Overview

...truly a treat for the mind. --Readers' Favorite Five Star Review ...an invitation to not just accept but cherish the value and beauty of diversity. In this ambitious work, Smathers imparts the wisdom of studying the past in order to move more fully and sincerely into the future. --Publishers Weekly BookLife Review Selected as a Shelf Unbound 2020 Best Indie Notable Book How do you know who you are if you don't know where you come from? In This Land of Plenty is an expansive, atmospheric American family saga set against the rich history of California. When Nicole discovers through DNA reports that her ancestry is far different from the white, northern European background she thought was hers, she enlists the help of her great grandmother to investigate their roots despite protests from her father. The search takes Nicole and Great Gram into the attic of their historic San Francisco Victorian where the family's true history unfolds. Slowly the two women unravel the mysteries of their 250-year family tree, from California's native inhabitants and its earliest European colonizers through the generations to the Gold Rush. In This Land of Plenty is a meticulously researched and beautifully written historical fiction family saga that introduces a diverse cast of characters and the complex social issues that populate California's rich history while drawing a direct line to today's residents. In This Land of Plenty captures the complex dynamics of family, exploration and exploitation, and the necessary accommodation to circumstances without submission. Extraordinary accomplishment by the author. --Diana Y. Paul, Award-winning author, Things Unsaid Fans of historical fiction will fall in love with this novel's: *Strong research and vivid depictions of historic California *Inspiration form the original Spanish soldiers on the Portola expedition to explore and settle Alta California *Connections to the native Ohlone people and other tribes who populated the area for thousands of years, and to the De Anza settlers who walked eighteen hundred miles from Sinaloa to the San Francisco Bay *Strong characters, and women, who are both relatable and fascinating *Emphasis on the importance of family In This Land of Plenty is perfect for book clubs or as a gift for the reader in your life.

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9780997855722

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Reviews

In this epic tale, Mary Smathers captures the grand sweep of California history from the arrival of the Spanish to 21st-century Silicon Valley through the bloodline of a single family. Secrets interweave with ambition, passion, betrayal, and upheaval as we follow the trail of Spanish, Franciscan, Mexican, and Californio settlement of a land that housed native peoples for thousands of years. Who are the saints, who the sinners, and the question of how we repair ourselves pulses throughout this story. You'll ache for some of these people, loathe others, and be left with much to ponder on the complexities of love, culture, and family. And then you'll want to read a sequel. -Larry Habegger, Executive Editor, Travelers' Tales Great story! Mary Smathers ties the different California eras and different lives together beautifully, and her storytelling brilliantly brings to life periods of California history that most of us are only fairly familiar with. We all visit the California Missions, and we know some of the good and bad behind the missions, but her tales go so much deeper. The timing of her book is perfect, as we are living in the midst of a time when we are more ready than ever to face some of our shameful history. Ms. Smathers' research and writing captivated me, I found myself caring for several of the characters, and it was impossible for me to put her book down. Really, really good! --Dr. Mike Matthews, Superintendent, Manhattan Beach Unified School District, former AP US History teacher Mary Smathers' first novel In This Land of Plenty is a bell ringer. Smathers weaves together a vibrant story of California over 250 years with Spanish settlers, Native Americans, and late arriving Anglos. Memorable characters in each culture tell their unforgettable and entwined stories. If you like historical novels with strong plot lines that have both flash-backs and flash-forwards connecting the past to the present, this debut novel is for you. --Dr. Larry Cuban, Emeritus Professor of Education, Stanford University An engaging plot following families over generations is woven into a historical journey of the California clash between original Spanish settlers and native indigenous peoples. You will learn a lot of history, and deeply connect with some dynamic characters. --Dr. Michael Kirst, Emeritus Professor of Education and Business, Stanford University, former President, CA State Board of Education I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mary Smathers' debut novel, In This Land of Plenty. And I can't think of a better way to learn history than through such a readable and well-researched story populated with juicy characters set into a well-paced plot. Smathers knows history well and tells historical stories well. She also shows how, despite huge differences in our backgrounds, we are all part of the same story. I can't wait for her second novel! --Dr. Christine Sleeter, Professor Emerita, Multi-Cultural Education, Cal State University, Monterey Bay

Author Information

Mary Smathers grew up in Los Altos, California and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Latin American Studies. She earned a Master's degree in Education and another MA in Educational Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University. From 1983 to 2013, she worked in public schools throughout California as a high school teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, grant writer and educational entrepreneur, helping to found three education companies and a public charter school. Since that time, she has focused on writing, reporting for a bilingual, regional Costa Rican newspaper and publishing her first work of fiction, Fertile Soil: Stories of the California Dream, in 2016. In This Land of Plenty, her debut novel, will be released in summer, 2020. She divides her time between California's Central Coast and the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, where she is at work chronicling the stories of subsequent generations in the Brennan/Castro family tree of In This Land of Plenty and a children's book series featuring tropical and jungle animals.

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