It was interesting to learn about this time-period in Mexico. As a middle-grade novel, it's the perfect opportunity for younger kids to explore a culture that's not their own. The main character, Petra Luna, was crafted so well. There were times I had to remind myself she was only 12 years old because she goes through so much. The one thing that was always prevalent was the love she had for her family. It was heartwarming (and sometimes heartbreaking) to see how much she valued her family's safety. Throughout the story, her dreams of an education and safety for her family made me realize many of us take those things for granted.

And don't let the 'middle-grade novel' tag fool you. This book will pull at your heartstrings. It's an emotional rollercoaster, but it was such an important and impactful story.

A historical fiction novel based on true family experience of crossing the border during the Mexican Revolution. At times, I was on the edge of my seat hoping things were going to be ok. Readers will learn a little about life in Mexico during the revolution. It also explores how easy a family can be pulled in different directions and the stress of escaping war. Heartfelt story and worth the time to read.

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna is an incredible and emotional read based on stories handed down through generations of a family.

Set during the Mexican Revolution, our protagonist is a young girl, Petra Luna, who has, through necessity, taken on the roles her father would be doing of caring for and supporting her small family. With the menfolk dead or serving in the army, many villages in Mexico are only home to young children and the elderly (often female), and they are destitute. Author, Alda P. Dobbs describes this world in an honest and vivid manner that brings this hot and deserted country to life.

Their heartbreaking journey to escape the cruelty of the revolution is written with a lot of thought consideration because these events happened. People starved, and people were killed. I will add a warning that one person to die in an accident is a toddler, and it had me in tears, but it is written respectfully. I just felt it is imperative that if you do read this wonderful book, there is tragedy, and it may be something you may not wish to read.

I couldn't put down Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna because you're drawn in so deeply to the journey Petra and her family go through. All I wanted was for them to reach America and find the sanctuary they desperately needed and for each of them to survive. Petra is inspirational with her fierce determination to not only survive but to break the generational roles where a girl shouldn't be anything more than her husband's cook, cleaner, etcetera.

I hope she did get to live her Barefoot Dreams in the end.

The book not only gives us the reader insight into a historical event not many are taught about, but there is also a brief explanation of the factual event the story is based upon. Families like Petra's are incredible and true heroes for never giving up on the desire to simply live.

I highly recommend this book.

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna is the first book in the Petra Luna series. The story is set in 1913 during the Mexican Revolution. Twelve year old Petra's mother has died and her father was taken by the soldiers to fight for the Republic. She has promised her father she will take care of her Abuelita and two siblings. When the soldiers come to their village and burn it down, Petra and her family are warned to leave before they are killed. They escape with just a few things they can carry and head north to the United States. The journey is not easy, but they make it to the Rio Grande. The border into the US has been shut and everyone is waiting for it to open, but the soldiers appear. Will the US open the border and let the refugees enter, or will they all be slaughtered.

I really enjoyed this story and learned some about the Mexican Revolution and how it affected the people of Mexico. Petra may only be twelve, but she is strong. The name Petra means rock, and that is what she is for her family. She chopped wood and sold it so they could eat, took risks for her family and even carried her siblings when they got tired, even when her own feet were bleeding and pus filled. Her sister, 6 year old Amelia and baby brother Luisito would probably not have survived without her. With danger, risks, health issues and possible massacre all playing a role in their run for the border, I was very much interested in this story from beginning to end.

My rWhere to start with this book? It has been sitting on my netgalley shelf for way too long and after reading it, I’m ashamed I didn’t read it sooner. This is a story about a courageous twelve year old girl and how she and her family fled during the Mexican Revolution and is based on the author’s real experience.

It is a short yet powerful book. It is a tale of loss and strength and really eye-opening. A very strong debut novel!

My Thoughts:
The paperback of this book just came out this month, which makes this cheap enough to buy as a class set for 6th or 7th grade classrooms. Inspired by her great grandmother's story of escaping from Mexico to the United States, Dobbs shares a heart breaking debut novel about a 12-year old Petra Luna who carries all of the responsibility for her family on her small shoulders. Her mother died during childbirth and her father is conscripted to fight for the Federales in 1913 Mexico. Petra Luna is responsible for her baby brother, her little sister Amelia and her Abuela. In addition, as a dark skinned Indio, she faces racism and disdain from her own community.

This story is just one heartbreak after another, and Petra Luna must be as tough as the black-coal rock she carries around from her father. Middle grade students cannot help but invest in Petra Luna and her dreams, even when her abuelita says that they are barefoot dreams, which means that as indios who are the poorest of the poor and educated, Petra's dreams are just fantasy and she should understand her place in this world.

From the Publisher:
A tale of one family's perilous journey to cross the U.S. border during the Mexican Revolution that is every bit as relevant and heartbreaking today

It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna's mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left—her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito—until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none.

Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: "They're like us barefoot peasants and indios—they're not meant to go far." But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border—a life where her barefoot dreams will become reality.

Author: Alda P. Dobbs

Publisher: Sourcebooks for Young Readers

There are many things I loved about this story, but some of the highlights are:
- The courage and dedication of Petra to take lead of her family
- The balance of both dark, gut-wrenching moments and the hopeful, loving moments
- The stunning writing that perfectly captured the voice of a young girl fighting for her family and living through the travesties of war
- This book made me realize that I have a thing for settings about unforgiving deserts--it's just such a hard road to travel
- It's full of suspense and tension, I was 100% on the edge of my seat while reading
This book made me laugh and cry. It made my heart run a mile a minute and also swell with love for this family, especially Luna. It was such a joy to read and I highly recommend it!

This historical fiction is based on the personal experience of the author's great grandmother and her tumultuous journey as she escapes persecution in her homeland, Mexico. She has promised her father, who was forced into the Mexican Army, that she would take care of her baby brother, little sister, and Abuelita. After the Mexican Army decimates their home and village, Petra began the arduous task of shepherding her family on the long journey across the desert, and North to the Rio Grande. Abuelita is old and slow, but she is a wealth of knowledge on which plants will help them survive, and with little food, water, or shelter, this is a survival story. Abuelita also firmly believes that the Indios should hold onto their humble life and not rise above their status, which does not mesh with Petra Luna's “barefoot dream” to attend school and get an education. However, the task at hand is to avoid the Mexican Army, keep walking North, and stay alive. They join others fleeing the Army, and most are just like them, but a few were wealthy. They meet the Revolutionaries, and their female leader, who are fighting the corruption of the Mexican government and the the Mexican Army. Each encounter provides Petra Luna with confidence. In 1913 fear and chaos erupted at the international bridge between Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Mexico, when 6000 refugees from all over Mexico arrived and sought to cross in order to flee the corruption, murder, and tyranny of their homeland. With the Mexican army massed around the town, in preparation to attack the people, the horrified US soldiers who were guarding the US side of the bridge, opened the gates, and allowed the crowd to surge onto US soil. The situation was similar in 2021 when the international bridge which connects Del Rio, Texas and Cuidad Acuna, Mexico was overwhelmed by desperate refugees from Central America, but the US response was different in 2021. The themes of family, survival, justice and respect for culture are well cast. Highly recommended for all middle school curriculums.

A must-have for your middle-grade bookshelves.

Petra Luna made a promise to her father to protect her abuelita, sister and brother after he was taken by federal troops, forcibly conscripted to fight in a Civil War the family hadn't taken a side in. When federal troops destroy Petra's village, she and the remainder of her family set off to escape the ensuing danger and above all make it to a space where they can find peace. Along the way Petra is tested on her commitment to follow through on her promise to her father. Regardless of her wishes or desires, she knows she needs to keep her small family together.

Petra shows resilience beyond her years and never stops moving forward, even when there isn't a path. This is a work of historical fiction, but its story has an unfortunate timelessness about immigration and the struggles to get to America's borders only to be turned away. This would be a great book to pair with Beast Rider.

Be prepared to be torn to shreds and then filled with sunshine again. Be prepared to be inspired because who is more resilient and persistent despite trauma and terror: Petra Luna. Be prepared to be changed, as this book speaks to the real issues that children face today: escape from poverty, gun violence, and being forced to grow up too fast in a world that's uncaring and violent, but don't be prepared to be despondent after. This book will leave you with hope and glad to have read a story based on true lives.

I read Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs in a little under two days - I literally could not put it down! Set during the Mexican Revolution, 12 year old Petra Luna has lost her mother to death and her father to ruthless soldiers, and does what she can to make sure her grandmother, sister, and brother are taken care of. When government soldiers raid their town once again, they set out on foot to find safety somewhere, anywhere. They make their way north, making friends along the way, seeing things, and living things that no children should ever have to experience, until they make it to the US border.
This book is marketed as children’s fiction/middle grade, but honestly it can be read by anyone. I will be reading this with my kids this year so they can learn a little more about the history of the country their father comes from, and I know that they will really enjoy it. As the book is based on real historical events (with fictional characters), I think that anyone interested in learning more about Mexican history would like it.
Petra is a wonderful character, too old for her age due to everything she has endured, but also still keeps her childhood hopes and dreams alive despite everything. Highly recommended read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

First sentence: The smoking star lit the night sky as women wept, holding their babies close. Men kept quiet while the old and the weak prayed for mercy. It was on that night that all of us huddled under the giant crucifix, the night when everyone—everyone but me—awaited the end of the world. Everything was a sign to us mestizos, from eclipses to new moons to burned tamales in a pot. I learned early on that all signs were bad. When sparks flew out of a fire, it meant an unwelcome visitor would show up. A sneeze meant someone was talking bad about you. If a metate—a grinding stone—broke, it meant death to its owner or a family member. But the biggest sign of all was citlalin popoca, the smoking star. Papá’s big boss at the mine called it a comet.

Premise/plot: Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna is set in Mexico in 1913. Petra Luna, our heroine, has made a promise to her father to keep the family together and safe. But some promises are hard to keep--no matter how big the heart. With the Revolution in progress, there is so much uncertainty from day to day to day. The family--Petra, her grandmother, her younger sister, her baby brother--is forced to flee their village with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Everything is gone; there is no assurance for tomorrow. Still, Petra dreams big dreams. She dreams of learning to read and write...of a better future. Most of all she dreams of the day when her father will find them again.

My thoughts: Absolutely beautiful and compelling. The writing is gorgeous. Truly a poetic work of art. I absolutely loved every bittersweet moment of this one. There's depth and substance. The characters are oh-so-human.

*will be on my blog in 2022
Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs is a novel about Petra, a child attempting to journey across the border between Mexico and the United States with her grandmother and baby brother during the Mexican Revolution.

This historical fiction novel was very moving. I will note there is a lot of trauma and sadness. Petra has a ton of responsibility for a 12-year-old. There were times I grew frustrated when adults in her life seemed to expect even more from her, that she might be a bride in a year or a child soldier. Caring for her grandmother and baby brother as they try to flee to safety is hard enough work. But this was the reality many children faced during the Mexican Revolution and to some degree still face today when trying to migrate from one country to another.


I loved that the backmatter in this one included a timeline. Not all readers will be familiar with the Mexican Revolution. Even though I am familiar, I still found the timeline to be helpful.


This was a really excellent, moving story. I have to give 5 stars to Petra Luna.

My heart has been broken and restored. Gosh, I loved BAREFOOT DREAMS OF PETRA LUNA.

Alda P. Dobbs has issued a challenge to everyone who might thing certain topics are too "much" to be handled in MG fiction. This book deals with a hefty array of serious topics: immigration, war, death, murder, violence, grief, poverty, political turmoil, and neglect. Since the setting is historical, during Mexico's Revolutionary War, the plights experienced by Petra and her family are all the more harrowing.

And yet, this story was beautiful. It sang with hope and light. Petra is one of the bravest protagonists I've ever come across (in children's fiction or otherwise) and the resounding power of family and courage will stay with me for a long, long time.

Not an easy read, by any means. But it's an important one, and one I'd recommend to pretty much anyone. 5/5.

Great read! It's a historical immigrant story that is as valuable today as it was during the Mexican Revolution when many mexican nationals sought refuge and safety in the United States--the setting of Petra's story. Many returned to their Mexico when tensions normalized. Dobbs' meticulous research and familial story bring this historical moment to life. This title belongs in classrooms today! Highly recommend!

I read this book in one sitting, both because it’s a pretty easy read, but also because I couldn’t stop. Petra is bright and full of curiosity and determination to keep the promise she made to her father to care for her family. She makes sure they stay together, helps them when they’re weak, and stays focused on what matters, no matter what comes across her path. Her relationship with her grandmother is complex– there are levels where they just don’t get each other, and others where they deeply connect. I loved that.

The descriptions of the places Petra travels are vivid and gripping. I felt like I could almost taste and smell the food sometimes. And the hot dry desert and its affect on them as they traveled felt so real.

Though there’s some violence, it mostly happens off-scene, with some one-line references to what’s happened. In the author’s note, the author talks about how she learned about these events from her own family’s history rather than at any point in school. I didn’t learn about these events in school either, so I was really moved by the history in which THE BAREFOOT DREAMS OF PETRA LUNA takes place. It made me want to learn a lot more about Mexican history.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The characters really resonated with me, especially Petra and Marietta, a captain in the rebel forces. I think readers who enjoy historical fiction or stories about strong female heroes will love this book.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a heartbreaking tale of resilience. And though this is historical fiction, the story is timely and will resonate with today's readers.

I adore historical fiction and this story is the best one I've read in 2021. This book is perfect for middle graders and teens studying the Mexican Revolution.

The novel is based on the author's great-grandmother's experiences, and it's an essential piece of history.  Younger audiences will gain insight into why many families fled from Mexico to the United States, as well as some perspective on current concerns. Petra is burdened with a great deal of responsibility, yet she faces each obstacle with courage and optimism for the future. When she wanted to join the Revolutionarios and fight to rescue her country, her ambition to learn to read and her commitment to her family made me feel proud. 

Petra cherishes a black rock given to her by Papa during the voyage. He'd brought it from the mine, explaining that "when a bit of coal is pressed extremely hard for a very long period, it becomes a diamond." Petra, like her black rock, gets stronger as life presses her. Petra emerges with courage, empathy, and passion towards the end of her journey.

I don’t often read middle grade books, but the description of Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna sounded too good to pass up. This heartbreaking and inspiring book tells the story of a young girl and her journey to the United States from Mexico in 1913. After the Federales destroy her town, twelve year old Petra leads her grandmother and two younger siblings on a quest for safety. This heartbreaking tale shows so much strength and determination and throughout all of the challenges Petra never gives up hope. This truly beautiful story is made even more special after reading the author’s note: her inspiration for this story came from her great-grandmother’s tales of fleeing Mexico and crossing the border to escape the Federales. This story is heavy but so inspiring at the same time.


Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for the advanced copy.