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American Girl: Addy #3
Addy's Surprise: A Christmas Story
During the holiday season, Addy and Momma are generous with their meager savings and thrilled by a wonderful surprise.' to 'Addy Walker is a proud, courageous girl growing up in 1864, during the midst of the Civil War. Addy's stories tell of her daring escape with her mother from slavery, and the challenges they face afterward as they try to reunite their family. But Addy's stories are about much more than hardship. They are full of the love and hope that help her get through the worst of times and keep her dreams alive
During the holiday season, Addy and Momma are generous with their meager savings and thrilled by a wonderful surprise.
65 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
About the author
Connie Rose Porter
57 books124 followersConnie Rose Porter is an American author best known for her books for children and young adults. She was the third youngest of nine children of a family living in a housing project.
She has since taught English and creative writing at Milton Academy, Emerson College, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She was a fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and was a regional winner in Granta's Best Young American Novelist contest.
She has since taught English and creative writing at Milton Academy, Emerson College, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She was a fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and was a regional winner in Granta's Best Young American Novelist contest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
December 27, 2025
"Last night I dreamed we was all together. Sam, Poppa, Ester - all of us here in Philadelphia."
Addy and her Momma are feeling the holiday blues. It's been months since they escaped slavery and settled in Philadelphia and there hasn't been any news about Poppa, or her siblings.
"An icy wind whistled through the crack in the garret window."
Winter is upon Momma and Addy - which means long nights of sewing by candlelight for Momma and cold afternoons when school lets out for Addy (they can only afford to use coal for cooking and heating at night).
But Addy tries not to be discouraged. She and Momma are saving up for a lamp to help Momma sew at night and secretly, Addy is saving half her tips for a Christmas present to give Momma.
But then they get word that another group of freedmen are coming to town. Momma and Addy need to make some tough decisions - should they save the money for themselves? Or donate it to the church for the freedman's fund.
"Things are gonna be better here," promised Addy, "The people at the church helped me and my momma. They'll help you too."
Whew. I'm a little mixed on this one.
On the one hand - the message of donating what you have to help those who have none is truly a good one...
But on the other, it's hard for me to understand how the church could expect people with so little to donate all they have.
However, I think I'm a bit jaded from various monetary scandals that have come out in the last few decades.
There used to be a time where donating to the church meant a direct line of help to the poor. And while Addy and her mother are considered under the poverty line, they do have more than the freedmen and women who just arrived.
I think the author does a good job of showing how difficult the decision was for Addy and how much of an impact that money would have on others.
I also enjoyed how despite the monetary restrictions, Addy and Momma were able to celebrate Christmas with love and joy.
I will say that the grand reveal of made me tear up as I read this one aloud to my little one.
BUT after sitting on it, I wish Addy had but then again, this is a children's book and what's Christmas without a bit of magic?
More reviews in the Addy-verse
Main Series:
Meet Addy - ★★★★☆
Addy Learns a Lesson - ★★★★☆
Addy's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Addy - ★★★★★
Addy Saves the Day - ★★★☆☆
Changes for Addy - ★★★★★
Addy's Boxed Set - ★★★★☆
Short Stories:
Addy Studies Freedom - ★★★★☆
Addy's Wedding Quilt - ★★★★★
Addy's Little Brother - ★★★☆☆
High Hopes for Addy - ★★★★☆
Addy's Summer Place - ★★★☆☆
Addy's Short Story Collection - ★★★★☆
Mystery Book:
Shadows on Society Hill - ★★☆☆☆
Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2014):
Finding Freedom: An Addy Classic - ★★★☆☆
A Heart Full of Hope: An Addy Classic - ★★★☆☆
Abridged Version (Re-Release of Main Series in 2020):
Addy: Finding Freedom - ★★★★☆
Addy: A Heart Full of Hope - ★★★★☆
Addy's Historical and Activity Books:
Addy's Cookbook - ★★★★★
Addy's Craft Book - ★★★★★
Addy's Theater Kit - ★★★★★
Real Stories from My Time: The Underground Railroad - ★★★☆☆
Welcome to Addy's World · 1864 - ★★★★★
Additional Historical and Activity Books Featuring Addy:
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 - ★★★★☆
The Official American Girl Cookbook - ★★★★☆
Beginner Reader & Picture Books:
Freedom for Addy (Step Into Reading) - ★★★☆☆
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
My First American Girl Boxed Set - ★★★★☆
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
December 8, 2025
SO sweet. I loved reading this bite-sized piece of nostalgia by the tree.
I had forgotten what an MVP Mrs. Hudson was in this book.
I had forgotten what an MVP Mrs. Hudson was in this book.
February 2, 2020
There's always a candy coating to the history in these books, especially the holiday ones. In the end, the girls always get what they want, plus a nice surprise or two as well. This is no different: Addy lucks into a beautiful new dress, Momma makes her a new doll, Mrs. Ford gives them the lamp, AND POPPA SHOWS UP OUTTA NOWHERE. Plus, Addy finds a way to contribute to the freedman's fund AND still give Momma a pretty new scarf for Christmas. Everything she wanted and more. (I guess not everything, but STILL. This is a LOT.)
AND YET. The Walkers spend most of the book with a window that won't quite close and it's snowing. They only have enough coal for cooking. Ruth Walker is sewing by candlelight because they can't afford a lamp. We keenly feel their hardships, and yet we see how much needier the newly arrived freedmen are. This sweet little Christmas story is full of suffering and deprivation.
So I guess where I'm going with this is that if anyone deserves to get everything she wants this Christmas, it's Addy. She's not pestering or petulant or disobeying - the worst she does is to hide a few cents of her tip money, planning to buy the scarf for Momma. And even those coins wind up going to the freedmen's fund.
There's something almost predatory about asking people like Addy and Momma for donations when they have so very little. And yet, without people like the Walkers and the Moores, who would help the newly arrived freedmen?
I think I forgot how much I like Addy, you guys. I really, really like Addy.
More Addy babble
Meet Addy | Addy Learns a Lesson | Addy’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Addy | Addy Saves the Day | Changes for Addy
High Hopes for Addy | Addy’s Little Brother | Addy’s Wedding Quilt | Addy Studies Freedom | Addy’s Summer Place | Addy’s Short Story Collection
Shadows on Society Hill
A New Beginning
AND YET. The Walkers spend most of the book with a window that won't quite close and it's snowing. They only have enough coal for cooking. Ruth Walker is sewing by candlelight because they can't afford a lamp. We keenly feel their hardships, and yet we see how much needier the newly arrived freedmen are. This sweet little Christmas story is full of suffering and deprivation.
So I guess where I'm going with this is that if anyone deserves to get everything she wants this Christmas, it's Addy. She's not pestering or petulant or disobeying - the worst she does is to hide a few cents of her tip money, planning to buy the scarf for Momma. And even those coins wind up going to the freedmen's fund.
There's something almost predatory about asking people like Addy and Momma for donations when they have so very little. And yet, without people like the Walkers and the Moores, who would help the newly arrived freedmen?
I think I forgot how much I like Addy, you guys. I really, really like Addy.
More Addy babble
Meet Addy | Addy Learns a Lesson | Addy’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Addy | Addy Saves the Day | Changes for Addy
High Hopes for Addy | Addy’s Little Brother | Addy’s Wedding Quilt | Addy Studies Freedom | Addy’s Summer Place | Addy’s Short Story Collection
Shadows on Society Hill
A New Beginning
December 21, 2021
The Christmas Scarf
Addy’s Surprise
This is a delightful Christmas story that takes place right after the end of slavery. Addy’s is a young free slave living in Philadelphia. Her mother works as a seamstress. It is Christmas tie, and Addy sees a red scarf in the window of a used store. The man wants twenty cents for it. Seemed steep to me. Addy wants it for her mother and saves up the money from her tips to buy it. She delivers the clothing that her mom makes. But things don’t go as planned, at least not for a while.
Addy’s Surprise
This is a delightful Christmas story that takes place right after the end of slavery. Addy’s is a young free slave living in Philadelphia. Her mother works as a seamstress. It is Christmas tie, and Addy sees a red scarf in the window of a used store. The man wants twenty cents for it. Seemed steep to me. Addy wants it for her mother and saves up the money from her tips to buy it. She delivers the clothing that her mom makes. But things don’t go as planned, at least not for a while.
December 14, 2024
This book is tied so far with Kit’s for my favorite AG Holiday book! I loved the characters so much and all the lessons they taught the readers. This book truly encompassed the true meanings of Christmas and it was beautiful. Addy’s books are sure to always hold a special place in my heart.
Read
April 18, 2022This one was beautiful and also made me sob at the end. 5/5 in my heart.
September 23, 2024
Such a precious story. This one is my favorite of Addy's so far.
September 22, 2024
I loved how important the church was in this one, and Addy's selflessness was so wonderful. And that ending!!! Didn't exactly like the mention of Kwanzaa in the looking back section, though.
July 22, 2023
3.5 stars
I haven’t read this book in years! I grew up reading all the American Girl books (back when there were only 6 girls) and thought I’d revisit this one.
I liked Addy and her willingness to help others even when she and her momma had so little. While there isn’t a lot of details in the story about what it was like to live as a freed slave in a northern state, it did give a bit of a picture. But it wasn’t all hard and sad. Loved the ending.
I also enjoyed the fact that the real Christmas story was talked about.
A Peek into the Past was also an interesting read as it gives a little more information about that era.
I haven’t read this book in years! I grew up reading all the American Girl books (back when there were only 6 girls) and thought I’d revisit this one.
I liked Addy and her willingness to help others even when she and her momma had so little. While there isn’t a lot of details in the story about what it was like to live as a freed slave in a northern state, it did give a bit of a picture. But it wasn’t all hard and sad. Loved the ending.
I also enjoyed the fact that the real Christmas story was talked about.
A Peek into the Past was also an interesting read as it gives a little more information about that era.
July 13, 2026
My heartstrings...
Freedom is good, but it isn't easy. I'm glad these stories show that.
Addy wants to do something kind for her mother, but is given the opportunity to do something kind for people who've just been freed. She longs to do both, but can't. Which is better?
A good story. And a great historical note!
Freedom is good, but it isn't easy. I'm glad these stories show that.
Addy wants to do something kind for her mother, but is given the opportunity to do something kind for people who've just been freed. She longs to do both, but can't. Which is better?
A good story. And a great historical note!
Read
February 26, 2020Really really good, I honestly don't want to spoil it, just READ IT.
March 4, 2011
This book is about a little girl named Addy. It's Christmas time and it is her first Christmas with Momma, her mother, in freedom from slavery. She's very very excited and in the last chapter she finds her Poppa, her Daddy. He had been taken away in the first book with her brother Sam. The men had been separated and they didn't know where Sam was. She saw her Poppa in church on Christmas.
November 12, 2024
This one genuinely brings tears to my eyes. The part where Addy is reunited with her father on christmas day. The symbolism of the Shadow Puppet room where the children are watching these silhouettes that they recognize as Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, and then Addy looking up and seeing a shadow in the doorway and instantly recognizing that shape as her father, running to embrace him, it just dissolved me into tears, man.
I literally always tear up at the part that the dad turns away and starts crying, I initially thought he was weeping because of the generosity of Mrs. Ford's gift, but then you get the emotional punch of realizing that he's crying in joy because his daughter just read something to him -- something he'd hoped and dreamed for his children to have the chance to do for years and years.
This book vaguely reminds me of the Gift of the Magi, the way Addy has to sacrifice something valuable to her to get a gift for her loved one -- she initially plans to secretly save up and buy a shawl for her mother, but she then is inspired to donate the gift money to the church offering, which will presumably go to help former slaves who are moving north. This book was a lot more overtly religious than American Girl usually gets, but I see why. The role of the black church in helping newly freed slaves cannot be overstated. Addy remembers how she and her mother were helped when they arrived in Philadelphia and imagines that she's donating those precious pennies to help her baby sister, brother, and father reunite with her.
Through circumstance, Addy is rewarded for her generosity by receiving a new dress for Christmas, the excess fabric she uses to make her mother a handmade shawl.
Beautiful illustrations, extremely emotional, definitely imparts 'Christmas' to a young reader as something that is about more than receiving gifts in a way that some of the other girls Christmas volume failed (mostly Samantha's)
P.S., I loved the way Mrs. Ford dealt with that unhappy customer and defended Ruth, you keep that ramrod straight spine, Mrs. Ford, hell yes.
I literally always tear up at the part that the dad turns away and starts crying, I initially thought he was weeping because of the generosity of Mrs. Ford's gift, but then you get the emotional punch of realizing that he's crying in joy because his daughter just read something to him -- something he'd hoped and dreamed for his children to have the chance to do for years and years.
This book vaguely reminds me of the Gift of the Magi, the way Addy has to sacrifice something valuable to her to get a gift for her loved one -- she initially plans to secretly save up and buy a shawl for her mother, but she then is inspired to donate the gift money to the church offering, which will presumably go to help former slaves who are moving north. This book was a lot more overtly religious than American Girl usually gets, but I see why. The role of the black church in helping newly freed slaves cannot be overstated. Addy remembers how she and her mother were helped when they arrived in Philadelphia and imagines that she's donating those precious pennies to help her baby sister, brother, and father reunite with her.
Through circumstance, Addy is rewarded for her generosity by receiving a new dress for Christmas, the excess fabric she uses to make her mother a handmade shawl.
Beautiful illustrations, extremely emotional, definitely imparts 'Christmas' to a young reader as something that is about more than receiving gifts in a way that some of the other girls Christmas volume failed (mostly Samantha's)
P.S., I loved the way Mrs. Ford dealt with that unhappy customer and defended Ruth, you keep that ramrod straight spine, Mrs. Ford, hell yes.
October 27, 2017
This is the first American Girl book I ever read. It was given to me in the third grade. I loved it then and I love it still.
I read it this year (2017) for the Popsugar Reading Challenge for the prompt "a book loved as a child."
I read it this year (2017) for the Popsugar Reading Challenge for the prompt "a book loved as a child."
June 17, 2025
Another moving installment in Addy's series. In this book, Christmas is approaching, and Addy is trying to save up the few cents she receives as tips for delivering the dresses her mother makes at work in order to buy her mother a secondhand scarf for Christmas. But after she and her mother discuss all the recently freed people coming to Philadelphia that need their support, just like they received when they arrived with empty arms, Addy is moved to donate funds.
This had such a moving scene on Christmas day where Addy is reunited with a family member. Both of my daughters shrieked with joy over the scene! It felt like a true Christmas miracle, even though Addy is still missing two of her family members who were left behind in slavery.
Just like every American Girl book, this had so many great lessons for young readers, including hard work, generosity, charity, and being grateful for what we have. Addy has very little in the way of material comforts, but she has a wonderful Christmas thanks to her little family, a new life in freedom, and her Church community.
This had such a moving scene on Christmas day where Addy is reunited with a family member. Both of my daughters shrieked with joy over the scene! It felt like a true Christmas miracle, even though Addy is still missing two of her family members who were left behind in slavery.
Just like every American Girl book, this had so many great lessons for young readers, including hard work, generosity, charity, and being grateful for what we have. Addy has very little in the way of material comforts, but she has a wonderful Christmas thanks to her little family, a new life in freedom, and her Church community.
February 16, 2025
the american girl books, this one especially so, teaches us of christmases of the past and makes real connections that evoke gratitude, thoughtfulness and discussion on the topics presented.
all addy books are a win. i am in awe, im so sad kid me missed these, but im so happy i get them now.
all addy books are a win. i am in awe, im so sad kid me missed these, but im so happy i get them now.
March 7, 2024
Loved this book and I love her doll, Ida Bean. Such an adorable and fitting name. What a great story! Excited to read the rest!
December 28, 2025
I read this with my daughter and what a sweet story. It was such a nostalgic moment as I remember reading about Addy when I was small! ✨
February 18, 2026
If I wasn’t reading this out loud to my students I might have sobbed at the ending.
I think this is my favorite book in this collection. 🤍
I think this is my favorite book in this collection. 🤍
March 20, 2026
We should always remember the cost of freedom.
June 27, 2026
#1 of the Addy main series in my opinion (though it's hard to pick; all the books are so good!). There are SO MANY things I loved about this book, especially Addy being so sweet and generous and just wanting to make her mom happy at Christmas and for all of her family to be together in freedom. She is so brave and strong and determined and just keeps her head up no matter what she's facing, and I want to give her a huge hug.
I love that this book showed how even when Addy and her mom are free, freedom doesn't magically solve every single problem they have. They are still poor. They are still struggling. Her mom has to work really hard. They can't even afford a lamp to light their tiny room so Addy's mom can see better when she sews late at night. The garret window is stuck and lets in cold. They can't afford coal to burn for heat. There is discrimination against black people even in Philadelphia. They are free from slavery...but enslaved in a different way by capitalism, I guess. This is so incredibly realistic and something you rarely see in children's books. Usually children's books end the story with the character escaping slavery, whereas with this one, the story STARTS with Addy escaping slavery and the rest of the series is about her adjusting to what in many ways is a difficult and impoverished life in Philadelphia.
I also love how alive Addy's family is to her even when they're apart. Her mother's idea to make sweet potato pudding because Auntie Lula, Uncle Solomon, and Esther will be eating the same thing is heartbreaking and also lovely. And I love how much Addy just wants her family to be happy. When she goes to the secondhand shop, she notices the red scarf for her mother, and she doesn't think even a little bit about herself. She just thinks her mother has been working really hard and deserves to have something beautiful. Addy is such a sweet, precious girl.
I also like how the church is such a large component of Addy's life, which I think is realistic to the time period and specifically to formerly enslaved people of that period. One complaint I have about many of the American Girl books is that religion and church play an unrealistically minor role in their lives (Felicity's books are somewhat of an exception this), when for most of American history, religion and church were a big deal. I am not religious myself, but I appreciate realism and historical accuracy! Anyway, the black church was an extremely important institution, especially in 1864, so I'm glad it's accurately represented in the Addy series.
I loved the pastor's sermon about freedom and the Freedmen's Fund, and I loved Addy's mother deciding to donate their lamp savings to the fund. It honestly brought tears to my eyes when she said, "They need our savings more than we do. We can get along without a lamp, but they can't get along without help." What a wonderful, generous, kind person Addy's mother is! And what a wonderful message about mutual aid, with Addy's mother saying that the money will help somebody, and that's what's important. And to know there were so many real people like her who had so little themselves and yet gave what they had to those with even less is simultaneously inspiring and shaming to most of us living in the 21st century.
Addy and her mother literally can't afford enough coal to heat their freezing garret, they can't afford a lamp for her mother to see properly when she sews late into the night, Addy has a single dress (well, two, including the one her mother made her in the previous book), and still they are giving what they have to the less fortunate. Extremely touching and beautiful. (It reminds me of one of the scene in one of my other favourite books, A Little Princess, where Sara gives five of the six buns she buys at the bakery to a little girl who is even hungrier than she is.)
And I loved Addy welcoming the freedmen at the pier and thinking about Esther and deciding to give the money for her mother's scarf to the Freedmen's Fund too. What a brave, generous girl! This part also made me cry, especially: "It was only twenty cents. But if everyone gave as much as possible, then all the newly freed people could get to the North - maybe even Esther." I love Addy knowing that even if she can't do everything, she can do SOMETHING, and she isn't letting not being able to fix the whole problem stopping her from doing her part. And I love the idea that if everyone all across the North gives what they can, then the people who need care can get it. I think that is an extremely powerful message in a children's book (it reminds me of Melody's book where she boycotts the bank that wouldn't hire her sister). I love how Addy feels empowered to act and knows that she can make a difference.
Also, there is so much beautiful and poignant writing in this book that brought tears to my eyes. For example: "Then she thought of Esther, Sam, and Poppa, still waiting to take their freedom, and she let the half dime clink into the box with the rest of her money." I love how these books frame freedom as something to be TAKEN, not received passively, not given by someone else, but taken by the person themselves. I think that is a very important correction to narratives that disempower black folks or make it seem like they weren't always fighting and struggling for their freedom, lives, families, etc.
I liked Mrs. Ford having a change of heart about Addy and saying she'd served her business well and letting her sew alongside her mother, and I loved Mrs. Ford defending Addy's mother to Mrs. Howell. And I loved her giving Addy Isabella Howell's dress (and what a beautiful dress it is!) and giving Addy's family the kerosene lamp for Christmas. And I LOVED Addy making her mother a scarf out of the extra material! And I loved how Addy and her mother were both so excited to give each other gifts on Christmas morning.
The scene of Poppa coming home was very exciting to me when I first read this book as a child, but now it's very plot convenient for him to just find her in the church, especially on Christmas. But whatever, I was still happy for them to be reunited. And I LOVED the scene of them back in the garret and seeing the lamp Mrs. Ford left. I initially thought Poppa was crying because of Mrs. Ford's kindness, but then when he said, "I'm crying because I'm so happy. I'm so proud you can read. I always knew you was a smart girl." I STARTED CRYING TOO. How incredible it must have been for Poppa to see his daughter reading just as he had imagined and hoped and wished. And how incredible it must have been for real formerly enslaved parents seeing their own children learn to read and write.
I also love the illustrations in all of the Addy books. They are so sweet and also poignant. I especially love the first illustration of Addy's mother braiding her hair. And Addy's parents are unrealistically wonderful in her whole series (in reality, poverty and the stress and hardships these families went through would likely have made the parents harsher with their children, as well as parenting norms just being different at the time) but I love the portrayal of a strong, loving black family who support each other and their community. This whole family is truly #goals.
I love that this book showed how even when Addy and her mom are free, freedom doesn't magically solve every single problem they have. They are still poor. They are still struggling. Her mom has to work really hard. They can't even afford a lamp to light their tiny room so Addy's mom can see better when she sews late at night. The garret window is stuck and lets in cold. They can't afford coal to burn for heat. There is discrimination against black people even in Philadelphia. They are free from slavery...but enslaved in a different way by capitalism, I guess. This is so incredibly realistic and something you rarely see in children's books. Usually children's books end the story with the character escaping slavery, whereas with this one, the story STARTS with Addy escaping slavery and the rest of the series is about her adjusting to what in many ways is a difficult and impoverished life in Philadelphia.
I also love how alive Addy's family is to her even when they're apart. Her mother's idea to make sweet potato pudding because Auntie Lula, Uncle Solomon, and Esther will be eating the same thing is heartbreaking and also lovely. And I love how much Addy just wants her family to be happy. When she goes to the secondhand shop, she notices the red scarf for her mother, and she doesn't think even a little bit about herself. She just thinks her mother has been working really hard and deserves to have something beautiful. Addy is such a sweet, precious girl.
I also like how the church is such a large component of Addy's life, which I think is realistic to the time period and specifically to formerly enslaved people of that period. One complaint I have about many of the American Girl books is that religion and church play an unrealistically minor role in their lives (Felicity's books are somewhat of an exception this), when for most of American history, religion and church were a big deal. I am not religious myself, but I appreciate realism and historical accuracy! Anyway, the black church was an extremely important institution, especially in 1864, so I'm glad it's accurately represented in the Addy series.
I loved the pastor's sermon about freedom and the Freedmen's Fund, and I loved Addy's mother deciding to donate their lamp savings to the fund. It honestly brought tears to my eyes when she said, "They need our savings more than we do. We can get along without a lamp, but they can't get along without help." What a wonderful, generous, kind person Addy's mother is! And what a wonderful message about mutual aid, with Addy's mother saying that the money will help somebody, and that's what's important. And to know there were so many real people like her who had so little themselves and yet gave what they had to those with even less is simultaneously inspiring and shaming to most of us living in the 21st century.
Addy and her mother literally can't afford enough coal to heat their freezing garret, they can't afford a lamp for her mother to see properly when she sews late into the night, Addy has a single dress (well, two, including the one her mother made her in the previous book), and still they are giving what they have to the less fortunate. Extremely touching and beautiful. (It reminds me of one of the scene in one of my other favourite books, A Little Princess, where Sara gives five of the six buns she buys at the bakery to a little girl who is even hungrier than she is.)
And I loved Addy welcoming the freedmen at the pier and thinking about Esther and deciding to give the money for her mother's scarf to the Freedmen's Fund too. What a brave, generous girl! This part also made me cry, especially: "It was only twenty cents. But if everyone gave as much as possible, then all the newly freed people could get to the North - maybe even Esther." I love Addy knowing that even if she can't do everything, she can do SOMETHING, and she isn't letting not being able to fix the whole problem stopping her from doing her part. And I love the idea that if everyone all across the North gives what they can, then the people who need care can get it. I think that is an extremely powerful message in a children's book (it reminds me of Melody's book where she boycotts the bank that wouldn't hire her sister). I love how Addy feels empowered to act and knows that she can make a difference.
Also, there is so much beautiful and poignant writing in this book that brought tears to my eyes. For example: "Then she thought of Esther, Sam, and Poppa, still waiting to take their freedom, and she let the half dime clink into the box with the rest of her money." I love how these books frame freedom as something to be TAKEN, not received passively, not given by someone else, but taken by the person themselves. I think that is a very important correction to narratives that disempower black folks or make it seem like they weren't always fighting and struggling for their freedom, lives, families, etc.
I liked Mrs. Ford having a change of heart about Addy and saying she'd served her business well and letting her sew alongside her mother, and I loved Mrs. Ford defending Addy's mother to Mrs. Howell. And I loved her giving Addy Isabella Howell's dress (and what a beautiful dress it is!) and giving Addy's family the kerosene lamp for Christmas. And I LOVED Addy making her mother a scarf out of the extra material! And I loved how Addy and her mother were both so excited to give each other gifts on Christmas morning.
The scene of Poppa coming home was very exciting to me when I first read this book as a child, but now it's very plot convenient for him to just find her in the church, especially on Christmas. But whatever, I was still happy for them to be reunited. And I LOVED the scene of them back in the garret and seeing the lamp Mrs. Ford left. I initially thought Poppa was crying because of Mrs. Ford's kindness, but then when he said, "I'm crying because I'm so happy. I'm so proud you can read. I always knew you was a smart girl." I STARTED CRYING TOO. How incredible it must have been for Poppa to see his daughter reading just as he had imagined and hoped and wished. And how incredible it must have been for real formerly enslaved parents seeing their own children learn to read and write.
I also love the illustrations in all of the Addy books. They are so sweet and also poignant. I especially love the first illustration of Addy's mother braiding her hair. And Addy's parents are unrealistically wonderful in her whole series (in reality, poverty and the stress and hardships these families went through would likely have made the parents harsher with their children, as well as parenting norms just being different at the time) but I love the portrayal of a strong, loving black family who support each other and their community. This whole family is truly #goals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
One thing I love about the Addy series is that it shows the reality of how former slaves were often separated from their families as they worked to claim freedom. This separation happens in the first book, and then each family member takes a different journey to Philadelphia, where they luckily had planned to meet up. The strength of the freedman's fund and the larger church community is so powerful in Addy's Surprise. You can see the roots of black church culture in this one and it's truly Christian values. I also love that Addy is more focused on giving Momma a present than on receiving, and I love Mrs. Ford's clearly having been won over by this hard-working mother and daughter. Also, it's brilliant how Addy's mom's being a seamstress justifies Addy's comparatively large wardrobe when they can't afford to heat their one-room home.
October 18, 2024
This book made me cry. 😭 It's really amazing how good the AG books are.
March 25, 2016
Addy and her mother are working hard to make ends meet. They have a roof over their heads and food and clothes, but they have to save their pennies for things like coal for heat, and a lamp to do work by at night. Even in the midst of hardships, Addy and Momma both want to find ways to surprise each other for Christmas. But they also feel the pain of others around them who are newly freed and in need, just as they were. They have to make hard choices about what is the most important thing to do with their money. But they also learn that Christmas can still bring surprises, some that are even better than any money can buy.
We enjoyed this book a lot, especially the ending. I like how each book has a "peak into the past" section at the end so we can tie it in with our US history study.
We enjoyed this book a lot, especially the ending. I like how each book has a "peak into the past" section at the end so we can tie it in with our US history study.
January 21, 2022
I cried reading this one. I think I've cried at some point reading all of Addy's books. How could someone break up a family? How could people justify treating other people worse than animals? It boggles the mind. I hope by the end of book 6, Addy's family is reunited.
I read this series to my niece years ago and I can still remember how moved I was by Addy's story. In my opinion, Addy's series is one of the upper echelon in the American Girls canon, both the stories and the illustrations.
I read this series to my niece years ago and I can still remember how moved I was by Addy's story. In my opinion, Addy's series is one of the upper echelon in the American Girls canon, both the stories and the illustrations.
April 28, 2025
Definitely one of the best "________'s Surprise" American Girl books. While I certainly don't begrudge the children in most of these books for desiring things like dolls (often an integral part of the Christmas wish plot), as is totally normal for girls that age, Addy's maturity surpasses everyone else's. All she longs for is enough money to buy Momma a nice gift and for her scattered family to reunite. SO incredibly refreshing! I presume that her past with slavery broadens her perspective and instills a wisdom beyond her nine years.
July 26, 2008
I read the book aloud to my 5 year old daughter. We liked how she gave her money to help bring more slaves to freedom. It was a sacrifice as now she wouldn't be able to buy her mom a Christmas present. We loved how God rewarded her for being faithful to his prompting.
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December 4, 2023American 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.
Like Kaya, Addy's stories make you wonder if they hold up after all these years. Addy was the first BIPOC doll produced by Pleasant Company, a girl who escapes slavery, which you are then enticed to purchase. Basically, you want me to purchase a doll that's a formerly enslaved girl, and it's a pricey, luxury item produced by a company with an overly white upper middle class market? It's the kind of of thing that makes you say: AG's canceled.
But let's separate the doll from the books, because the stories are good, even in an age when audiences are begging for black stories that don't revolve around slavery and trauma. The African diaspora is so wide and deep, with hundreds of stories left to be told.
Addy's collection is still worthwhile, especially for American children. In an age when political groups become anti-CRT without knowing what it means, kids need accessible, tangible, empathetic stories that relay the difficult truths about American history. There is no AG character that can match Addy, because Addy is a young person escaping the punishing, violent, and imperialistic system of slavery, and in doing so, she is no longer capital but a full being able to earn her own capital. Whereas other AG characters freely exist within their capitalist society, Addy is a product in that capitalist society who earns her own agency.
It's why the trials she faces in Addy's Surprise can't compare to the trials that Felicity or Kirsten face. In this book, Addy just wants to burn more coal in their tiny apartment so that it's warmer and have more money to buy her mother a scarf. "Freedom ain't free" like the characters quote, but they survive through love and supporting each other. It takes this kind of resiliency for enslaved people to survive the brutalist, designed slave society, and yet, many still didn't.
While it seems AG is phasing out Addy's collection, except to milk the nostalgia of millennials, her stories are worth keeping and sharing.
See my review of Felicity's Surprise as a quick introduction.
Like Kaya, Addy's stories make you wonder if they hold up after all these years. Addy was the first BIPOC doll produced by Pleasant Company, a girl who escapes slavery, which you are then enticed to purchase. Basically, you want me to purchase a doll that's a formerly enslaved girl, and it's a pricey, luxury item produced by a company with an overly white upper middle class market? It's the kind of of thing that makes you say: AG's canceled.
But let's separate the doll from the books, because the stories are good, even in an age when audiences are begging for black stories that don't revolve around slavery and trauma. The African diaspora is so wide and deep, with hundreds of stories left to be told.
Addy's collection is still worthwhile, especially for American children. In an age when political groups become anti-CRT without knowing what it means, kids need accessible, tangible, empathetic stories that relay the difficult truths about American history. There is no AG character that can match Addy, because Addy is a young person escaping the punishing, violent, and imperialistic system of slavery, and in doing so, she is no longer capital but a full being able to earn her own capital. Whereas other AG characters freely exist within their capitalist society, Addy is a product in that capitalist society who earns her own agency.
It's why the trials she faces in Addy's Surprise can't compare to the trials that Felicity or Kirsten face. In this book, Addy just wants to burn more coal in their tiny apartment so that it's warmer and have more money to buy her mother a scarf. "Freedom ain't free" like the characters quote, but they survive through love and supporting each other. It takes this kind of resiliency for enslaved people to survive the brutalist, designed slave society, and yet, many still didn't.
While it seems AG is phasing out Addy's collection, except to milk the nostalgia of millennials, her stories are worth keeping and sharing.
August 11, 2026
YAYAYYAY! Holiday books! This one was amazing hands down. The part where Poppa comes home and they have a new lamp and and shows off her reading skills was so sweet! Everything about this book felt so magical, like the Christmas service, Addy giving the scarf, and Addy's new dress. I like how every dress from Addy's collection is new and fancy because it makes it so exciting to read her finally getting them. Momma was a subtle but amazing character and Mrs. Ford standing up against Ms. Howell was a treat. It also shows her growing respect for her. We learned that Addy likes to keep the shop very, very organized, which is such a sweet detail. I wasn't that surprised when she donated all her money to the freedmen fund. It shows how selfless she is and she is willing to think about a greater cause. I was still really hoping that she would get a gift for Momma, and of course she did because she is so clever and generous. It coming from the dress is lovely because now they matched when they went to the church service! This book was a delight to read and keeps up American Girl's streak having great holiday books
October 12, 2020
The setting of the beginning of the story is inside a little attic room where Addy and her mom stay above Mrs. Ford's dress shop. I liked that Addy had to do something to help her mom instead of be lazy and stay in bed. If I was in her shoes, I think I would have helped her mom. Addy is determined to buy a beautiful red scarf for her mom that she saw in a shop window. It didn't cost much, but instead of buying the scarf, she put all her money into the Freedman's Fund to help families get together again. I like that she has a bright hope to reunite her family all together and live happily ever after in Pennsylvania. And it's sweet that Addy made a scarf from left over material that Mrs. Ford gave to her. Addy's present was a new doll that she named Ida. I really liked the Christmas celebration at her church - it was such a good ending that someone opened the door and it was her Pappa and they all go home together. (Her brother doesn't make it to Philadelphia until the 5th book.) - age 9
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