Mary Peace
Finley has taken us back to mid-nineteenth century Santa
Fe Trail. Through the eyes of a young girl, Teresita--"to
her father, Meadow Lark," --we become part of the
dreams and journeys of these early pioneers. Though
we tend to look at the Trail through romantic eyes,
it was at once a trail of adventure, danger and fulfillment.
Those who traveled it and lived on it learned about
each other's languages, faiths, values and hopes. As
with Teresita, friendships formed hurriedly out of a
human need to love and out of the necessity for survival.
Often, the Santa Fe Trail is written about through the
eyes of men. In Meadow Lark we see it through the eyes
of a young girl. As with many who risked life and limb
to go on the trail, Teresita was filled with wide-eyed
dreams of a better life and a better world. Even on
the even of the Mexican American War of 1846, this young
girl knew she had an important place in the future of
her homeland. Her idealism matched the idealism of those
adventuring souls who had a need to see the next hill.
Her story is the collective story of those dreamers
on the Santa Fe Trail.
Although
written for young adults, this third of a trilogy is
a wonderful read for adults as well. I found myself
feeling the pain, sorrow, love and adventure as each
page greeted me with just that. Finley places you back
in that time. She welcomes you to see through the eyes
of a young girl coming of age. She teaches you history,
but manages to make you part of it. Teresita's interaction
with adults, friendly natives and not so friendly natives,
Anglos and Spanish aristocracy brings out the truly
multicultural life of the Trail.
Mary Peace
Finley has the wonderful talent of a truly good storyteller.
She places you into the story and allows you to steal
some of the past. I look forward to the next great adventure---still
waiting to be written.
Rick Manzanares
Museum Director
Fort Garland Museum
