Samantha was my first American girl doll, which I got way back in 1st grade, not long after the American Girls came out. I always loved her books the best esp 'Samantha Saves The Day' and 'Changes for Samantha', both of which I still remember the plots from. ( )

Samantha was my first American girl doll, which I got way back in 1st grade, not long after the American Girls came out. I always loved her books the best esp 'Samantha Saves The Day' and 'Changes for Samantha', both of which I still remember the plots from. ( )

I loved these books in 3rd grade. The whole American Girl series is fantastic for beginning chapter book readers. This series is about Samantha, a girl being raised by her wealthy grandmother in the Victorian era. ( )

I have read the books of each AG’s series, well, the first four characters, anyway but Samantha is the one whose story I never forgot.

The AG girl who should have the most sheltered, least realistic life, is the one with the edgiest story, and a “best friend” character who lives a life completely the opposite. They are both lonely orphans, but Samantha is an heiress and Nellie, the next door neighbor’s maid.

Samantha is intellectual and adventurous but also naïve and not used to taking care of herself. This is an interesting contrast to Nellie, who is tough, cynical and maternal. Their relationship is a great look at the affects of privilege and social attitudes of the turn of the century. Interwoven with this story are discussions of women’s rights, and the affects of the Industrial Revolution. Aunt Cornelia is a suffragette, and Samantha is asked to write a report on how great factories are, and ends up concluding that they may not be so great after all.

I also find their story quite romantic, to be honest. Their first meetings are conducted hiding in a tunnel of lilac bushes-which is, I think, an image I never forgot. They hide in a boat house and fall asleep there, causing their families to be so shocked that you’d almost think they were doing something else in there. When Nellie is dumped in a classic abusive Victorian orphanage, Samantha risks her life to spring her. It all seems invested in a great deal more passion than other “best friend” relationships from the other AG series. I don't get the same vibe off Felicity and Elizabeth, the jury is still out on Kit and Ruthie, and Emily and Molly are not actually best friends-they were barely *friends* in the (one) book Emily was actually in. ( )

Samantha is a little girl in the 1900s. She is raised by her grandmother to be a prim and proper little girl, when she really wants to play and have fun with her friends. She makes friends with servants,which is not heard of at the time.

I have read this collection since I was little and I recently found it for my little girl. I have always liked reading it and I hope my daughter does too.

I would use this book in a classroom setting to show my students how people lived a century ago.