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.

112 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 2021

Reviews

[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.