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American Girl: Samantha #5
Samantha Saves the Day: A Summer Story
While spending the summer at Grandmary's home on Goose Lake, Samantha and the twins Agnes and Agatha decide to visit the island where Samantha's parents were drowned during a storm.
65 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
16 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Tripp
254 books439 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 - 30 of 158 reviews
November 29, 2025
"TOO-OOT! With a cheerful blast of its whistle, the little steamboat chugged across Goose Lake toward Samantha."Every year Samantha and her family go to Piney Point - an isolated mountain-top summer home. She loves the woods, the water and the adventure that the wild areas offer.
This year, Aunt Cornelia and her younger sisters (twins, Agnes and Agatha) are joining the family for the holidays. Samantha can't wait to share all of the special places with her new cousins.
One day, while exploring the attic, the three of them come upon a beautiful sketchbook.
Samantha's parents passed away due to a boating accident when she was five, and she's always been devastated that she has no memories of them...but maybe if she goes to the island where her mother made the beautiful sketches, perhaps she can remember?
" 'It looks like something my mother made,' she said. 'It's sketches and watercolors of Teardrop Island.' "
But going there requires her to traverse dangerous waters, should she go? How much is a chance at memories worth?
This story focused on love and loss...and OKAY. I admit it. I teared up at this one.
There's something so poignant about a young girl who just wants to find memories of her deceased parents. It really got to me.
I know Samantha is a little rich girl who really has been given just about anything she's ever wanted...but the authors do such an amazing job of fleshing out her character. She feels so raw and real, especially as she agonizes over going to the island in the hopes of remembering her parents. The grief. Ohhhh gosh. It felt so strong.
On a lighter note, I really liked the introduction of the Admiral - a longtime friend of Grandmary. He's a fun side character and helps showcase Grandmary's personality.
And, I'm really loving how Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia are forming their own family. It's fun to watch them develop.
Still no Nellie, and I guess it makes sense since this is a family vacation but I miss the girl.
Overall, I'm eager to see where this story goes!
May 29, 2020
here's the interesting thing about these books compared to the other American Girls - Samantha's family is //loaded//. where most of the other AG characters are middle-class or lower, we see through the Edwards how the elite lived in this time period. which is kind of a unique perspective of this time? usually, the vibes and stories are like Newsies; they're based around the lower rungs of society. Sam's family is rich and they don't try to hide it - though they are really good people so we can forgive them a bit, I guess xD
September 16, 2024
This book is one of the best in the Samantha series. Also, in my opinion, it is one of the best American Girl "saves the day" books overall, because Samantha has an adventure, keeps her wits about her, and saves the day with flair, rather than screwing everything up dramatically herself and then scraping things together in the end. It's fun to see how resourceful and courageous she was, and even though I remember finding this book somewhat scary as a child, I am impressed with how well the author raised the stakes without ever putting the story over the top.
This book is extremely well-plotted, and shows Valerie Tripp at her finest. In 65 pages, she introduces a convincing and likable new character, describes a vivid and memorable setting, takes Samantha on an emotional journey related to the early loss of her parents, dramatizes a vivid adventure, and then leads the story to a meaningful, emotionally satisfying conclusion. I was afraid that this book would seem cheesy and over-dramatic, but it was even better than I had remembered from when I was a child.
This is a great model for how to plot an effective adventure story with an emotional arc, and I especially enjoyed this as an adult, since the storyline related to grief and loss was so well-handled within the summer vacation adventure. I can see why this, alongside book six, made the biggest impression on me when I was younger, and I'm glad that it was part of my childhood.
This book is extremely well-plotted, and shows Valerie Tripp at her finest. In 65 pages, she introduces a convincing and likable new character, describes a vivid and memorable setting, takes Samantha on an emotional journey related to the early loss of her parents, dramatizes a vivid adventure, and then leads the story to a meaningful, emotionally satisfying conclusion. I was afraid that this book would seem cheesy and over-dramatic, but it was even better than I had remembered from when I was a child.
This is a great model for how to plot an effective adventure story with an emotional arc, and I especially enjoyed this as an adult, since the storyline related to grief and loss was so well-handled within the summer vacation adventure. I can see why this, alongside book six, made the biggest impression on me when I was younger, and I'm glad that it was part of my childhood.
December 21, 2024
“I’m proud to know you girls, he said. You really saved the day, young lady.” 📚☕
It’s vacation time at Piney Point for Samantha and all of her favorite people. We learn why Samantha is being raised by her Grandmary and what happened to her parents.
AND we learn about a possible suitor of Grandmary as well.
This one was a little nailbiter!
AND heartbreaking as Samantha gets into the nail biting predicament because she’s trying to bring back a memory she shared with her parents long ago. Ahhhh 😢
SO good.
My favorite of the series so far!
✨📚☕💙☕📚✨More in-depth reviews on my weekly Youtube videos.
January 22, 2020
This was always my favorite book in the Samantha series, and it’s still my favorite rereading them as an adult. There’s plenty of action and adventure, and Samantha goes on an emotional journey as she remembers her parents death. It’s excellent story-telling with vibrant characters!
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September 9, 2024oh, to have a summer home in the mountains of New York, replete with log cabins, private islands, dusty attics, pine needles, waterfalls, pack baskets, silvery lakes, and a deeply tragic backstory *sighs* it's the generational wealth for me
December 21, 2024
I still miss Nellie. But at least Samantha didn't cause the problem here. Or at least not on purpose. *looking at you, Kit*
Read
July 10, 2022Revisited this summer read from childhood. I always loved Samantha’s stories the best. It was like opening a memory and experiencing something new all at once. I plan to revisit more!
February 11, 2023
this is one i remember so vividly from my childhood! the suspense!!
April 17, 2024
“This is probably what it was like when my parents drowned” is just casually dropped and then NEVER ADDRESSED AGAIN.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
These twins are gonna get samantha killed!
June 1, 2024
Nellie still absent, though admittedly it would have been tough to fit her into this plot.
I don't remember how I felt about Agnes and Agatha as a kid - only that it was the first time I'd encountered the name Agnes, and puzzled over how to say it. But now it annoys me that (a) they're basically interchangeable and (b) they're a little wild, yet also seem to need Samantha's leadership. I dunno, some friendships work that way, but this one just doesn't interest me that much.
I keep side-eyeing Admiral Archibald Beemis, too, who for some reason has a name that belongs in an Oscar Wilde play. He's basically an older version of Uncle Gard, which feels redundant and means Gard has nothing to do in this book. Meanwhile, Beemis is here to provide nautical jargon and .
Speaking of whom, I just keep thinking that
As an adult, the watercolors of tiny Samantha and her parents gave me all the feels - she looks just the age my daughter is now. Samantha's longing for memories and knowledge of her parents is palpable, and is really the heart of the book.
More Samantha babble:
Meet Samantha | Samantha Learns a Lesson | Samantha's Surprise | Happy Birthday, Samantha | Samantha Saves the Day | Changes for Samantha
Nellie's Promise
Samantha's Winter Party | Samantha and the Missing Pearls | Samantha Saves the Wedding | Samantha's Blue Bicycle | Samantha's Special Talent | Samantha's Short Story Collection
The Curse of Ravenscourt | The Stolen Sapphire | The Cry of the Loon | Clue in the Castle Tower
The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha
I don't remember how I felt about Agnes and Agatha as a kid - only that it was the first time I'd encountered the name Agnes, and puzzled over how to say it. But now it annoys me that (a) they're basically interchangeable and (b) they're a little wild, yet also seem to need Samantha's leadership. I dunno, some friendships work that way, but this one just doesn't interest me that much.
I keep side-eyeing Admiral Archibald Beemis, too, who for some reason has a name that belongs in an Oscar Wilde play. He's basically an older version of Uncle Gard, which feels redundant and means Gard has nothing to do in this book. Meanwhile, Beemis is here to provide nautical jargon and .
Speaking of whom, I just keep thinking that
As an adult, the watercolors of tiny Samantha and her parents gave me all the feels - she looks just the age my daughter is now. Samantha's longing for memories and knowledge of her parents is palpable, and is really the heart of the book.
More Samantha babble:
Meet Samantha | Samantha Learns a Lesson | Samantha's Surprise | Happy Birthday, Samantha | Samantha Saves the Day | Changes for Samantha
Nellie's Promise
Samantha's Winter Party | Samantha and the Missing Pearls | Samantha Saves the Wedding | Samantha's Blue Bicycle | Samantha's Special Talent | Samantha's Short Story Collection
The Curse of Ravenscourt | The Stolen Sapphire | The Cry of the Loon | Clue in the Castle Tower
The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha
April 20, 2021
Whoa, Val Tripp was coming in hot with this one. As with my book review for the 4th book, I would be remiss to note the total lack of Nellie - not even a mention of her former friend. But, with this book I can understand why Nellie isn't present as much. She can't take the time off work because she is one of the bread-winners in her family. Let that sink in when you compare it to the bougie lifestyle that Samantha leads.
Aside from my saltiness at the way Nellie has been cast aside, I am glad that we finally talk about Samantha's parents. In this book, Samantha gets to learn a bit more about her parents and connect with them when she sees her mother's sketchbook and visits some of the places where they brought Samantha when she was toddler.
Piney Point sounds like an idyllic spot to spend a summer vacation. I remember wanting to go there myself when I was a little girl, then going off into my own backyard in the hopes of a dramatic adventure. It reminds me of the time I spend now hiking and kayaking, and I think I appreciate the beauty of the scenes that Val created.
I'm also down for Admiral Archibald "Mr. Steal Your Grandmary" Beemis coming in for a little romance. Why should the youths have all the fun? Grandmary is a force to be reckoned with (see: shutting up the gossips in book 2) and woke (see: supporting women's right to vote in book 4). She's a catch. Honestly, if someone got on a series with Grandmary's side adventures, I'd be down for that.
Aside from my saltiness at the way Nellie has been cast aside, I am glad that we finally talk about Samantha's parents. In this book, Samantha gets to learn a bit more about her parents and connect with them when she sees her mother's sketchbook and visits some of the places where they brought Samantha when she was toddler.
Piney Point sounds like an idyllic spot to spend a summer vacation. I remember wanting to go there myself when I was a little girl, then going off into my own backyard in the hopes of a dramatic adventure. It reminds me of the time I spend now hiking and kayaking, and I think I appreciate the beauty of the scenes that Val created.
I'm also down for Admiral Archibald "Mr. Steal Your Grandmary" Beemis coming in for a little romance. Why should the youths have all the fun? Grandmary is a force to be reckoned with (see: shutting up the gossips in book 2) and woke (see: supporting women's right to vote in book 4). She's a catch. Honestly, if someone got on a series with Grandmary's side adventures, I'd be down for that.
June 5, 2014
Samantha couldn't be happier! She is with Grandmary at their summer home(Piney Point) in the mountains. To add to the excitement, Agnes, Agatha, Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia are joining them. And so is Grandmary's special friend and admirer, Admiral Archibald Beemis. Fishing, swimming, and exploring in their canoe occupy their sunny days. And on rainy days, the girls complete jigsaw puzzles, paint pictures, play cards and work on their wildflower scrapbooks. When Samantha finds a sketchbook of her late mother's vacation paintings, she and the twins decide to visit Teardrop Island. Samantha is aware that her parents had a tragic accident there, but what could happen on such a beautiful, peaceful day?
Samantha Saves The Day is the fifth book in the Samantha series. Cleverly illustrated by Dan Andreasen.
The "Looking Back" section of the book explores "America Outdoors in 1904." People in towns and cities wanted to escape to the mountains and seashores in the summer. Wealthy families often spent their entire summer at their vacation homes. They may have felt they were "roughing it", but servants made their lives easier.
John Muir, Sarah and James Philip and Theodore Roosevelt were active in early ecological movements.
Samantha Saves The Day is the fifth book in the Samantha series. Cleverly illustrated by Dan Andreasen.
The "Looking Back" section of the book explores "America Outdoors in 1904." People in towns and cities wanted to escape to the mountains and seashores in the summer. Wealthy families often spent their entire summer at their vacation homes. They may have felt they were "roughing it", but servants made their lives easier.
John Muir, Sarah and James Philip and Theodore Roosevelt were active in early ecological movements.
February 17, 2016
In this story Samantha and the others go to another home they have for the summer and it's there that Samantha finds out how her parents died, which was in part of the lake that the home is right next to. Samantha also finds a book of sketches that her mother made and she decides that she wants to visit the island where her parents, and apparently her, once had a lot of fun.
Cornelia's two sisters go with here and at first they do have a lot of fun on the island but then the weather turns really bad, their boat floats away, and the Admiral, one of the people staying at the house, is injured trying to rescue the girls.
So now the girls must rescue both themselves and the admiral, meaning they will have to row a boat through a portion of the lake where Samantha's parents had been killed by drowning, going through the same type of storm that ended up killing her parents.
Another good book in the series, including the usual historical section.
Cornelia's two sisters go with here and at first they do have a lot of fun on the island but then the weather turns really bad, their boat floats away, and the Admiral, one of the people staying at the house, is injured trying to rescue the girls.
So now the girls must rescue both themselves and the admiral, meaning they will have to row a boat through a portion of the lake where Samantha's parents had been killed by drowning, going through the same type of storm that ended up killing her parents.
Another good book in the series, including the usual historical section.
February 1, 2019
Em loves these books! I figured they'd age well and I've been really pleased reading them with her, after loving them so much as a kid myself. Were newly 10 year olds really allowed to take a boat out themselves and ABLE to maneuver it in a storm?! My almost 9 year old wants to know, lol.
June 19, 2020
This was an interesting book, it was a good story and all, but it was sooo short! It’s like 2 pages long! Ok, I might be a little sarcastic. But seriously it is such a short book! This would be a good book for 6-9 year olds, but twelve year olds, nope.
July 25, 2021
Another good part of this series, this time involving trouble brewing during Samantha's quest to reconnect with the memory of her late parents. Agnes and Agatha were less annoying than in the last book, and I really enjoyed the subtle implications of romance for Grandmary.
January 24, 2016
Good story, fun. Always good.
July 10, 2017
Wow that was an intense one!!
June 27, 2019
This is a really good book to read countryside.
June 19, 2020
Each of these stories have their own character enriching and building themes. They are wonderful books.
October 28, 2021
Evening reading with the kids.
June 1, 2025
Childhood trauma: the book
June 25, 2022
I was in the edge of my seat! What a moment for Samantha, having to nearly live through the same incident that killed her parents, but being able to overcome it.
February 19, 2024
The drama scared me when I was a kid but good for Samantha and Agnes and Agatha's bravery!
Read
October 27, 2024connecting with her dead parents is very nice. unfortunately agnes and agatha are here so.
October 27, 2025
This is my favorite book in the Samantha series! Finally, some real adventure and high stakes! While spending the summer at Grandmary's home on Goose Lake, Samantha and her friends Agnes and Agatha decide to visit the island where Samantha's parents drowned some years before. However, they are put at risk when a storm blows up, and they end up stranded on the island.
The plot of this was far more thrilling than any other Samantha book in the series. It was fun to see Samantha with a lot more freedom and outdoor time in this summer series, since her typical life at home is restrained and very restricted in many ways. I also loved learning a little more about her parents. This fills in a lot of gaps information in what her parents were like, how they died, and hints at the devastation Grandmary and Gard felt when they both died so tragically.
Samantha's books are really different in that Samantha's family is extremely wealthy. It's wild that they have this private island retreat where they can spend the whole summer. And it's not just one cabin! It's multiple! And they are able to invite guests to spend weeks at a time with them. My daughters were impressed that Samantha stays in a private one room cabin with Agnes and Agatha for the duration of the summer. But it is interesting to get some insight into how the upper class lived. Of particular interest to me reading this as a mom is seeing the freedom that children had. Samantha and her friends are allowed to swim and boat entirely unattended at just ten years old, as long as they're back in time for dinner. This of course would never fly today!
4.5 stars rounded up
The plot of this was far more thrilling than any other Samantha book in the series. It was fun to see Samantha with a lot more freedom and outdoor time in this summer series, since her typical life at home is restrained and very restricted in many ways. I also loved learning a little more about her parents. This fills in a lot of gaps information in what her parents were like, how they died, and hints at the devastation Grandmary and Gard felt when they both died so tragically.
Samantha's books are really different in that Samantha's family is extremely wealthy. It's wild that they have this private island retreat where they can spend the whole summer. And it's not just one cabin! It's multiple! And they are able to invite guests to spend weeks at a time with them. My daughters were impressed that Samantha stays in a private one room cabin with Agnes and Agatha for the duration of the summer. But it is interesting to get some insight into how the upper class lived. Of particular interest to me reading this as a mom is seeing the freedom that children had. Samantha and her friends are allowed to swim and boat entirely unattended at just ten years old, as long as they're back in time for dinner. This of course would never fly today!
4.5 stars rounded up
June 20, 2025
The book by Valerie Tripp “Samantha Saves the Day: A Summer Story” was published for the American market by Pleasanton Company in 1998. The book is #5 in the Samantha series which is part of the American Girls Collection of novels. This book is edited by Jeanne Thieme and Illustrated by Robert Grace and Nancy Niles.
Every summer Samantha, the Edwards twins Agatha and Agnes, with Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia Edwards take a summer vacation at Grandmary’s vacation home called “Piney Point” on Goose Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. They are joined each year by the “jolly Englishman” Admiral Archibald Beemis. The Piney Point home is on land adjacent to Teardrop Island which is located on a mountain lake . Teardrop Island has a magnificent waterfall, and the island is surrounded by very sharp above and under water rocks. Samantha’s mother and father both died when their boat was cut by the rocks and sunk when they traveled to the island. Samantha was five years old at the time of the disaster and she was with her grandmother and not on the boat at the time they died.
The book begins with Samantha’s explorations of attic artifacts in the Grandmary “Piney Point” vacation home. In the attic she found an album of pictures her mother painted many years ago of the beautiful waterfall and landscapes on Teardrop Island. After viewing the paintings, she decided to ask Agatha and Agnes to join her and travel to the island. They all knew the trip paddling a canoe would be dangerous but they with nonetheless decided to take the trip. When the children were gone too long on their trip, Admiral Beemis decided to take a boat to the Island in search of the children and their canoe. After arriving near the island, he left the boat and then very quickly he fell and hit his head on the sharp rocks surrounding the island. He was bleeding and seriously injured. Samantha and the twins found him, bound his head wounds as best they could, and managed to get him back on his boat. Samantha was also able to navigate the boat, and with the help of the twins everyone safely returned to Piney Point. The Admiral was treated by an excellent doctor and he survived the ordeal.
The last chapter of the book explores the “outdoors experiences” of those who lived in the early nineteen hundreds in the American eastern states. The chapter describes wealthy American mountain and seashore vacation spots, vacation camps for children, railroad journeys, vacation homes and furniture made from tree limbs, and hoofs and antlers from wild animals that hung on hooks above fireplace mantels or ceilings in vacation homes. The chapter also discussed written documents by John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt. These discussions and the many book illustrations by Robert Grace and Nancy Niles are exceptional. (P)
Every summer Samantha, the Edwards twins Agatha and Agnes, with Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia Edwards take a summer vacation at Grandmary’s vacation home called “Piney Point” on Goose Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. They are joined each year by the “jolly Englishman” Admiral Archibald Beemis. The Piney Point home is on land adjacent to Teardrop Island which is located on a mountain lake . Teardrop Island has a magnificent waterfall, and the island is surrounded by very sharp above and under water rocks. Samantha’s mother and father both died when their boat was cut by the rocks and sunk when they traveled to the island. Samantha was five years old at the time of the disaster and she was with her grandmother and not on the boat at the time they died.
The book begins with Samantha’s explorations of attic artifacts in the Grandmary “Piney Point” vacation home. In the attic she found an album of pictures her mother painted many years ago of the beautiful waterfall and landscapes on Teardrop Island. After viewing the paintings, she decided to ask Agatha and Agnes to join her and travel to the island. They all knew the trip paddling a canoe would be dangerous but they with nonetheless decided to take the trip. When the children were gone too long on their trip, Admiral Beemis decided to take a boat to the Island in search of the children and their canoe. After arriving near the island, he left the boat and then very quickly he fell and hit his head on the sharp rocks surrounding the island. He was bleeding and seriously injured. Samantha and the twins found him, bound his head wounds as best they could, and managed to get him back on his boat. Samantha was also able to navigate the boat, and with the help of the twins everyone safely returned to Piney Point. The Admiral was treated by an excellent doctor and he survived the ordeal.
The last chapter of the book explores the “outdoors experiences” of those who lived in the early nineteen hundreds in the American eastern states. The chapter describes wealthy American mountain and seashore vacation spots, vacation camps for children, railroad journeys, vacation homes and furniture made from tree limbs, and hoofs and antlers from wild animals that hung on hooks above fireplace mantels or ceilings in vacation homes. The chapter also discussed written documents by John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt. These discussions and the many book illustrations by Robert Grace and Nancy Niles are exceptional. (P)
May 24, 2020
By far the best book in the core Samantha series. Samantha heads to the mountains for her summer vacation at Piney Point. She is joined by Grandmary, the twins, Gard and Cornelia, and Grandmary’s jolly British flame, the Admiral. It’s a fun filled time, but also tinged with sadness. Five years ago, Samantha’s parents had drowned on this very lake. Fittingly the spot where they perished was known as Teardrop Island (a bit cringeworthy, but I’ll let it pass).
What I enjoyed most here was the setting. I happened to read this outside on a beautiful spring day, with a cool breeze. I felt like I could be at Piney Point, and Piney Point sounds like a place I’d love to spend summer. There was a bit more excitement in this story as well, with the girls exploring the “wilderness”, and of course their daring canoe trip. The admiral was a nice character to shake things up and take some spotlight from one of the many maligned maids or servants in the series. Samantha and the twins made some foolish decisions throughout the book and seemed to face no punishment for it, but overall it contributed to the sense of adventure that made the book more exciting than the rest. And of course it was exciting to hear that Grandmary has a love interest.
It’s a little light on history, beyond “rich people liked to vacation in the country at the turn of the century”. The Peek into the Past section again doesn’t do much differentiation about the varied experience of Americans at the turn of the century. It would’ve been nice for them to make it a bit more explicit to young readers that Samanthas life wasn’t the norm.
What I enjoyed most here was the setting. I happened to read this outside on a beautiful spring day, with a cool breeze. I felt like I could be at Piney Point, and Piney Point sounds like a place I’d love to spend summer. There was a bit more excitement in this story as well, with the girls exploring the “wilderness”, and of course their daring canoe trip. The admiral was a nice character to shake things up and take some spotlight from one of the many maligned maids or servants in the series. Samantha and the twins made some foolish decisions throughout the book and seemed to face no punishment for it, but overall it contributed to the sense of adventure that made the book more exciting than the rest. And of course it was exciting to hear that Grandmary has a love interest.
It’s a little light on history, beyond “rich people liked to vacation in the country at the turn of the century”. The Peek into the Past section again doesn’t do much differentiation about the varied experience of Americans at the turn of the century. It would’ve been nice for them to make it a bit more explicit to young readers that Samanthas life wasn’t the norm.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews