Having lost everything, Juanita Castro de la Cruz rides alone into the chaos of California's Gold Rush, searching for her missing son. After four generations of stability on her family's vast Mexican land grant ranch, she now faces unimaginable upheaval as her home transforms into an American state—one with an unfamiliar language, religion, economy, and culture.

With no resources, Juanita must be fearless and inventive to survive in this radically changed landscape. Can she find her son amid the explosive growth of gold-fevered San Francisco and the rugged mining camps? Will her struggle to forge a new identity and build a sustainable livelihood lead her to the peace and sense of family she longs for?

Unfamiliar Territory is a sweeping tale of one woman's determination and resilience against insurmountable odds during California's tumultuous Gold Rush and Civil War years.