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American Girl: Felicity #1-3
Love and Loyalty
Felicity loves riding horses far more than stitchery or serving tea. When she falls in love with a beautiful chestnut mare, she schemes to save the mare from its cruel owner with the help of Ben, her father's young apprentice. Yet as talk of revolution rumbles around her, finds it harder to tell right from wrong. Ben wants war, while her best friend's family remains loyal to the king. Then receives an invitation to the Governor's Palace, and she must decide where her own loyalties lie.
176 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
About the author
Valerie Tripp
278 books468 followersValerie 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 7, 2019
I really love this book and I love Felicity’s story! I can really relate to her, because I’m also wild and adventurous as she is. My favorite part is when Felicity goes to the dance lesson at the governors palace. My least favorite part is when her mother falls ill and spreads darkness around her house. Overall, I really love this book and I would highly recommend it!
July 18, 2026
This review is for the 2017 Beforever relaunch of Felicity's Story.
Now this book is the first in the Felicity duology and combines the first three books of Felicity's original main series (Meet Felicity, Felicity Learns a Lesson, Felicity's Surprise).
The relaunch doesn't really modify her series other than sometimes adding a connecting paragraph between the three books (to smooth the transition), so if you want to read Felicity's story in its entirety, then you could pick this book up.
However, there are some glaring holes and issues that I have with the relaunch compared to the originals.
The first element is rather minor BUT the original books *felt* luxurious. Really smooth, glossy, heavy paper and the Beforever versions are just...cheaper and courser.
The second aspect is that the original three books have gorgeous illustrations scattered throughout the book - both full page paintings but also little sketches of objects or items that Felicity runs into in the story.
Do my books NEED to have pictures? No. But do I feel cheated when those images are taken out of the books? Absolutely yes.
The third (and most important aspect) is that the historical content sections are severely cut in the relaunch. This matters because 1) you end up missing a lot of the cool connections between the fictional world of Felicity and the real 1770s and 2) this completely hides the fact that Felicity's family is slaveowners.
Spoilers for the 30-year-old book series ahead:
In the original books, we learn that Marcus, the black man who "helps out" in Mr. Merriman's shop, is actually owned by the Merriman family (specifically, by Felicity's parents) in the historical section of book 1.
(Note: Rose, the Merriman family cook, is not revealed to be a slave until later and is only referred to as a cook or servant.)
The Beforever relaunch mentions that some people were brought to America against their will BUT by cutting the line about Marcus being a slave hides the fact that the Merriman were slaveowners.
I understand that these books want to be historically accurate with slaves and slave ownership - and they truly did a wonderful job with Addy's story.
However, I am disappointed that the author/the company would chose to make the Merriman Family slaveowners then attempt to cover it up by referring to the characters as 'servants'.
The Beforever relaunch was the perfect time to update the language to be accurate to the backstory that the company gave to the characters and to devote words in the historical section to explain that choice and the consequences of it.
But instead, the words were cut and now the series no longer addresses the serious topic at all.
More Reviews in the Felicity-verse
Main Series:
Meet Felicity - ★★★★☆
Felicity Learns a Lesson - ★★★★★
Felicity's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Felicity - ★★★★☆
Felicity Saves the Day - ★★☆☆☆
Changes for Felicity - ★★☆☆☆
Felicity's Boxed Set - ★★★☆☆
Best Friend Book:
Very Funny, Elizabeth - ★★☆☆☆
Short Stories:
Felicity's Dancing Shoes - ★★★★☆
Felicity Takes a Dare - ★★★★☆
Felicity's New Sister - ★★☆☆☆
Felicity's Valentine - ★★★☆☆
Felicity Discovers a Secret - ★★★★☆
Felicity's Short Story Collection - ★★★☆☆
Mystery Books:
Peril at King's Creek - ★★★☆☆
Traitor in Williamsburg - ★★★☆☆
Lady Margaret's Ghost - ★★★★☆
Additional Historical and Activity Books:
American Girl Cross-Stitch - ★★☆☆☆
The American Girls Party Book - ★★★★★
The Boston Tea Party (American Girl: Real Stories From My Time) - ★★★★☆
Felicity's Cookbook - ★★★★★
Felicity's Cooking Studio - ★★★★★
Felicity's Craft Book - ★★★★★
Felicity's Theater Kit - ★★★★☆
Introduction to Williamsburg - ★★★★★
The Making of American Girl - ★★★★★
The Official American Girl Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Welcome to Felicity's World · 1904 - ★★★★★
Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2017):
Love and Loyalty - ★★★☆☆
A Stand for Independence - ★★★☆☆
Beginner Reader & Picture Books:
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Now this book is the first in the Felicity duology and combines the first three books of Felicity's original main series (Meet Felicity, Felicity Learns a Lesson, Felicity's Surprise).
The relaunch doesn't really modify her series other than sometimes adding a connecting paragraph between the three books (to smooth the transition), so if you want to read Felicity's story in its entirety, then you could pick this book up.
However, there are some glaring holes and issues that I have with the relaunch compared to the originals.
The first element is rather minor BUT the original books *felt* luxurious. Really smooth, glossy, heavy paper and the Beforever versions are just...cheaper and courser.
The second aspect is that the original three books have gorgeous illustrations scattered throughout the book - both full page paintings but also little sketches of objects or items that Felicity runs into in the story.
Do my books NEED to have pictures? No. But do I feel cheated when those images are taken out of the books? Absolutely yes.
The third (and most important aspect) is that the historical content sections are severely cut in the relaunch. This matters because 1) you end up missing a lot of the cool connections between the fictional world of Felicity and the real 1770s and 2) this completely hides the fact that Felicity's family is slaveowners.
Spoilers for the 30-year-old book series ahead:
In the original books, we learn that Marcus, the black man who "helps out" in Mr. Merriman's shop, is actually owned by the Merriman family (specifically, by Felicity's parents) in the historical section of book 1.
(Note: Rose, the Merriman family cook, is not revealed to be a slave until later and is only referred to as a cook or servant.)
The Beforever relaunch mentions that some people were brought to America against their will BUT by cutting the line about Marcus being a slave hides the fact that the Merriman were slaveowners.
I understand that these books want to be historically accurate with slaves and slave ownership - and they truly did a wonderful job with Addy's story.
However, I am disappointed that the author/the company would chose to make the Merriman Family slaveowners then attempt to cover it up by referring to the characters as 'servants'.
The Beforever relaunch was the perfect time to update the language to be accurate to the backstory that the company gave to the characters and to devote words in the historical section to explain that choice and the consequences of it.
But instead, the words were cut and now the series no longer addresses the serious topic at all.
More Reviews in the Felicity-verse
Main Series:
Meet Felicity - ★★★★☆
Felicity Learns a Lesson - ★★★★★
Felicity's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Felicity - ★★★★☆
Felicity Saves the Day - ★★☆☆☆
Changes for Felicity - ★★☆☆☆
Felicity's Boxed Set - ★★★☆☆
Best Friend Book:
Very Funny, Elizabeth - ★★☆☆☆
Short Stories:
Felicity's Dancing Shoes - ★★★★☆
Felicity Takes a Dare - ★★★★☆
Felicity's New Sister - ★★☆☆☆
Felicity's Valentine - ★★★☆☆
Felicity Discovers a Secret - ★★★★☆
Felicity's Short Story Collection - ★★★☆☆
Mystery Books:
Peril at King's Creek - ★★★☆☆
Traitor in Williamsburg - ★★★☆☆
Lady Margaret's Ghost - ★★★★☆
Additional Historical and Activity Books:
American Girl Cross-Stitch - ★★☆☆☆
The American Girls Party Book - ★★★★★
The Boston Tea Party (American Girl: Real Stories From My Time) - ★★★★☆
Felicity's Cookbook - ★★★★★
Felicity's Cooking Studio - ★★★★★
Felicity's Craft Book - ★★★★★
Felicity's Theater Kit - ★★★★☆
Introduction to Williamsburg - ★★★★★
The Making of American Girl - ★★★★★
The Official American Girl Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Welcome to Felicity's World · 1904 - ★★★★★
Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2017):
Love and Loyalty - ★★★☆☆
A Stand for Independence - ★★★☆☆
Beginner Reader & Picture Books:
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
March 26, 2018
I still love the story, but this new edition just can't replace the old ones. The pictures and the greater portion of the historical endnotes have been removed, which were two of the things my little eight-year-old history-loving heart just adored.
Even so, the story still holds up.
Even so, the story still holds up.
July 2, 2025
Felicity was my favorite American Girl as a kid and re-reading this book as an adult did not disappoint! I admire her fierce spirit and, of course, her love of horses! My only complaint is that the new printings of the books don't preserve the wonderful illustrations of the original books.
February 9, 2024
Some strong historical and biblical content. Opportunities to discuss obedience versus sneaking out to do what Felicity wanted. My 4 youngest loved it as a read aloud (ages 5-9).
February 6, 2018
I got this book with my American Girl doll. It's a good book for anyone who likes learning about the colonial times.
Indy age 9
Indy age 9
May 6, 2025
This was a great read. I watched the movie first when I was 15. I had a crush on movie Ben at that time which made me interested in Colonial America. The books are just as awesome as the movie and I love the friendships that were built.
May 22, 2025
BEST EVER THIS IS PERFECT FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 6, 2017
I liked this book because it is written about Felicity who is a girl who loves horses. This book is historical fiction. It is set in 1774 right before the American Revolution. What I like about this book is that Felicity makes friends with a horse. Unfortunately the horse belongs to someone else. So she can not ride her. Felicity has to get up extremely early in the morning to secretly ride Penny.
This is an adventure book with a daring brave girl.
James (age 7)
This is an adventure book with a daring brave girl.
James (age 7)
August 20, 2021
amazing this is a wonderful book that pulls you into history it shows what was expected of women/girls back then i highly recommend this
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews