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American Girl: Molly #4-6
Stars, Stripes and Surprises
When an English girl comes to stay at Molly's during World War II, she and Molly learn to bridge their differences and ultimately enjoy a wonderful, mutual birthday party.
169 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2018
About the author
Valerie Tripp
278 books474 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 1, 2026
This review is for the 2018 Beforever relaunch of the Molly McIntire series (Stars, Stripes and Surprises: A Molly Classic).
This is the second volume in the relaunch and contains (almost) the entirety of books 4, 5, and 6 from the original Molly main series (Happy Birthday, Molly, Molly Saves the Day, and Changes for Molly ) with only a few edits to the text.
I appreciate that the Beforever versions of the American Girl stories don't really change the text - so if you want to reread Molly's original story (minus a couple of connecting paragraphs added to smooth the transition from three separate books into one volume), then this one would fulfill that task.
But something to consider if you want to start collecting the series - this one is a pale imitation of the originals (dramatic, but hey, it's my review).
The company took out the illustrations and photographs that decorated the pages, and cut down a lot of the historical content at the back of the book.
The commitment of including full-color paintings of Molly, providing photographs from her era, and really delving into the history of her timeline is what made this series stand out to me. Cutting all of that really took away the sparkle.
Also, this could just be me but the paper quality just isn't at the same level of the original books - I don't really know how else to say it other than this version feels cheaper, rougher. It doesn't look as good as the originals.
Ultimately, the story is still *there* but if you have the ability, I would highly recommend tracking down the originals.
More reviews in the Molly-verse
Main Series:
Meet Molly - ★★★☆☆
Molly Learns a Lesson - ★★★☆☆
Molly's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Molly - ★★☆☆☆
Molly Saves the Day - ★★★★☆
Changes for Molly - ★★★★☆
Molly's Boxed Set - ★★★☆☆
Best Friend Book
Brave Emily - ★★★★★
Short Stories:
Molly's A+ Partner - ★★★★☆
Molly Takes Flight - ★★★★☆
Molly and the Movie Star - ★★★★☆
Molly's Puppy Tale - ★★★★★
Molly Marches On - ★★★★☆
Molly's Short Story Collection - ★★★★☆
Additional Historical and Activity Books
American Girls Cookbook - ★★★★★
American Girl Cross-Stitch - ★★☆☆☆
The American Girls Party Book - ★★★★★
American Girl Sweet & Savory Treats Cookbook - ★☆☆☆☆
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From American Girl - ★★★☆☆
The Making of American Girl - ★★★★★
Minute Mysteries - ★★★★☆
Minute Mysteries 2 - ★★★★☆
Molly's Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Molly's Cooking Studio - ★★★★★
Molly's Craft Book - ★★★★☆
Molly's Route 66 Adventure - ★★★★★
Molly's Theater Kit - ★★★★★
The Official American Girl Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Welcome to Molly's World - ★★★★★
Mystery Books
Clues in the Shadows - ★★★★☆
The Light in the Cellar - ★★★★☆
A Spy on the Home Front - ★★★☆☆
Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2018)
A Winning Spirit: A Molly Classic Vol 1 - ★★★☆☆
Stars and Stripes: A Molly Classic Vol 2 - ★★★☆☆
Abridged Version (Re-Release of Main Series in 2022):
Molly: A Winning Spirit - ★★★★☆
(NOTE: They have not re-released the second book yet)
Beginner Reader & Picture Books
Molly's Christmas Surprise (Step Into Reading) - ★★★☆☆
My First American Girl Boxed Set - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
This is the second volume in the relaunch and contains (almost) the entirety of books 4, 5, and 6 from the original Molly main series (Happy Birthday, Molly, Molly Saves the Day, and Changes for Molly ) with only a few edits to the text.
I appreciate that the Beforever versions of the American Girl stories don't really change the text - so if you want to reread Molly's original story (minus a couple of connecting paragraphs added to smooth the transition from three separate books into one volume), then this one would fulfill that task.
But something to consider if you want to start collecting the series - this one is a pale imitation of the originals (dramatic, but hey, it's my review).
The company took out the illustrations and photographs that decorated the pages, and cut down a lot of the historical content at the back of the book.
The commitment of including full-color paintings of Molly, providing photographs from her era, and really delving into the history of her timeline is what made this series stand out to me. Cutting all of that really took away the sparkle.
Also, this could just be me but the paper quality just isn't at the same level of the original books - I don't really know how else to say it other than this version feels cheaper, rougher. It doesn't look as good as the originals.
Ultimately, the story is still *there* but if you have the ability, I would highly recommend tracking down the originals.
More reviews in the Molly-verse
Main Series:
Meet Molly - ★★★☆☆
Molly Learns a Lesson - ★★★☆☆
Molly's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Molly - ★★☆☆☆
Molly Saves the Day - ★★★★☆
Changes for Molly - ★★★★☆
Molly's Boxed Set - ★★★☆☆
Best Friend Book
Brave Emily - ★★★★★
Short Stories:
Molly's A+ Partner - ★★★★☆
Molly Takes Flight - ★★★★☆
Molly and the Movie Star - ★★★★☆
Molly's Puppy Tale - ★★★★★
Molly Marches On - ★★★★☆
Molly's Short Story Collection - ★★★★☆
Additional Historical and Activity Books
American Girls Cookbook - ★★★★★
American Girl Cross-Stitch - ★★☆☆☆
The American Girls Party Book - ★★★★★
American Girl Sweet & Savory Treats Cookbook - ★☆☆☆☆
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From American Girl - ★★★☆☆
The Making of American Girl - ★★★★★
Minute Mysteries - ★★★★☆
Minute Mysteries 2 - ★★★★☆
Molly's Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Molly's Cooking Studio - ★★★★★
Molly's Craft Book - ★★★★☆
Molly's Route 66 Adventure - ★★★★★
Molly's Theater Kit - ★★★★★
The Official American Girl Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Welcome to Molly's World - ★★★★★
Mystery Books
Clues in the Shadows - ★★★★☆
The Light in the Cellar - ★★★★☆
A Spy on the Home Front - ★★★☆☆
Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2018)
A Winning Spirit: A Molly Classic Vol 1 - ★★★☆☆
Stars and Stripes: A Molly Classic Vol 2 - ★★★☆☆
Abridged Version (Re-Release of Main Series in 2022):
Molly: A Winning Spirit - ★★★★☆
(NOTE: They have not re-released the second book yet)
Beginner Reader & Picture Books
Molly's Christmas Surprise (Step Into Reading) - ★★★☆☆
My First American Girl Boxed Set - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
November 8, 2024
I liked Molly Stars, Strips, And ,Surprises because
She was very kind and smart.I read both of the books .I also read my journey with Molly.I really like the Molly series and I highly recommend the book.
She was very kind and smart.I read both of the books .I also read my journey with Molly.I really like the Molly series and I highly recommend the book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews