Molly Marches On

American Girl: Short Stories #18

by Valerie Tripp, Nick Backes (Illustrator), Susan McAliley (Illustrator)

Molly wants to be the first to find a surprise at the end of the nature hike at her camp. When she ventures off the trail, she finds a secret surprise of her own.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Short Stories, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Valerie Tripp is a children's book author, best known for her work with the American Girl series.

She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.

Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.

Reviews

[Lydia Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I did read this in 10 minutes just to complete my 2021 reading challenge <3 It was cute!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly, along with Linda and Susan, are having a blast at Camp Gowonagin. During a morning hike, they disagree on the hike path. Defiant Molly decides to follow her path thus separating her from the group. She is convinced that the other campers are on the wrong trail. Then she begins to question her decision. A Peak Into The Past details an excellent biography of Sacagawea.

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the references to Sacagawea! But Molly takes herself too seriously and wanted too much to BE Sacagawea that she got herself in trouble lol
In the end even the readers don't get to know what the campers' surprise was thanks to Molly 😒😂

[Christina Erickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This part made me laugh..

“What are you doing?’ asked Susan.
She and Linda were walking behind Molly.
‘I’m smelling the air like Sacagawea did,’ said Molly. ‘What for?’ asked Susan.
‘To find the way,” said Molly shortly.
‘You’re kidding,’ said Linda…”

Linda, you’re so right.

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Molly was annoying in this story.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like this story. But I do like the ending location.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly was fairly annoying in this one, but I loved the information given on Sacajawea.

[Carey Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

[Little Seal]

This one frustrated me, lol! But very on point to what I think a 9/10 year old would do, especially knowing Molly's personality.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dislike Molly, and I guess she deserves to not know the surprise. I like the section at the end about trail markers.

[Svetlana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story but what was the surprise?

[Bulk Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Molly is at her most annoying whenever she’s at this camp, apparently. She has all of a sudden decided she wants to be like Sacajawea and that her fellow campers are ruining her vision, so she breaks the rules of hiking and gets herself into trouble (of course.)

I read this story when I was little at my grandma’s house one night. I think it was the first AG short story I read, or at least the first Molly short story (because I remember being like, what is this??? A tiny American Girl book???) And I distinctly remember that the end DROVE ME BONKERS. All that hype and we never find out what the surprise is?! My younger brain eventually decided that it was a waterpark. Because that totally makes sense. I suppose that the story should get some points for making me wonder about it for so many years.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Molly is off to summer camp but things aren't going quite the way she thinks they should. Her group is being sent off on a hike, and she wants to play Sacajawea, getting herself, and one of her friends in serious trouble.

At least it should be serious trouble. For the first time I was seriously irritated with Molly. She disregarded rules and safety, set off on her own, got no punishment, in fact had a kind of reward. And we never did find out what the surprise was.

This book was a disappointment. If you're a Molly fan, then I'd include it on your reading list, otherwise, it's one I wouldn't necessarily bother with.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories books. Molly and some other girls on going on a special nature hike. The hike leader tells them about various hiking rules, but Molly soon ignores them and sets off on her own.

Another girl joins her and they both end up lost, but are found by the other hikers.

A lot of the book deals with the story of Sacagwea, since Molly admires her. Much of the historical section of the book also deals with Sacagwea.

[Miri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly, Linda and Susan are at camp Gowonagin and are preparing for their special hike. Molly is excited, she daydreams that she is just like Sacajawea, but Molly soon makes several foolish decisions in the woods that lead her and Susan into danger. Can Molly be truly brave like Sacajawea and help her friend and herself?

[Mike Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first grader really enjoyed the whole Molly series. The content really kick started some good discussions about life during WWII. The historical aspects definitely help expose children to some additional perspectives on life in different generations.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny way to introduce Sacagewa, but it is in a way the audience of this book should be to understand.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't necessary, but I'm not going to complain about it because I've wanted books like this for other series I like.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Molly is both dull and reckless in this short story. The Nostalgia doesn't make up for it.

[Erin Becker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really weird book about Molly being a jerk to her friends and idolizing Sacajawea.

[Rose]

Age: 4 - 8