The Wind Called My Name

by Mary Louise Sanchez

Some days, ten-year-old Margaríta Sandoval feels as if the wind might blow her away. The country has been gripped by the Great Depression, so times are hard everywhere. Then she has to leave her família in New Mexico -- especially her beloved Abuelita -- to move to Fort Steele, Wyoming, where her father has taken a job on the railroad.

When Margaríta meets Evangeline, she's excited to have a friend her own age in Wyoming. But it often seems like Evangeline, like many other people in town, doesn't understand or appreciate the Sandovals' Hispanic heritage. At the same time, the Sandovals discover they might lose Abuelita's land and their ancestral home unless they can pay off her tax bill. Can Margaríta keep her friend, help her family in New Mexico, and find a place in Fort Steele for good?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical, Cultural, Audiobook, Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 18, 2018

About the author

SCBWI honored the Wind Called My Name for one of its three inaugural On-the-Verge Emerging Voices awards in 2012. The 2016 New Visions Award from Tu Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books, made publication of my book possible. The Wind Called My Name was a 2019 WILLA Literary Award finalist in children's fiction.

Even though I grew up in Wyoming, our family's daily lives there continued to celebrate our rich colonial, New Mexican Hispanic heritage with deep U.S. roots since 1598. My love of history, genealogical research, and other in-depth studies have given me places, names, and a passion to tell the stories of my ancestors and other Hispanics like them.

Reviews

[Cheryl Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the practical stuff in LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE -- how people of the past prepared their food, went to school, or experienced things like movies -- but you don't like its racism and lies, you should read this book instead! And I'm not the only one who praises it:

"Margarita tells her story with warmth, honesty, and compassion, and through her portrait of saints and sinners, we recognize ourselves among them. The Wind Called My Name opens minds, warms the heart, and renews our faith in one another." -- Clare Vanderpool, Newbery Medal-winning author of MOON OVER MANIFEST and NAVIGATING EARLY

"Like a farolito, Sanchez's protagonist glows with gentle fierceness as she celebrates and stands up for her culture, her family, and her history. Readers will love sharing warm tortillas with Margarita and the Sandoval family." — Jennifer Torres, author of STEF SOTO, TACO QUEEN and FLOR AND MIRANDA STEAL THE SHOW

"The Wind Called My Name may be historical fiction, but its message is timely and important: Our communities grow stronger when we share cultural traditions, creative perspectives, and most of all, meaningful friendships. This moving novel will touch your heart and inspire you to reach out and connect.” -- Laura Resau, author of THE QUEEN OF WATER and THE LIGHTNING QUEEN

"The Wind Called My Name is a heartwarming celebration of family, friendship, culture, and being proud of who you are. Featuring a strong, smart heroine who learns to speak up for herself and speak out against injustice, Mary Louise Sanchez's debut middle-grade novel is a compelling read.” -- Supriya Kelkar, author of AHIMSA

"A wonderful addition to the history of brave settlers in this country and a tribute to the power of family and faith.” -- Pat Mora, author of DOÑA FLOR and BOOKJOY, WORDJOY

"This is an important book for our time, compelling and touching. As Mamá would say, '¡Que bueno!'" -- Karen Cushman, Newbery Medal-winning author of THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE and GRAYLING'S SONG

“A beautifully touching story of family, culture, and resiliency.” -- Christina Diaz Gonzalez, author of THE RED UMBRELLA and MOVING TARGET

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote the kind of story I always wanted to read--something based on my family; and I'm proud to say I still love it! I hope you'll like seeing yourself in the story or will enjoy being immersed in a different culture.

The official debut date for THE WIND CALLED MY NAME is September 18, 2018. That's my maternal grandmother's birthday. You'll meet her in my story.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is The Wind Called My Name not better known? I had never heard of this astounding middle-grade book, much better than many of the more-famous children’s classics.

In 1934, 10-year-old Margarita Sandoval and her family head all the way from New Mexico to Wyoming to join her father and older brother. Papá and Alberto work on the railroad there. The novel traces Margarita as she makes a new home in Fort Steele, Wyo., and as the extended Sandoval family introduce their new neighbors to the foods and celebrations that make her family special.

[fátima]

silly kids read for gonzalo... loved the conversation about name pronunciations ! i think a realistic yet sweet story about 1920s wyoming and Mexicans in wyoming

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to finish this tomorrow and couldn’t wait! This is a wonderfully gentle, culturally rich story about a New Mexican family who move to Wyoming to find work during the Great Depression. The family is Hispanic and has rich cultural and Catholic religious traditions that are seen as strange in their mostly-white Wyoming town. This story is about the Sandoval family trying to balance making a new place home while retaining their beloved language, food, religion, and other traditions. They have some opposition, even from the friendly folks who can’t pronounce their Spanish names, but everything is brought to a heart-warming conclusion.

The struggle of the novel is played out in miniature for the heroine Margarita. She is a wonderful heroine: curious, courageous, clever, and a good advocate for the beauty of her native culture. She learns to stand up for herself and how to be a friend. Each chapter has a heading a Catholic saint who is the patron of something specific that then plays out in the chapter. I loved this attention to detail and the importance of the family’s Catholic faith. The story ends just before Christmas and it would be wonderful to read in December.

Much of the story is taken from the author’s own fascinating family history. There’s so much more I could write about this. It’s a story to savor.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the story. It was a great historical book, that was still very easy to relate to. I thought it was super interesting how cultures were mixed throughout the book as friendships grew. The true meaning of friendship shone through this book with many other messages. I really enjoyed The Wind Called My Name.

[Sindhu Vijayasarathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this book because I wanted to savor every word. Strong childhood friendships are precious, soul-defining and affirming. Mary Louise Sanchez does a masterful job of depicting the tenuous nature of friendship when 'otherness' can get in the way. I was thrilled when Margarita and Evangeline find ways to keep their friendship from imploding; the give and take, a recognition each made incorrect assumptions about the other. I've always believed children have an amazing capacity for empathy andinclusiveness. This book reaffirmed that belief.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

I loved that it was centered on the experience of a Hispanic family from New Mexico -- a family descended from settlers who were there from early Spanish colonization, and that it talked about how even though Margaríta's ancestors had been living in the United States before New Mexico became a state, they are alienated because of their language and cultural heritage. The incidents surrounding having ancestors who fought in the Western battles of the Civil War were particularly interesting. Set in the 1930s, it's also a wonderful portrait of a frontier town, and of the ways people live in small communities.

I loved the Spanish language sayings throughout, the emphasis on food and culture and holidays and the way that Margaríta eventually manages to negotiate a better friendship with her spoiled friend Evangeline. I think comparisons with Little House on the Prairie are right on the money -- it's a different time period, but the same kind of day-to-day life in the West that remains compelling because of the beautiful storytelling.

Just discovered that this is a debut novel -- really excited to see more work from this author in the future. Incredibly strong, and a lovely voice. I also love that this is based on her family's stories.

Advanced Readers Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of Lee & Low Books' 2016 New Visions Award, this is Sanchez's debut novel and belongs on every #OwnVoices shelves.

Ten-year-old Margarita's family relocates from their ancestral farm in New Mexico to the railroad yards of Wyoming, as her father has taken a job with the railroads to keep the family farm afloat during the Great Depression. It is her faith tight-knit family and her faith that help the girl adapt to this new lifestyle and customs at this time. She befriends a young girl named Caroline, who learns that friendship is a two-way street of give and take.

Margarita's voice is full of promise, innocence, and youth as she tells her story - including the misunderstanding, racism, violence, and love she finds in her new home. Sanchez loosely bases experiences this story on her mother's experience growing up Latina in Wyoming. There are plenty of social markers to set this firmly in the time period.

This deserves a place in middle grade historical fiction, with other books set during the Dust Bowl and in Latinx history.

Highly recommended for grades 5-8.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read aloud for Colorado-Wyoming history. Excellent read aloud alternative for teachers who are reluctant to use Little House books and want something that will give an opportunity to honor Latino culture. I love that so many of the chapters could also be wonderful stand alone read alouds. I did find it useful to print a copy of the List of Dichos to refer to as I read.

I also would recommend it as a book club book for 3rd-5th grade reading groups.

[Tami Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely breathtaking, nostalgic novel!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margarita Sandoval loves her home in New Mexico, where her family has lived for generations; they didn't cross borders, but borders crossed them. Now, though, her father and brother have gotten jobs on the railroad that will take the whole family to Wyoming, which Margarita is not thrilled about. It's the Great Depression, though, and they need to help Abuelita pay taxes on their land, so off they go to Wyoming. For the family, it's a huge cultural change. There are few other Catholics, and the locals don't know about celebrations like La Posadas, and the Sandovals have never heard of Santa Claus. No one can pronounce their names, so the locals (like Margarita's one friend, and the teacher at the one-room schoolhouse) blithely change the children's names to ones they can pronounce, without asking. Margarita is never sure if her new friend (I've already forgotten her name) is actually her friend, because she does all the talking and makes all the decisions, but she's also open to learning how to make tortillas and participate in celebrations with Margarita's family. Micro and macro aggressions cloud their lives, though, including some serious allegations that Margarita is determined to prove false. Will Wyoming ever be a true home for them?

I liked this one a lot, and I think kids who like Prairie Lotus and other tales that show diverse characters coping with the world of earlier America will like it. The characters are well-drawn and described, and Margarita is a good character to spend time with. The descriptions of all of their food and celebrations are evocative and draw you into Margarita's world. You can feel her frustration at not being believed that her ancestor fought in Civil War battles in New Mexico, and when her family is accused of not being American even though they were all born in New Mexico, not Mexico. I liked that she stuck to her guns and found ways to stand up for herself and her family, as well as finding ways to fit in with her new home. I did get puzzled by a couple of instances that made me wonder if I'd gotten the chronology wrong; at one point World War II is mentioned, but if it's the Depression, that wouldn't have happened yet or the young men would have been going off to war. At another point, someone references World War I, but at that time, it wasn't called that--it was the Great War, because they didn't know there'd be another. So I found that confusing. Otherwise, really enjoyed it. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for this one, a book that I hope many who loved the Dear America and Little House books will read. It has plenty of details about cooking, daily life, and making a way through a sometimes intolerant community to recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, based on some of the family stories of the author. After drought caused the family farm in New Mexico to fail, ten-year-old Margarita and her family join her father in Wyoming where he's been working for the railroad. Leaving her grandmother and dog behind is hard, but Margarita hopes to find a new friend in Wyoming and is thrilled to be reunited with her father. Everyone works hard once they get settled in, and Margarita thinks she might have found a friend in Caroline, the granddaughter of the couple that runs the local store. But Caroline is bossy and doesn't listen to Margarita, even Anglicizing her name to Maggie, and making fun of some of the family's customs and foods. I appreciated how the author described Margarita's vacillation over Caroline and her attempts to try to be patient with her even while not quite trusting her. Sometimes Margarita seemed a bit too bold in her remarks, especially when she seeks to educate her teacher about certain events such as Thanksgiving, but what she shares comes from her heart and the keen desire to set the story straight. Students who have studied how to write a friendly letter--who among us has not?--will get a kick out of the letters Margarita writes, to Shirley Temple, to her grandmother, and to Santa. There might be a tad too much drama in the book for my taste--two fires that occur almost back to back--and some uncertainty about how some of the locals regard Margarita's father and the necessity to prove his citizenship in order to continue working that might have been clarified a bit more, but overall, I finished this filled with admiration for Margarita, enlightened about life in the West during the 1930s, and newly aware that there were brown faces among those who settled in Wyoming. The book is culturally rich, filled with Spanish terms and sayings as well as other references that are explained in the back matter. Clearly, this book was a labor of love and resulted in a story that is well worth reading.

[db · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I was given an ARC of this book at Denver ComicCon by the kinds folks at Lee & Low Books.

In the early 1930s, a long drought in New Mexico has caused difficulties for Margarita's family. Her father has gone to Wyoming to work on the railroad & Margarita and family soon follow. Margarita's fondest wish is to make a new friend in Wyoming. Has she found that friend in Evangeline, a 7th Day Adventist whose Grandpa own the General Store?

This is a sweet & informative story. The pacing is more Little House than Five Kingdoms, so it feels more like early 19th century fiction than contemporary MG. This book would probably be best enjoyed by fans of realistic fiction, especially historical fiction.

Other thoughts:
The glossary list of Dichos, which was in the back of my copy of the book, will hopefully be moved to the front in the final version. This would have been helpful to me as a reader. I speak some Spanish, but not well & some of my brain's literal translations didn't make sense. This would be also be useful for Spanish-learners (or English-only speakers) in the age-range for which the book is intended. It is listed in the TOC, but...I dug right in as many readers do.

Evangeline was unlikable until she seemed to have an epiphany or maybe a talking to off-page by Grandpa & apologized. Up to that point, it wasn't clear to me why Margarita put up with her when she had siblings to play with. I don't know if Evangeline will be softened in the final version or if her dis-likability will be otherwise addressed. I'd be curious to know.

I do think kids who like historical fiction and realistic fiction will enjoy this. I plan to give it to my 10 year old, who prefers realistic fiction over fantasy & scifi (*gasp*). I'd also recommend this to fans of the "My America" books.

[Tammy Massey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of all things 1930s and the Great Depression, I expected to fall in love with this book, so maybe my expectations were unrealistic before I even opened the first page. I did like it, but I didn't love it the way I'd hoped to. Margarita and her family leave their New Mexico home and move to Wyoming, where her father and brother have found jobs on the railroad. The family, especially Margarita, wants to be accepted, so they struggle to find the perfect compromise between preserving their traditional culture and assimilating into their new one. Along this difficult journey, Margarita learns of Shirley Temple, Santa Claus, Monopoly, and most importantly, how to be herself.

Margarita's abuela speaks mostly in Spanish throughout the text, and my high school Spanish I vocabulary was not quite adequate to get me through. Sure, I could have flipped to the glossary at the end of the book, but I found that to be a nuisance. In almost all cases, understanding the Spanish parts of the conversation wasn't completely necessary to comprehending the overall message, so I muddled through. This could have been improved if the characters who spoke English responded in a way that would have made it easier to infer the meaning of the Spanish words.

The other thing that kept me from loving this book is that there isn't much Depression and Dust Bowl in the story. Sure, the family moved to Wyoming because their farm in New Mexico wasn't producing, and at one point, a character did mention previously working for the FERA. But that's about it. I mean, it's 1934, and the families did not seem particularly impoverished, there was no mention of wind storms or dust, and there were no migrants or New Deal jobs. This lack of historical context disappointed me.

All in all, read it. Margarita's story is a good one, but don't expect to learn a lot about the 1930s.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE WIND CALLED MY NAME is a quick, easy read about identity, heritage, and standing up for who you are. Margarita and her family are close-knit, hardworking, and likable. I enjoyed learning about their rich New Mexican heritage, with all its foods, traditions, sayings, superstitions, etc. It was also interesting to learn about the racism and ignorance Hispanic people faced in 1930s Wyoming. Since the story is based on the author's own family history, it rang with authenticity. The book also teaches valuable lessons about learning about other people's cultures and traditions, valuing your own culture even when others don't, working hard to meet important goals, and standing up for truth and fairness.

There's not a lot of plot to THE WIND CALLED MY NAME, so it's not the most exciting book in the world. Honestly, I can't see kids—even those who enjoy historical fiction—really getting into it. I got bored with the story and I'm an adult who loves hist fic.

I'm also confused about a few things. For one, the girl on the cover does not look like a 10-year-old Hispanic girl. Also, I'm not sure what the title has to do with the story.

At any rate, I mostly enjoyed THE WIND CALLED MY NAME. I just found it a bit dull and putdownable.

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for mild violence

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book.

This is going to sound like I'm off-topic, but I'm not. Stick with me. Look, I'm under no illusions that the Little House on the Prairie books are going to disappear from our cannon of "Important Literature." They probably should. But they won't. They're too popular, too revered. Too many people like me (white, American women growing up in the 80's) read them as a child and they evoke memories in us. And we think they're accurate.

People like me would have to step outside our bubble of comfort and confront some uncomfortable truths, if we're going to have an honest conversation about those books. If you would like to do so, you can start by reading this book: Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by Caroline Fraser. (Note: This is a book with an adult reading level. Very complex language which made it pretty slow going, at least for me. But it's worth reading. There might be comparable books written at a child's reading level. Sadly, I don't know any specific titles, but if I find some I'll come back and edit this review to include them.)

The TL;DR version of the truth of Little House on the Prairie books is that they are a highly romanticized version of Wilder's experience. Some of it actually happened. Most of it did not. She left all the hard bits out. It is a white-washed version of history and has been used for decades to shape the national conversation about the expansion of the West. It is also deeply racist.

The Wind Called My Name is the antidote. It is a more unvarnished look at Depression-era expansion into the West, told from the perspective of a young Hispanic girl. It is a sweet story, quiet and slower paced, with beautifully drawn characters. It's also contains a subtle and age-appropriate but incisive look at race relations. This is the book which kids nowadays should read especially if they've read the Little House books. (But seriously, don't give kids the Little House books unless you're willing to talk honestly with them about the damage those books have done to the country by idealizing and romanticizing the role of white people in the death of native peoples and the destruction of the land.)

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful historical fiction (times of the Great Depression, Shirley Temple, and other references). A well-written novel that can be appreciated by all ages but is mainly middle-grade. Margarita and her family need to move away from New Mexico to seek better job opportunities but the people of Wyoming treat them as aliens with the usual prejudice and racism, including micro racism. They often change their name, don't understand their culture it traditions, and constantly try to change them to fit their patterns. Margarita is brave and fights to protect herself and her family by knowing how to draw lines and when to talk back the appropriate way at an appropriate time. I love the advice she gets from her mother is always filled with knowledge, patience, and empathy. And I like that the end is not unfair.
Very relatable to anyone who moves into a new community and tries to belong.
I also listened to the audiobook with Libro FM and loved the narrator a lot.

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved having all the Spanish in the book, it pulled me into her world and helped me experience the disorientation of being in a different culture. All the words and phrases are defined in the back of the book, but the text generally gives a translation or at least enough context to understand the meaning. My 10-year-old read straight through without looking things up. She was enchanted with the book and has spent the last few days cutting out paper dolls and reading Spanish picture books we have. The story was a bit predictable, but the book makes me want to learn more about the history of New Mexico.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, not only was it a great story, but has an interesting setting: Wyoming and New Mexico during the depression. The Sanderval family moves from New Mexico to Wyoming for a job opportunity working for the railroad. They are Hispanic and encounter discrimination, but overcome much of that through hard work and determination. The main character, Margarita wants very much to make a friend and she finds one in Caroline. I loved learning about the Hispanic traditions described in the book.

[Tammy Landgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet story that I read aloud to my 10-year-old. It reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie series, but instead of being racist, it actually addressed racism in a way that is enlightening while being approachable for kids. I found the story to be a bit slow moving, and at one point about a third of the way through, my daughter asked me if there was going to be a main conflict of the book. It did manage to get around to having some more interesting action, and in addition to the cultural aspects, it addressed friendship and had a bit of a mystery.

[Kathie McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, there's nothing more meaningful than telling your family's story so others can learn from it. That's exactly what Mary Louise Sanchez does in THE WIND CALLED MY NAME. The reader feels present in each and every scene, experiencing the setting and emotions of a Latino family's move from New Mexico to Wyoming in the 1940's. The things that separate them - language, food, culture - eventually turn into the things that bring them together.

[Gina Bentayeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Mexico a State not a country

This was a well written story of a struggle that many children went through to be excepted in the white world and taught traditions that were taught to them by their ancestors. Diversity has not come full circle yet. Lots to learn about different cultures. I really enjoyed reading it. Was reminded of myself growing up in a world that was so different.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I loved how the girls’ relationship developed and grew. Ir was great how they take their misunderstandings about each other and work through them to truly learn about their cultures. They learn to live as friends who respect their differences and celebrate their individual traditions and preferences.

[Jamie VanMersbergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4. I enjoyed this sweet book about a Mexican-American family moving to Wyoming during the Great Depression. This is a good "palate cleanser" book if you have just read something intense and/or dark.

[Cara Noyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. There is friendship, family, and a fire! It would be a wonderful cross-cultural read-aloud for the classroom.
I shall encourage my nieces and nephews to read this beautiful story.

[Claire Klassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a 4 star rating because it brought back so many memories of my New Mexico family and our traditions.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such an important story, but the pacing was too slow.

[Melissa Mimier King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have sooooooo many teaching points for my 7th graders from this short book. Beautiful.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational and insightful.