Anita of Rancho del Mar
Grade 4-8-- Anita, 12, lives with her family on a California land grant rancho during the 1830s. She has a knack for finding danger, but usually emerges unscathed and slightly wiser. O'Brien sprinkles a wealth of information about the early history and culture of the region into Anita's sojourns. Spanish words and phrases are neatly thrown in and italicized; most (but not all) are defined in the glossary. Such elements combine to give an effective introduction to the time and place, but do not produce an involving book. The plot is melodramatic and often contrived, e.g., when Anita's father, Don Jose, needs money to pay creditors, she conveniently finds gold nuggets. While at sea, he decides to have his land surveyed; the drowning man they rescue happens to be a surveyor. Dialogue is stiff and artificial. A sea captain from Boston and an Irish tutor speak very much in the manner of Don Jose. Anita is lifeless and predictable, despite her penchant for adventure. While a lot happens to her and her family, none of it will grip readers. --Steven Engelfried, Pleasanton Library, CACopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.