“Unfamiliar Territory” by Mary Smathers, is a 281-page fiction book released this year. It was published by Carmel By The Sea in California. Its design was produced by TheBookDesigners; the cover images were used under license from Shutterstock.com, and the book map was created by Joe LeMonnier. The paperback has ISBN 979-8-9906745-0-9 and costs 17.99, while the eBook has ISBN 979-8-9906745-1-6 and costs $9.99.

 Mary Smathers, a teacher, administrator, and educational entrepreneur who loves writing fictional books for both adults and children, lives in California. Her author website is www.marysmathers.com.

This story takes place in the mid-19th century in Alta California, and centers on Juanita Castro de la Cruz, a Mexican ranch manager searching for her missing 19-year-old son Joaquin, also known as Joe. Against her sister Beatriz’s pleas, she leaves home, changes her gender identity, and journeys to gold fever in San Francisco, Sonora, and Stockton.

Will she find her son? What are her encounters on her arduous journey? Find out in this engaging book!

I am inspired by Juanita’s strength and motherly instincts. Playing the role of the hero determined to save and protect her family, she risks everything to embark on a seemingly impossible solo mission. Disguising as a man, killing garter snakes, racing cowboys, surviving an avalanche, losing her entire belongings, and building a hotel — she has endured a lot. Her determination and undying ambitions are the qualities that attracted Silas to her—both survivors of their own fates, I must say.

I also admire Juanita’s qualities throughout the novel: obstinate, single-minded and ambitious — just like her son. In addition, following her mother’s footsteps, Juanita aims to be a model Christian to those less fortunate than herself. Relevant examples are when she gave the family Bible to her son and being polite, compassionate, indiscriminate, and cordial to Ines, Silas, Jacinto, and the other Natives. She was also very truthful in admitting she stole from Beatriz and paid her debts in threefold. Her deeds were so renowned that the Sonoran mayor praised her. The subtle morals the author imbued in his narrative are incredible.

I do not have any negative views in the book. It is filled with interesting characters with diverse backgrounds and personalities, picturesque scenery, and thoughtful historical references. I especially enjoyed the exchange of letters between Juanita and Silas, and was glad they could share a life together. 

I did not find any typographical mistakes or grammatical errors because this book is excellently and thoroughly edited. I, Michael Lartey, the reviewer, find this book to be filled with depth, emotional suspense, and introspection. Because of this, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

I recommend this novel to young adult readers who love fiction and history. It is an eye-opener into the lives of individuals and societies affected by the Mexican-American battle conflicts. 

The book, however, contains very few profane words and mild sexual content, hence it is most suitable for young adults.