American Girl books were a staple during my early reading years. Do they hold up 25 years later? Currently working through the winter/holiday stories since it's that time of year.

See my review of Felicity's Surprise as a quick introduction.

There isn't much to say about Samantha. Is she just a spoiled brat or a kid who'll grow up to organize "Votes for Women" salons in her living room? To be honest, she's a little bit of both! She's one of the wealthiest, or the wealthiest, AG character, and despite her upbringing and old fashioned grandmother who raises her, Samantha is on an exciting journey towards class consciousness. She empathizes with her friend Nellie, an Irish-American girl who lives in poverty, she even gives Nellie her doll in Meet Samantha, and there's nothing more natural than a rich girl gifting her poor friend all her old stuff. This is the American dream.

Listen, here are some hard truths: women didn't garner the right to vote without wealthy, white women. They had the most time on their hands. We know Samantha is going to ride that first wave of feminism, and who can blame her with Cornelia (Sam's future aunt) spreading her newfangled ideas. This is history in the making.

But what is there to say about Samantha's Surprise? There's a simple lesson in here somewhere. Sam just wants to put up her own Christmas decorations around the house and attend some fancy girl's holiday party. Instead, she has to entertain her uncle and his girlfriend, Cornelia. Sam has to be obedient, well-mannered, and put their guests over herself. Just like all women at the turn of the century. In the end, Sam's gifted the doll she's wanted for ages, so it follows the plot of every AG Christmas story: only good children are rewarded.

Childhood disappointments and joys. Love it!

I am really irritated that this book had different illustrations than the ones I grew up reading. Why would they change them? They were perfect!

Plowing through the original American Girl books, #9: Samantha's Surprise

This is probably my favorite one of Samantha's stories. I think the "I do not like my new step-parent" feeling is really relatable for a lot of kids, and Samantha handles it pretty well for a 9 year old girl.