American Girl: Josefina Books in Order

Josefina Montoya's stories are set in New Mexico in the 1820s, when the region was still part of Mexico. Her world is quieter than some American Girl series on the surface, but it is full of feeling: family grief, daily rancho work, religious tradition, healing knowledge, and the constant need to hold a household together after change.

That makes Secrets in the Hills a good fit for her. Josefina is observant and thoughtful, so when a mysterious stranger arrives and old stories about hidden treasure and La Llorona begin to feel less like legend, she is exactly the kind of heroine who notices the small details. She is not trying to be bold for the sake of it. She wants to help people, make sense of what she is seeing, and protect the people she loves.

The setting does a lot of work here.

Ernst uses the mystery to bring in buried history, family stories, and the mix of cultures that shaped Josefina's New Mexico. The rancho, nearby village, hills, and old tales all matter. So do Josefina's sisters, because her series is never just about one girl alone. Relationships inside the family keep driving the emotional stakes.

If you want an American Girl mystery that moves with a steadier pace and cares as much about compassion as clues, this is that kind of book. It helps to know Josefina's world first, but the story also works on its own as a thoughtful treasure hunt with real feeling behind it.