SANTA FE MI CASA opens with John Henry, a 19-year-old boy who has just arrived with the army to tame the Mexican's in Santa Fe. Most of the soldiers seem to take what they want and expect the people of Santa Fe to learn their ways, however John Henry is different. One chance meeting with a beautiful girl, Morita, and he knows that life will never be the same. As the army stays in Santa Fe, John Henry and Morita grow closer and begin to learn the language of each other and the language of love. Customs are changed, views of the Santa Fe people are slowly changing, and John Henry has learned that life, any life is worth knowing and saving.

Life for John Henry remains the same until the day that the army is set to move on to California. John Henry has realized that life as a soldier fighting a war he does not believe in is not going to happen. For John Henry his heart and his life have been left in Santa Fe. Only the decision to return has come too late, the desert lies before him and Santa Fe is miles away. John Henry has changed; his life has forever been impacted by the place he calls home now. How can he uphold his duty and be loyal to America when his heart knows that this war is wrong. Have the ideals of the army been lost to him forever?

I struggled with this book in the beginning. The language barriers were written true to life and I felt that I was struggling with learning the language right beside John Henry. Harlan Hague has written a wonderful story that really let me know just how hard it was for our soldiers to go into the savage lands and try to adapt to the changes all around them. I really loved the contrast between Brad, John Henry's army friend, and John Henry himself. While Brad was just there for the thrill John Henry was there to make something of himself. Brad represented what the typical soldier for this time period was to the people he had taken over: lazy, carefree, and controlling. The differences between the two men made me realize how John Henry was probably only one out of a few that cared enough about people to learn their ways.