Samantha: The Gift

by Jennifer Hirsch

Samantha is a wealthy orphan growing up in 1904. Her grandmother is raising her as a proper young lady with the best of everything. Still, Samantha is lonely. When her Uncle Gard comes to visit with his friend, Miss Cornelia Pitt, and a special gift for Samantha, it doesn’t go well. Even worse, Samantha isn’t allowed to play with Nellie, the girl next door, because Nellie is a servant. So Samantha decides to help Nellie learn to read. Through her forbidden friendship with Nellie, Samantha learns some important things, too — about truth, friendship, and family.

Genres: Historical Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2021

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is for the 2021 abridged & edited relaunch of the Samantha Parkington series (Samantha: The Gift).

Now, the series began with six original books based on Samantha Parkington's life in 1904 and they were published in 1986. This series was relaunched in 2014 as the Beforever version which was mostly panned by the audience.

Partly because they took out the original illustrations and most of the historical content from the Peek into the Past section at the back of the book but also because Samantha's stories read like vignettes into her life.

When you republish six vignettes as the 3-in-1 "Classic" Beforever volume, the continuity errors and other issues become much more apparent (i.e. in Beforever volume 2 - Nellie isn't mentioned for 2/3 of the book, suddenly Samantha says she's her best friend. That still wasn't great in the original series but the issue wasn't as obvious).

So when I read that the 2021 re-relaunch was abridged and edited, I was picturing them going in and adding a few paragraphs here and there to help smooth the 6 vignettes into the two Samantha volumes.

What I didn't expect was for them to take a handful of Samantha stories and throw them in the blender and pour it out on my kitchen floor. (The American Girl Wiki Page does a great job of documenting all of the changes (seriously, they are scarily thorough).)

But at a glance, this version of Samantha focuses primarily on two of her short stories (Samantha's Blue Bicycle and Samantha Saves the Wedding) with a bit of the narrative from Meet Samantha and Samantha Learns a Lesson mixed in there.

As you can imagine, in order to make this "work" - events have been added and rearranged. Character arcs have been dropped (RIP Jessie's arc and Samantha's Surprise). Timelines are condensed, moved around, and changed. And all of the major plot points for all four of the stories is crammed in there like a tin of sardines.

It felt like a lot to happen in just a few short pages - and I'm still reeling a bit.

If I'm being truly honest, if I hadn't read the original series (and the beforever version), I don't think it would have been that bad. It's a cohesive story, there's a lot of stuff that happens, and it does have good moments.

Also, the illustrations are back! And the historical sections are expanded again and their full- color photographs have returned as well.

Objectively, there are still some really good one-liners from the characters, like:

Cornelia spoke up gently, "I think a lady behaves like a lady no matter what she is wearing."

And I liked how they added some foreshadowing to make the end of the series make more sense.

However, since I know what the originals are like...I can say with confidence that this new version just doesn't feel right.

Beyond the insane amount of plot changes came character changes as well - Samantha just didn't *feel* like Samantha to me.

For example, Samantha now dutifully practices piano instead of being bribed into it with the promise of the doll, Lydia. She practices because Grandmary says so and she doesn't complain.

Do you remember that feeling you'd get when you'd pick up a book and the kids in it were behaving a little too perfect? Like, I'm talking thanking their parents for disciplining them so they'd learn their lessons? (The kind of books that you'd set down because you'd go, "hmm. this isn't a real child, it's propaganda.")

...Let's just say there were moments like that for this version of Samantha.

"Well done, Nellie," said Samantha. "You see? Practice makes perfect. That's what Grandmary always says and she's usually right about things."

Additionally, in this version Samantha just comes off as more privileged and oblivious and Grandmary more snooty and cold than in previous versions.

I think I'm most disappointed with the Nellie-and-Samantha friendship. Their friendship is really what made me cherish the original series and I think it's what saved Samantha from being categorized as a "poor little rich girl". It allowed her to learn some hard truths about her world and to do something about it.

Unfortunately, that arc wasn't given room to breath because it was being choked out by the Blue Bicycle and Samantha Saves the Wedding plot points. Yes, some of the important friendship moments happened but the emotional stakes and payout just weren't there because we kept skipping around in her story.

Overall, the whole book felt rushed. Yes, the original 1986 version had its flaws...but it just felt so much more authentic and real.

I won't be reaching for this one when I want to reread Samantha's story.

More reviews in the Samantha-verse

Main Series:
Meet Samantha - ★★★★☆
Samantha Learns a Lesson - ★★★★★
Samantha's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Samantha - ★★★★☆
Samantha Saves the Day - ★★★★★
Changes for Samantha - ★★★★☆
Samantha's Boxed Set - ★★★★☆

Best Friend Book:
Nellie's Promise - ★★★★★

Short Stories:
Samantha's Winter Party - ★★★★★
Samantha Saves the Wedding - ★★★★☆
Samantha and the Missing Pearls - ★★★★☆
Samantha's Blue Bicycle - ★★★★★
Samantha's Special Talent - ★★★☆☆
Samantha's Short Story Collection - ★★★★☆

Mystery Books (My Order):
The Curse of Ravenscourt - ★★★★★
The Stolen Sapphire - ★★★★☆
Clue in the Castle Tower - ★★★★☆
Danger in Paris - ★★★☆☆
The Cry of the Loon - ★★★★☆

Additional Historical and Activity Books:
The American Girls Cookbook - ★★★★★
The American Girls Party Book - ★★★★★
Samantha's Cookbook - ★★★★★
Samantha's Cooking Studio - ★★★★★
Samantha's Craft Book - ★★★★★
Samantha's Friendship Fun - ★★★☆☆
Samantha's Ocean Liner Adventure - ★★★★★
Samantha's Theater Kit - ★★★★☆
Samantha's Valentine Crafts - ★★☆☆☆
Samantha's Wedding Memories - ★★☆☆☆
Samantha's World: A Girl's-eye View of the Turn of the Century - ★★★★★
The Titanic (American Girl: Real Stories From My Time) - ★★★☆☆
Welcome to Samantha's World · 1904 - ★★★★★

Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in mid 2010s):
Manners & Mischief - ★★☆☆☆
Lost and Found - ★★★☆☆

Abridged Version (Re-Release of Main Series in 2020s):
Samantha: The Gift - ★★☆☆☆
Samantha: Lost and Found - ★★★★☆

Beginner Reader & Picture Books:
Samantha Helps a Friend (Step Into Reading) - ★★★☆☆
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Making a Difference (Little Golden Book) - ★★★☆☆
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5, read this for the American Girl Book club I’m running in October! Had to pick a Samantha book for the first read since she’s literally THE American Girl.

I’m reading this 3-4th grade book as a 23 year old so I’m not going to go too deep into it. It was a cute read! Quick and easy to follow.

I really loved how it showed Samantha’s generosity and kindness. She’s often typecast as a spoiled rich girl, which I mean isn’t wrong but I like that they showed there’s more to her.

Only thing I didn’t like is the Nellie plotline felt very disconnected from everything else with Uncle Gard and Cornelia.

[Gary E]

Are you interested in reading the best book for bike
lovers? Then I think Samantha; The Gift, by Jennifer Hirsch
is the book for you! I loved this book!

First, I love riding my bike, and Samantha; The Gift is all about riding bikes. In the story, Samantha says “Cornelia was right-cycling so fast and free!”

Next, it is exciting! In the story it says “Samantha looked up. A young man on a bicycle was flying straight toward her at top speed. In a panic, Samantha swerved hard to the right. Her bike lurched off the path and bounced down the bank, out of control. Help! She shrieked. She struggled to steer, but the front wheel wobbled as the bicycle went faster and faster. Splash! Samantha and the bicycle fell right into the mucky water at the edge of the lake.” “Samantha! Are you all right?”

I recommend reading Samantha, The Gift to find out!

[Beth Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this new American Girl book on Samantha, an historical doll from 1904, before giving it to my granddaughter for Christmas. Unfortunately, with the new ideas coming from the American Girl company, I wasn’t comfortable with giving the book to my granddaughter without reading it first. The story was somewhat different than the original Samantha Doll book, but I found nothing that was objectionable. Sadly, we can no longer depend on this company’s views in their books. Our family won’t be buying any more, but thankfully we have most of the old ones which were wonderful.

[Kimberly Malone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up wanting to read it to my 5 year old daughter. I could not find the original “Meet Samantha; Samantha Learns a Lesson; Samantha’s Surprise; Samantha Saves the Day; Changes for Samantha” but I hoped this was similar re-branded. It was not the same story and I admittedly did not get the same nostalgic response I was looking for.

[Sofia White · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
A little all over the place -I think it would have done better focusing on one storyline instead of as many as it did in such short a book, however I understand why this would have been done in order to try and squish in as much of her story/personality as it is the Meet book for her character. Still a sweet children’s book

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly the same as the original Samantha stories I read as a child but cute all the same.