue covers the events.
It's a good book but once again shows that the U.S. of the time was a very aggressive nation, developing a pattern of aggression with Mexico and Spain that did not end until the turn of the century and resulted in even another war, the Spanish-American war of 1898.
December 13, 2015
Another really interesting book. My mom was a Spanish teacher so I've always found Mexican culture very interesting especially their many traditions and holidays including La Posada and El Dio de los Muertos. This book also had a pretty good mystery to it and a surprisingly uplifting ending that I didn't see coming. The characters were well rounded and the culture was captivating. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
April 4, 2011
It's about a Spanish/Indian girl who wants to find her roots. Her mother dies when she is young. She works as a servant in.......someone's house (I mustn't say!) The question is: who is her father. Family can be closer than you think. (Wink, wink, wink, blink (Ahw man. Ruined the effect....))
May 5, 2008
This was a great book. I was surprised to find out that Senor Medine was her uncle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2019
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
August 14, 2009
this is a very interesting book! the ending takes you off by a big surprise!
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July 18, 2025Probably my favorite of the 'Dear America' books (or honestly books in general) I have read this year. It did wrap up a little nicely at the end, but not so out there that it took me away from the story. There was a lot of working pieces that made this 'Dear America' one of the better stories.
However, man, Miguela was THE WORST at the start of the book.
However, man, Miguela was THE WORST at the start of the book.
April 26, 2019
I have very fond memories of this book. I love the history of the Spanish Southwest and it is told well in this book.
February 3, 2014
Rosalia and her brother, Domingo, were found by a Padre, as Rosa was placing roses around her dying mother. She was 5, he was 2. This was the Sonoma Valley, 1846. Shortly after Padre Ygnacio teaches Rosa to read, the children are adopted by a childless Indian couple who work at the Medina Ranch. They are polite children and as servants, endear themselves to the Senor and Senora. As Rosalia enters her teens, she wants to discover her real parentage. She is discouraged, because Padre Ygnacio has been "put out to pasture." She does manage to get a letter to him, and when his reply to her arrives, she discovers the signet ring he has sent. This ring has the power to improve her life and that of her brother in ways they never dreamed.
November 8, 2016
This is the diary of Maria Rosalia de Milagros. She is a servant girl in Alta California, 1845. She was taught how to read and write (unusual for her position in life). She is a very kind girl and chronicles her perspective of the Mexican-American war and how that affected her and those in the area. I choose this as one of my favorites because it gives a personal perspective on an event that normally seems to far removed from us and only a list of facts. She puts names and emotions to the time. It is a memoir for intermediate and middle grade levels. In the reading classroom setting, it could be placed in the classroom library as a choice for independent reading or made a choice for reading circles.
March 22, 2016
Rosalia is an orphan and a servant for the Medina family. They live on a ranch between California and Mexico. Rosalia and her brother Domingo were found next to their mother who had died of small pox. Rosalia works hard during the year when tensions build between Californians and Mexicans. Rosalia wants to find out more about her mother. She works up the courage to send a letter to the only man who possibly knows anything about her parents. Rosalia finds out that the family she is working for is actually her uncle, aunt, and cousins.
November 12, 2012
This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.
January 14, 2011
Valley of the moon is a very good book and tells you a lot about history. 13 year old Maria Rosilia is an orphan and wants to find out her parents past. She has her own little problems but in the end it turns out. I loved this book a lot and I didn't want to put it down. I fully recommend this book and many other dear America books. Like Standing in the light, I thought my soul would rise then fly and many more.
Julia
Julia
February 6, 2012
we are preparing to take a trip to sonoma as a part of our 4th grade mission tour (California standard) and I read this book out loud with my two daughters. although the missions are officially closed in the time period that this novel takes place, it still gives a great background on missions and California history. the stage is set for our little family trip, and I think this novel may have helped my children connect with what we are about to see. for this reason, it was a great read.
September 25, 2013
The book Valley Of The Moon was a okay book, because some part of the book was boring and some of the book was so good that I couldn't stop reading it. The author was good at not giving away about what would happen to Rafaela after being sick. For example," I stayed home from church today because Rafaela was sick. She was born very small, and all her life she has had spells of weakness."(pg. 23)When Rafaela was born very small that makes the reader think what will happen to Rafaela.
June 13, 2012
This is the first I ever learned about how California became a state. The more I read about how we as a country gained territory the more ashamed I am. But I am still proud to be an American - not totally sure how that works, but it does. It was also interesting to read about the life of a servant - I think they had it pretty okay.
February 20, 2016
An Indian girl lives as a servant, with her brother, to a rich Spanish family in Alto California. She seeks her ancestry, and discovers she is the niece of the land/ranch owner and cousins of the sisters she had been serving for so long. She and her brother are accepted into the family lovingly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2010
This book is rather dull and very annoying. That is, Maria is very annoying. Whenever anything bad happens to her it is never her fault. She is always the victim of persecution. She disgusted me. I think Walter would have been much better off marrying her mistress than this basket case.
December 26, 2011
I really liked the sad tale as a American historical version of a possible Cinderella story as well as the clash of Native American tribes, long standing Spanish conquerers and incoming eastern American settlers in what would eventually be California.
June 9, 2016
it's not my favorite, slow moving and not incredibly interesting. The mystery of Rosa's past probably was meant to fill the role of a fun aside, but it ends up being the main focus of the book, with only minor references to what was happening in California at the time.
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September 29, 2016A great story that can show students the stereotype of African-American's being house servants isn't the only one. Hispanics of all ages also dealt with working labor. Great story divided into diaries for an easy-to-read effect.
May 6, 2009
she sounds spainish
January 15, 2010
one word: Awsome. it great and excitng Garland is truly an amazing author. well done Sherry, you've certainly gotten my attention!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews