Felicity's Surprise

American Girl: Felicity #3

by Valerie Tripp

Felicity is invited to a dancing lesson at the Governor's Palace, the most wonderful honor she can imagine. Mother promises to make a beautiful new gown for her. As the splendid event draws near, Mother becomes dreadfully ill. Felicity spends all her days caring for her, sadly accepting that there will be no new gown and no chance to go to the Palace. No chance, that is, until a glorious surprise reminds her that Christmastide is a time when hopes and dreams do come true.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Christmas, Historical, Middle Grade, Juvenile

69 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

About the author

Valerie 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.

Reviews

[Chrissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up means realizing Felicity has ADHD and Ben is actually kind of an asshole.

That said, I do adore the way Felicity grows up and takes on a new role in the household, and she tries so hard to be patient and care for her siblings and help where she can. And wow, get yourself a ride or die friend like Elizabeth.

“Can’t I love horses and dresses?” Yes you can, baby girl. Yes you can.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Felicity gave no thought to the cold as she stepped out into the twilight. There was a happy feeling in the city of Williamsburg that evening."

At first, Felicity is so excited to receive an invitation from the governor and his wife to attend dance lessons. It felt truly magical, especially when her mother allowed Felicity to choose her very own gown.

But in her excitement, she talked and talked about the event, leading Ben (her father's apprentice) to burst out:

"That fancy gown!" He scoffed. "That's all you care about. You've become a selfish, foolish girl. You think only of dancing at the palace in your finery, when you think at all."

Who is Felicity? Is she the wild headstrong girl who stole breeches to tame an abused horse? Or is she the prim and proper, with the right manners and social graces? Or is there a way she could be both?

This was a lovely book - one that I identified wholeheartedly with.

Who hasn't gone through a tomboy phase (for years even) and suddenly wondered what it would be like if you just tried the other side? And then to have those exciting, new feelings be dashed as vanity and empty-headedness?

I liked how the author portrayed that dichotomy, of who Felicity was and who she wanted to try to be, all without losing the true Felicity within.

In this story, we also see a bit more of the adult disagreements regarding what will eventually lead to the revolutionary war.

Most vocal was Ben, who felt that it wasn't right for Felicity to (proverbially) wine and dine with the governor's family, since they were loyalists. And while Felicity understood the position that her attendance would potentially place upon her father, part of her felt like she still wanted to go on such an adventure.

I really liked her father's interpretation of the whole situation.

"Lissie, my dear," he said. "I think it is wrong when adults' arguments make children unhappy. ... Christmas is not the time for anger. It is the time for friendliness and good spirit and merriment."

It's an important thing to remember, not just at Christmas but at all times. Allow children to be friends, to enjoy in each other's company, to learn from one another, and I feel like the world would be a better place.

[Olde American Spirit (Shannon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She should dance with the governor's children and their friends. If our children can dance together, then perhaps we adults can settle our differences without fighting. Christmas is the time our hopes for peace and happiness should come true."

This series shows just how different people (all of us) can be. The rule followers vs. the wild & free! Which are you? I think I enjoy Felicity's character so much because I'm a cautious 'rule follower' to the core and I admire (done well & not too extreme) characters who are brave enough to not be at times.

I had forgotten the scripture and spiritual references in this series. So much sweetness and wisdom!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

{July 2025 Reread}

Me about each and every American Girl in her Christmas outfit:

But seriously, this blue number? We love.

[Not him calling her "Lissie"!! (positive) 😭 Not him guilt-tripping her when she's literally nine years old!! (negative) 😭 Not him changing his mind and helping with the dress and escorting her to the ball!! (positive) 😭]

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very sweet. Felicity really grows as a character here and demonstrates compassion and maturity when she is forced to give up her hopes of attending the dancing lesson at the Governor’s Palace to care for her ill mother. Many other characters are seen giving up something that was previously important for the sake of others, and it was a very sweet little Christmassy story with values that girls can carry with them all year.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading these books (especially while sick) is just so comforting.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think one of the reasons I love the Felicity books is because, being set in colonial Williamsburg, it's someplace I've actually been - and love - and it's fun to imagine Felicity and her family there. This is the book where we get to do a colonial Christmas, which makes it incredibly sweet, and the one where it becomes undeniable (in my head) that eventually Felicity and Ben got married. Yes, they're young, but reading this book again as an adult reminded me of how sure I was of this when I was a child. I remain convinced it is so.

[Morgan's Endless Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite Felicity book so far! Mr. Merriman is so wise, and Felicity and Ben both have great character arcs.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I read as a kid but have had to reread for work! I'm so biased about American Girl because I grew up reading and LOVING these books. Felicity was one of my very favorites, and I was so ready to cut off my right arm to have her doll (I eventually got the mini doll!). Even now in my mid-20s, I love these books, and they warm me right up. I love how Felicity's doll as well as the Noah's Ark toy she and her siblings play with come straight from real life 18th century artifacts, which shows just how well researched these books were for the time that they written. Again, I'm a big fan. Love Felicity. American Girl 4 lyfe, y'all.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity continues to wrestle with her tomboyish inclinations and (slightly) with the politics that are beginning to tear her community apart.

This one works well for me because Felicity's key problems are social anxiety (THAT I can understand) and her mother's illness. On both fronts she acquits herself well. And at the beginning where Ben suggests that her excitement for the dancing lesson is making her selfish, both parents are on her side, which — to the young, authority-conscious reader that I was — seems to absolve her. As they should, I feel. Ben's out of his lane on this one.

I have to mention at this point, though, that we're three books in, and they've used the word "slave" maaaaaybe two or three times, and have definitely not attempted to explain the concept. It's not a nice thing to have to introduce to young readers, but dancing around it is definitely not the right approach either. Felicity's family may be starting to worry about money in the face of reduced custom at Merriman's store, but her parents still didn't bat an eye at buying her a new silk dress and a fancy doll, so we're still looking at a very privileged young lady.


More Felicity babble

Meet Felicity | Felicity Learns a Lesson | Felicity’s Surprise | Happy Birthday, Felicity | Felicity Saves the Day | Changes for Felicity

Very Funny, Elizabeth

Felicity’s New Sister | Felicity’s Dancing Shoes | Felicity Takes a Dare | Felicity Discovers a Secret | Felicity’s Short Story Collection

Peril at King’s Creek | Traitor in Williamsburg | Lady Margaret’s Ghost

[SarahO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I haven't read this book since I was a kid and it still brings the American Girl and Christmas magic! Loved it!

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was intense for felicity!! colds really were knocking these people out for good back then!! thank you modern medicine!!

[Ruby Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity 🤝🏻 being in constant panic about her blue dress.

But straight up this was FIRE. Best Felicity book yet, I was emotional??? 5 stars 100%, this girl shaped me as an individual. It honestly reassuring and hilarious how much of myself I see in Felicity and the way she acts. #teamfelicity

[Lizzie Lodinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity says “no kings” !!!!!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A trip down memory lane with MJ. ❤️

[RaspberryRoses · Rating 4 out of 5]

my favorite outing for Felicity. I loved the vibes, I loved seeing how caring she was.

also everybody gets mad at Ben for how he acted in this book that going in I thought he was going to be so evil, but honestly I think his objections were completely reasonable y'all are just mean.

[Sarah Anne Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best "_________'s Surprise" books in the entire American Girl franchise. I love how what was almost a devastating family tragedy put things into perspective and offered Felicity an opportunity to respond with great sacrifice to her realization of what's truly important.

[Samantha Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my favorite of the Felicity series as a girl. I wanted this dress for my Felicity doll SO BADLY! Reading it to my girls was so much fun! They lapped it up and really empathized which was really cool to experience as a mom. They tried to give it 6 and then 10 and then 200 stars so I would guess it was a big hit with them.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot what a delight these books are!! They’re so cute!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinderella retelling vibes

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very cozy and easy to read. Very Chridtmassy and fun!!!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read in an hour during a work break. I would’ve loved a dress like Felicity’s.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

this girl was really going through it I can't believe her mom just almost died randomly

[Katie (kt_readz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The nostalgia. Great Christmas read!

[Anna]

Ben is Gale without the toxicity

[Marti (Letstalkaboutbooksbaybee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um. Why did this one make me a little emotional???

Brb shipping Ben and Felicity

[Maggie Lunsford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how Felicity is imperfect but is given the opportunity to grow and takes it. Precious and sweet.

[Sierra Reyelts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even now reading it as an adult, the dancing lesson at the Governor's House still invokes the wonder & beauty of Cinderella at the ball

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up for some nostalgic Christmas reading while sick! Enjoyable and still held up well as an adult. Felicity will always be my favorite American Girl