Cesa is a 13-year-old Californian, who lived during the time of the gold rush, after the Mexican-American war. Her family has always owned the massive Rancho de la Valle de la Madrugada, the ranch of the valley of the dawn. Cesa can mean Princess in Spanish, which is what her father calls her. Cesa leads her five brothers in games of war, and rides her horse all over the ranch, believing herself to be like a queen. When Americans arrive, searching for gold, and insisting that all of the land now belongs to America, Cesa's way of life is threatened. Will good come of the changes, the way flowers spring up after the rains, which follow the yearly drought? This is the story of the birth of California as it is known today.
Similar books: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Date read: 3/27/2009
ISBN-10: 0786261420
ISBN-13: 9780786261420
Check the library catalog