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366th out of 2,174 books
—
6,624 voters
Meet Samantha: An American Girl (American Girls: Samantha #1)
Samantha Parkington is a bright Victorian beauty being raised by her wealthy grandmother in 1904. Samantha's stories describe her life during this important period of change. Her own world is filled with frills and finery, parties and play. But Samantha sees that times are not good for everybody. That's why she tries to make a difference in the life of her friend Nellie, a...more
Hardcover, 64 pages
Published
September 28th 1990
by American Girl
(first published January 1st 1986)
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Summary:
Samantha is a nine year old girl growing up in a wealthy family in the early 1900s. She lives with her grandmother because her parents passed away. There is a boy next door who likes to tease her relentlessly, and Samantha gives it right back to him. She is very much a tom-boy but tries very hard to be a lady. The boy's family hires a girl named Nellie Samantha's age and they become quick friends until Nellie is forced to go back to her house. One of the workers in Samantha's house also...more
Samantha is a nine year old girl growing up in a wealthy family in the early 1900s. She lives with her grandmother because her parents passed away. There is a boy next door who likes to tease her relentlessly, and Samantha gives it right back to him. She is very much a tom-boy but tries very hard to be a lady. The boy's family hires a girl named Nellie Samantha's age and they become quick friends until Nellie is forced to go back to her house. One of the workers in Samantha's house also...more
For Christmas one year, I opened a big, rectangular box to find a beautiful doll with brown, wavy hair, brown eyes and a cute plaid dress. Everyone said we looked alike and I didn't disagree. American Girl dolls were all the hype when I was little. When I got Samantha from my grandparents one year, I took her everywhere with me. I began collecting clothes for her, furniture items and I, of course had to get her adorable puppy Jip to keep her company.
Each of the American Girl dolls come with a s...more
Each of the American Girl dolls come with a s...more
Meet Samantha is one book in the Americal Girls series. The book is targeted towards intermediate children. The book takes you essentially through Samantha's life. It begins when she was just a little girl. She was raised by her elder grandmother as her guardian. She lived in a time, 1904, where being a "lady" was a very valued concept. For example, one day while playing outside, Samantha was teased and bullied by a little boy. She ran home to tell her housekeeper and the house keeper simply sai...more
The Pleasant Company has done a great job through all of its American Girl stories and products in helping to make history interesting for kids in a variety of different ways, while making it a priority to address their contemporary concerns as well. All of the American Girl dolls have a finely tuned background, family history and unique niche in the timeline of our nation's past, and the books about them marvelously capture what makes everything about their historical narratives so special.
Sa...more
Sa...more
Meet Samantha: An American Girl by Alder, S.
Summary
Meet Samantha is based in 1904, and is about a nine year old girl who lives with her grandmother. Samantha’s parents passed away when she was young, but her Grandmary takes good care of her. She tires to teach Samantha how to be proper, but Samantha always finds a way to get messy. Jessie, Samantha’s seamstress, is always fixing her torn clothing. One day Samantha meets a new friend Nellie, and she shows her a new doll named Lydia. Samantha lov...more
Summary
Meet Samantha is based in 1904, and is about a nine year old girl who lives with her grandmother. Samantha’s parents passed away when she was young, but her Grandmary takes good care of her. She tires to teach Samantha how to be proper, but Samantha always finds a way to get messy. Jessie, Samantha’s seamstress, is always fixing her torn clothing. One day Samantha meets a new friend Nellie, and she shows her a new doll named Lydia. Samantha lov...more
As a young girl I actually had an American Girl Doll, so this promoted me to want to read the collection. I remember reading this series as a young girl and I remember thinking the books were too long and never finishing them. When I reread this book I loved it. I thought that the lessons are wonderful for young girls. Even though the only negative I think the students today would have with this story is that it is set in 1904, which may appeal to them as boring. Nine year old Samantha is an orp...more
The last time I read this, I was unable to see the subtleties of the characters. I was unable to read between the lines.
Now I am a dignified woman of eighteen and the atrocities contained within this book are extremely alarming to me.
The story begins with Samantha falling out of a tree, the little uncoordinated waif that she is. Little does the reader know that Samantha ends up to be a crack whore in the last book. She is always falling out of trees, out of relationships, out of addiction. This...more
Now I am a dignified woman of eighteen and the atrocities contained within this book are extremely alarming to me.
The story begins with Samantha falling out of a tree, the little uncoordinated waif that she is. Little does the reader know that Samantha ends up to be a crack whore in the last book. She is always falling out of trees, out of relationships, out of addiction. This...more
The illustations in this book are your classic Victorian style and fit the timeframe of the book perfectly. Samantha goes to live with her weathly grandmother who does not believe that young ladies should get dirty or work. The grandmother thinks she should learn to play the piano and sew her sampler. Samantha was very active and enjoyed playing. She was also very intelligent and was able to read between the lines when her grandmother would not explain why Jessie had to leave. Samantha was able...more
I think this was the first American Girl book I ever read. I enjoyed picking this one up again! I love how Samantah is very active, has a hard time settling down and being ladylike. I love how she has to practice piano, an hour seems like such a long time when you are 9! I also love how she has such an intese love for people, and also has compassion for those around her. Her friend Nellie just breaks my heart, and I think it is because I know there were lots of families like Nellie's who had to...more
It is rare that two hobbies of mine collide, but that is exactly the case with 'Meet Samantha'. An avid doll collector, Samantha is one of my favorite American Girl dolls. Like many, I read this book series back in the early 90's when I was scrimping and saving my pennies for Pleasant Company's American Girl dolls. 2012, it seems, has been a year of re-reading for me, and I thought what better to re-read than Samantha's story?
Set in 1904, 'Meet Samantha' introduces us to 9 year old Samantha. Ric...more
Set in 1904, 'Meet Samantha' introduces us to 9 year old Samantha. Ric...more
Meet Samantha: An American Girl was a true blast from the past for me! I found my original copy of this book at my mother's house and enjoyed every minute of bringing back memories.
Meet Samantha is the first of the Samantha, American Girl series. This book introduces Samantha as a nine year old girl living in the 1920's. This book illustrates Samantha's everyday life and the trails she faces as a girl learning how to grow up in the 1920's.
I believe these books are extremely beneficial for chil...more
Meet Samantha is the first of the Samantha, American Girl series. This book introduces Samantha as a nine year old girl living in the 1920's. This book illustrates Samantha's everyday life and the trails she faces as a girl learning how to grow up in the 1920's.
I believe these books are extremely beneficial for chil...more
Mar 03, 2013
Jessica
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2013,
fiction,
kindle,
children-s-literature,
ebook,
illustrated,
reread,
series,
historical-fiction
I'm reading some series I loved as a child this year. I started with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory & Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.
I remember devouring these books when they came out. I'd hound the library for them. This was waaay before the dolls where a thing. I vaguely remember a pull-out send-in card in the back of one of the books, but never bothered.
They hold up well. I have 5 more to go for this Girl and then I think I'm going to read Molly next. I think she was one of my...more
I remember devouring these books when they came out. I'd hound the library for them. This was waaay before the dolls where a thing. I vaguely remember a pull-out send-in card in the back of one of the books, but never bothered.
They hold up well. I have 5 more to go for this Girl and then I think I'm going to read Molly next. I think she was one of my...more
1 like · like · see review
Samantha, while not my favorite, was interesting. She is also the wealthiest of all the AG, which gives her a very different outlook and lifestyle. While Josefina, Caroline and Kaya work hard to help their families survive day-to-day, and Felicity and Kit help their families and pursue their interests, Samantha has a very different way of learning. She has lots of personality, but less personal integrity and concern with living a worthy life than many of the other girls. Very much so a product o...more
In the early 1900's, Samantha is a young girl who is being raised by her wealthy and stern grandmother named, Grandmary. She was only five year old when her parents died in a tragic accident. Samantha doesn't have anyone to play with around the house, but loves going to her grandmother's seamstress, Jessie, for advice and repairs. As the story unfolds she finds a herself becoming good friends with a girl named Nellie. From their time spent together, Samantha soon sees how different her life is f...more
My little sister LOVED this book. This her second American Girl book, the first we read was Saige. The only thing I wish was different in the book, is I wish they would say where Samantha lives. If I recall correctly all the other American Girls are set in certain states, but with Samantha the only mention of a place is that Jessie's husband goes on a boat to New Orleans and brings home treats. I think there might have been mention of the Mississippi River? But, that doesn't tell much since ther...more
A fun quick read about Samantha and the world she grows up in. The story itself was really unremarkable, even viewing from a childs perspective. The details and additional historical information offered in the book are priceless. There are little images and descriptions of unique turn of the century clothes, homes, attitudes and social beliefs depicted in a fun educational way.Samantha comes across as too tom-boyish and too submissive for some of the lessons to be believable. Her surrounding cas...more
This was the first American Girl book I ever read. I was in the forth grade.
Samantha Parkington is a wealthy, orphan who is being raised by her strict grandmother in New York State in 1904. Around her the world is changing, especially with the women's rights movement in NYC. Samantha's grandmother wants to shield her from this, and continue to raise her in an old-fashioned way.
After a meeting with the servant girl next door, and her uncle's fiancée (who is a suffragette), Samantha makes an imp...more
Samantha Parkington is a wealthy, orphan who is being raised by her strict grandmother in New York State in 1904. Around her the world is changing, especially with the women's rights movement in NYC. Samantha's grandmother wants to shield her from this, and continue to raise her in an old-fashioned way.
After a meeting with the servant girl next door, and her uncle's fiancée (who is a suffragette), Samantha makes an imp...more
May 30, 2011
Ashley
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
abby-and-me,
childrens
All throughout this book, I kept wondering what was so interesting about this time (1904)in American history, but when the book ended, I realized there are going to be lot of working class and women's issues brought up in this series. Abby really liked the developing friendship between Samantha and the neighbor's servant Nellie. And the historical section had a lot of information about servants and how hard their lives were. Samantha is also expected to behave like a "proper" young lady and Abby...more
I am unable to mark this a more appropriate 3 or 4 star affair because I've loved Sam since I was eight years old. I loved that you met her as she fell out of a tree, that she wasn't afraid to threaten a boy and that he seemed so sure that she'd make good on said threats. I loved that she immediately decided to befriend Nellie and when the time came, she gave up something she really wanted for someone else.
Just about the only thing I don't love, looking back, would be how easily distracted by sh...more
Just about the only thing I don't love, looking back, would be how easily distracted by sh...more
I thought that Meet Samantha was really good. I really liked how Samantha meets a house girl named Nellie. In every book of Samantha, Nellie is always in them. One time, Samantha wanted this beautiful doll that was in a store for sale. The only problem is that the doll is six dollars! That is a lot of money then. She told her grandmother and she said she would buy it only if Samantha was always lady-like for so long. But then Nellie has to go away because she coughed a lot. Samantha went to Nell...more
A good start to this American Girl story. Samantha is a girl of privilege growing up with her Grandmother in 1904. Interesting to see how many changes have taken place socially in the last 100 plus years. Girls like Samantha were never expected to work, even as an adult. While at the other end of the social ladder children her age and much younger often worked long hours as a house servant or worse in factories. Segregation was very much still a part of day to day life as was propriety. I'm eage...more
i remember reading the American Girl books a couple of years ago (back when they were really popular). my mom and i used to read "kit- an all american girl" every night before i went to bed, and it really helped me learn about the great depression, and to be thankful for everything that i have. I also remember reading the story of Samantha with my best friend when we were little. We used to play with the Samantha doll! Such great books! Really recommend for little girls! will never forget readin...more
Samndtha Parkington is an orphan who lives with her rich grandmnother in 1904. There are many servents (slaves)in grandmary's busling household, but there is one for samantha to plau with. That is why she is so happy when Nellie and her family move as servents next door. Although there lives are completely different the two girls become the best of friends! Read the book to find out the many other mysteries in meet samandtha. i lovefd this book because in so many ways i can relate to samantha.
This is the first book we've read in the "An American Girl" series. I'd heard a lot of good things and I know they made a movie out of one of the books, so I thought we'd check it out. We enjoyed reading this book; it was detailed enough to give a glimpse into life in 1904, but short enough to keep our girls attention. The characters are engaging and the illustrations are old fashioned, just as I'd expect from a book of that time. We are looking forward to reading more books in this series.
The American Girls were such a huge part of my childhood. Samantha was definitely my favorite (especially since my own features resembled hers). I remembering reading and re-reading the whole Samantha series over and over again. I also enjoyed Molly's and Felicity's stories. Great way for little girls to not only strengthen their reading skills, but their knowledge of American history, as well. I hope I can share the American Girls with my own daughter in the future.
Jun 08, 2010
Queen Susan the Gentle
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
american-girl
Samantha Parkington is a 9 year old girl growing up in 1904, in Mount Bedford, NY. She trys very hard to be a young lady, and trys to outsmart the next door nuisance, Eddie Ryland. Samantha learns that there is a girl her age staying at the Rylands. She is surprised to learn that the girl, Nellie O'malley is working there. Nellie used to live in the city working in a factory. Now she was in the country. The two girls instantly became friends.
Later on, the seamstress, Jessie who worked at Samanth...more
Later on, the seamstress, Jessie who worked at Samanth...more
Samantha was my first & favorite read of the American Girls series, which I read in about 4th grade. I liked how she wanted this certain doll throughout the book, but ended up giving it away b/c she loved her friend (who was from a less-fortunate socioeconomic status) more! I also liked the section at the end (of all the AG series books) called "A Look Into The Past", giving the history lesson behind the story & great historical photos & stuff.
Jan 15, 2011
Mary
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Mary by:
Samantha
Shelves:
childrens-ya-literature
This was an interesting story about a girl living in 1904. My niece and I read it together. Here's what she says about it: "I think it is a good book. My favorite part was when Samantha and Nellie go to Jessie's new house and meet her baby Nathaniel. They went out at night so they wouldn't get in trouble. It really wasn't a very good idea, I would rather tell somebody before I left and I would go with a grownup at nine years old if I were her."
I liked this book, and I think the characters and class discussion are fascinating, but I sometimes wonder whether the history is presented in a way (without explanation) that makes it hard for my daughter to understand that while Grandmary may think that little girls don't get to know about where babies come from or that children should be seen and not heard, I don't and she's never lived in a world where that's the case.
This was possibly my favorite American girl growing up. Now that I am a mother I really see the value of these books for my daughters. More over, I still enjoy them even though I'm grown up now. Samantha is a great girl and really shows girls what it meant to have separate classes and how people of different races were treated. I am going to buy more of these for my girls. It's great reading times with them.
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| Time period | 3 | 21 | Jul 07, 2011 11:12pm |
Mar 19, 2013 08:24pm
Mar 20, 2013 07:24pm