ALA Booklist (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

In the 1930s, a girl and her family leave their home in New Mexico to make a new life in Wyoming. Margarita Sandoval's ancestors have lived in New Mexico for generations en it flew under the Spanish, the Mexican, and finally the American flag. But the Depression and a drought force Margarita's immediate family to find work elsewhere. In Wyoming, the family encounters kindness but also hostility, as some railroad workers, not believing or caring that the Sandovals are U.S. citizens, insist they are outsiders taking jobs that don't belong to them. Margarita also navigates a complicated friendship with the lively but sometimes insensitive Caroline. Sanchez creates a winning protagonist in Margarita, who adapts to her new life with intelligence, grit, and curiosity. Seeing her recognize and eventually speak up against casual bigotry when Caroline gives her the nickname Maggie because it is easier for her to pronounce as satisfying as when she fights against more overtly aggressive acts of prejudice. A hopeful historical story with a strong heroine.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Margarita's family moves from New Mexico to Wyoming so Papa can find railroad work during the Great Depression. Margarita misses home, but her curiosity and resourcefulness allow her to help her family financially, form new (and complex) friendships, and fight against bigotry both subtle and overt. Strong, intelligent Margarita is easy to root for in this quiet, satisfying historical story. An author's note adds context. Glos.

Kirkus Reviews

A Depression-era story that's not so depressing. Margarita is moving with her family from New Mexico to a small town in Wyoming in 1934. When they arrive and reunite with her father, a railroad worker, they begin to settle in and start using English instead of Spanish to fit in with the townsfolk. When Margarita breaks a lamp at the local general store, she must work off her debt and in doing so befriends the store owner's granddaughter, Caroline. Though she's friendly enough, Caroline constantly demonstrates she regards Margarita as other by calling her Mexican instead of New Mexican. Meanwhile, while most of the town is cordial with the newcomers, there is a growing unrest as white men become angry that "beaners" are "taking all the jobs" (sound familiar?). Throughout, Margarita puts on a strong face as she finds more and more ways to contribute to her family's income and do well in school while putting up with microaggressions. Spanish goes unitalicized in the text, thankfully, but some consistently misplaced diacritics ("Filadelfío") and awkward insertions of Spanish in ways that don't fit the usual grammar of the dialect will bog down readers accustomed to hearing or speaking the language; the use of "Hispanic" is anachronistic. Margarita, though, is an industrious, clever, and plucky protagonist worth rooting for.Could have been great but is just good. (list of dichos, author's note, glossary and pronunciation guide) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The Great Depression has forced 10-year-old Margarita-s family to move from New Mexico to Wyoming, where her older brother and father have found railroad jobs. Margarita has two goals in her new home: to help her family earn the money to pay taxes on the family land in New Mexico, where her grandmother lives, and to make her first-ever friend. Margarita and her family integrate into their community, selling eggs and tortillas in the local store. Margarita befriends Evangeline but is understandably uncomfortable with the way Evangeline Americanizes her name and confuses New Mexico with Mexico. And when a few workers decide that the -whole family should go back-back to Mexico,- Margarita, her family, and their friends must fight for their place in their new home. Spanish phrases are woven into the story, as are references to the family-s cultural traditions, such as the holiday Las Posadas. Debut author Sanchez, a winner of the SCBWI Emerging Voices Award, has created a rich slice-of-life tale with a protagonist who learns to advocate for herself and her family. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Gr 4-6 Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this novel introduces Margarita Sandoval, whose family is facing both financial and social difficulties as they navigate life away from their home. Margarita's family has lived in New Mexico for centuries, but now they must leave and seek out new ways of making money. They head to Wyoming where her father has been working for a year as a railroad worker. Margarita is ecstatic at first to be reunited with her family and explore a new place, but is also cautious of how her people and her culture is treated. Between adjusting to life away from her abuela and her ancestral home, and facing racism, Margarita is overwhelmed and wondering if she can ever be her true self and what that even means. Peppered with Spanish vocabulary, rich imagery, and detailed historical references, this book will transport readers to another time and place. VERDICT A much-needed and well-written addition to the slate of middle grade novels set during the Great Depression. Katie Llera, Brunner Elementary School, Scotch Plains, NJ