Esther J. Comstock

This biography portrays Mariano Vallejo in a very positive light. The author claims that Vallejo admired the relationship the Russians had with California Indians and wanted a similar one. She also describes how, when Vallejo observes Indians being cheated out of their mission cattle with liquor, he offers to the Solano Indians "Any, who wish , may work for me. I will write your names in my book. I will list how many cattle and sheep you each have. I will care for them until you wish to sell or move away." The author makes much about Vallejo's friendship with Indian Chief Solano. However, despite this overly-rosy picture of Vallejo's relationship with California Indians, the book is informative and well-researched. Its text is accessible to most fourth graders and tells a good story. The school where I work is on Vallejo Street and this fact will probably be interesting to my students.… (altro)