What do you think?
Rate this book
American Girl Samantha Mysteries #3
The Cry of the Loon: A Samantha Mystery
In June 1907, twelve-year-old Samantha looks forward to a happy summer with Nellie and her younger sisters at Grandmary's country home in the Adirondacks but a series of mysterious accidents on the property lead Samantha to suspect that someone is deliberately causing trouble.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 8, 2025
**
NOTE:
This should be book 5 of the Samantha Mysteries, see spoiler at the end of the review for details.**
However, this trip is going to be a little different from usual. Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia just had their first baby and decided not to make the trip up to Piney Point
But no matter - Samantha cannot wait to share this amazing place with her newly adopted siblings (Nellie, Jenny and Bridget)...only things begin to go wrong. Very wrong.
As Grandmary's birthday approaches, more and more things seem to be off. Fires spread, things are breaking and now Grandmary is wondering if she should even keep Piney Point.
Samantha MUST get to the bottom of this or lose this treasured place forever.
Swinging back to my review of the book - I thought this was a really nice addition to the Samantha Mysteries. It wasn't the spookiest, nor was it the twistiest but it did have a lot of heart.
I enjoyed seeing how much this place mattered to Samantha and how far she was willing to go to protect it.
Additionally, I liked how Grandmary's character was expanded upon - for so long she's been a distant but strong character, someone for Samantha to depend on but missing a bit of that warmth.
Now that Grandmary is married to her longtime sweetheart, I was so pleased to see the lady come out of her shell - and for Samantha to realize that Grandmary had been distant for so long because . It felt like a very humanizing moment.
Overall, this was a great wrap up to the overall series. I'm happy to have read all of these books and equally sad that the journey is over...luckily there's about a hundred more American Girl books to dive into!
A Peek into the Past
As with most American Girl books, we have a short section that expands upon a historical point mentioned in the story. Here we learn about the Adirondacks, located in the northern area of New York State, that is well-known for its natural beauty and is the area that Piney Point is based on. We're taught about how people vacationed in the past and the tourism industry as well.
This should be book 5 of the Samantha Mysteries because:
Every year, Samantha, Grandmary, and Uncle Gard spend the summer at Piney Point - a beautiful lodge with surrounding cabins that is set into a mountain are.
"The little steamboat sounded a mournful hoot as it approached the dock at Piney Point. Fingers of fog slipped under Samantha's coat collar, making her shiver."
However, this trip is going to be a little different from usual. Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia just had their first baby and decided not to make the trip up to Piney Point
But no matter - Samantha cannot wait to share this amazing place with her newly adopted siblings (Nellie, Jenny and Bridget)...only things begin to go wrong. Very wrong.
As Grandmary's birthday approaches, more and more things seem to be off. Fires spread, things are breaking and now Grandmary is wondering if she should even keep Piney Point.
Samantha MUST get to the bottom of this or lose this treasured place forever.
Swinging back to my review of the book - I thought this was a really nice addition to the Samantha Mysteries. It wasn't the spookiest, nor was it the twistiest but it did have a lot of heart.
I enjoyed seeing how much this place mattered to Samantha and how far she was willing to go to protect it.
Additionally, I liked how Grandmary's character was expanded upon - for so long she's been a distant but strong character, someone for Samantha to depend on but missing a bit of that warmth.
Now that Grandmary is married to her longtime sweetheart, I was so pleased to see the lady come out of her shell - and for Samantha to realize that Grandmary had been distant for so long because . It felt like a very humanizing moment.
Overall, this was a great wrap up to the overall series. I'm happy to have read all of these books and equally sad that the journey is over...luckily there's about a hundred more American Girl books to dive into!
A Peek into the Past
As with most American Girl books, we have a short section that expands upon a historical point mentioned in the story. Here we learn about the Adirondacks, located in the northern area of New York State, that is well-known for its natural beauty and is the area that Piney Point is based on. We're taught about how people vacationed in the past and the tourism industry as well.
This should be book 5 of the Samantha Mysteries because:
Read
April 9, 2024GRANDMARY LORE YES
November 27, 2023
The great AG marathon continues. Again, reading for the first time as an adult, inspired by the American Girls podcast.
Steiner lays it on thick in the first page: A mournful steamboat horn. Fingers of fog. Clouds like ghosts. Welcome to Piney Point, mystery version.
By this point in the Samantha books, between Grandmary's second marriage and the O'Malley girls' adoption, her family takes some explaining. But overall, everyone plays a useful role and it's lovely to see everyone again.
The mystery here is sabotage: someone seems to be trying to scare the family off. I had one of the culprits figured out around the halfway point, though I don't think I would have guessed it when I was the target age for this book. (It's never the obvious suspects. Samantha's guesses are misdirections, and while the book has enough new characters to have a handful of suspects, there aren't as many as some of Sam's other mysteries. The other culprit surprised me because their motive for participating in the sabotage wasn't given to us until the end.
But the real pleasure of this one is watching Samantha consider her family and their history at Piney Point - and for what it's worth, I don't think this book would work at all without having at least Samantha's core series under your belt. We hear more about Grandmary's past than anywhere else in the series, and we see Samantha take note as Grandmary starts treating her as a little more grown up than she used to, sharing stories about her youth and courtship. It's always hard to give Samantha real character growth because she never had a coherent arc, but this comes closer than most attempts.
The one continuity fumble is the point where Samantha seems to consider herself a poor artist, where Nellie's Promise had her aspiring to be like Mary Cassatt. (Both versions feel off to me. A girl of her position would have been taught, but you'd think we'd see it more if she really excelled. Yes, a girl of her age could easily change her aspirations and perception of her own skills in a year, but in fiction, I want those feelings spelled out.)
But while Samantha and Grandmary's pleasure and feeling of belonging at Piney Point is sweet, it's worth remembering the place of (a) great privilege and (b) white supremacy/colonialism that make it possible. Samantha being taken aback by the idea of more people building homes in the area and bringing the city with them is probably the biggest single moment of unexamined privilege, but the assumption that the family owns/deserves/should have exclusive access to this extensive area underpins the entire story. And to go one level deeper, Trapper Jim (who is described, and for that matter, named in a way that makes me assume he's Native, though it isn't discussed) mentions Cree and Chippewa stories about the loons. If anyone belongs to this land, rightfully it should be the Indigenous peoples. All of this is not central to the story, but it would be great related-discussion material.
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 | Clue in the Castle Tower
The Lilac Tunnel
Steiner lays it on thick in the first page: A mournful steamboat horn. Fingers of fog. Clouds like ghosts. Welcome to Piney Point, mystery version.
By this point in the Samantha books, between Grandmary's second marriage and the O'Malley girls' adoption, her family takes some explaining. But overall, everyone plays a useful role and it's lovely to see everyone again.
The mystery here is sabotage: someone seems to be trying to scare the family off. I had one of the culprits figured out around the halfway point, though I don't think I would have guessed it when I was the target age for this book. (It's never the obvious suspects. Samantha's guesses are misdirections, and while the book has enough new characters to have a handful of suspects, there aren't as many as some of Sam's other mysteries. The other culprit surprised me because their motive for participating in the sabotage wasn't given to us until the end.
But the real pleasure of this one is watching Samantha consider her family and their history at Piney Point - and for what it's worth, I don't think this book would work at all without having at least Samantha's core series under your belt. We hear more about Grandmary's past than anywhere else in the series, and we see Samantha take note as Grandmary starts treating her as a little more grown up than she used to, sharing stories about her youth and courtship. It's always hard to give Samantha real character growth because she never had a coherent arc, but this comes closer than most attempts.
The one continuity fumble is the point where Samantha seems to consider herself a poor artist, where Nellie's Promise had her aspiring to be like Mary Cassatt. (Both versions feel off to me. A girl of her position would have been taught, but you'd think we'd see it more if she really excelled. Yes, a girl of her age could easily change her aspirations and perception of her own skills in a year, but in fiction, I want those feelings spelled out.)
But while Samantha and Grandmary's pleasure and feeling of belonging at Piney Point is sweet, it's worth remembering the place of (a) great privilege and (b) white supremacy/colonialism that make it possible. Samantha being taken aback by the idea of more people building homes in the area and bringing the city with them is probably the biggest single moment of unexamined privilege, but the assumption that the family owns/deserves/should have exclusive access to this extensive area underpins the entire story. And to go one level deeper, Trapper Jim (who is described, and for that matter, named in a way that makes me assume he's Native, though it isn't discussed) mentions Cree and Chippewa stories about the loons. If anyone belongs to this land, rightfully it should be the Indigenous peoples. All of this is not central to the story, but it would be great related-discussion material.
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 | Clue in the Castle Tower
The Lilac Tunnel
August 20, 2020
When I first attempted to read this in 2009, it was so boring that I gave up on it. I never felt any need to go back, but since the book is no longer in print and there are now only two copies left in my library system, I decided that I might as well read it, just for the sake of completion. I am glad that I did, because there were some great moments with Grandmary, but the book was just as boring as I had remembered, and I predicted both plot twists.
This book is also too similar to the first Samantha mystery to have much of a place in the series. Even though this book returns the characters to Piney Point, it is another mystery about things going wrong at an expensive property and someone unlikely being responsible for the accidents and damage. I would encourage future readers to read The Curse of Ravenscourt: A Samantha Mystery and skip this book, unless they also want to read to completion.
This book is also too similar to the first Samantha mystery to have much of a place in the series. Even though this book returns the characters to Piney Point, it is another mystery about things going wrong at an expensive property and someone unlikely being responsible for the accidents and damage. I would encourage future readers to read The Curse of Ravenscourt: A Samantha Mystery and skip this book, unless they also want to read to completion.
March 6, 2009
I enjoyed this American Girl History Mystery. Samantha is one of my favorite characters and I really enjoyed this story with Nellie and all her sisters. This story was vivid in wildlife imagery too. A perfect addition to the American Girl library.
November 22, 2024
Ooo-oooo, ooo-oooo.
January 24, 2021
Me, reading about a murder: Meh.
Me, reading about Grandmary considering the possibility of selling off Piney Point: AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! [hyperventilates]
I like that these AG mysteries are about minor accidents and not brushes with death, but the stakes on this one were too high!
A Peek into Grandmary's Past was fun though. :)
Me, reading about Grandmary considering the possibility of selling off Piney Point: AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! [hyperventilates]
I like that these AG mysteries are about minor accidents and not brushes with death, but the stakes on this one were too high!
A Peek into Grandmary's Past was fun though. :)
May 1, 2023
It was the best. At first I thought where is the mystery? but as you get more into it you learn more and more and you get more suspicious and concerned. You have your idea of who did it and really it was someone else. It was a great book and all the accidents are kind of scary how close they could've been to being terrible. It was a great book.
Read
April 22, 2025I was a little surprised by one of the bad guys, but the other one wasn't all that shocking. However, I *loved* the glimpse into Grandmary's earlier life and even having a "scandalous" talk with Samantha about . It was great development of the Grandmary that was presented in Samantha's first book.
October 15, 2020
A fun mystery for young kids. This mystery is well-written with a good mystery reminiscent of the Boxcar Children mysteries.
dnf
November 24, 2023DNF @ 46%
February 8, 2024
This book was good. I don’t think that the title matches the story. Grand Mary was thinking About selling piney point .
April 30, 2024
cover is honestly so beautiful but the actual book… be_better_art.gif
September 26, 2025
4 1/2 stars
December 3, 2025
Perfect for young mystery readers looking for a place to start. If you like Nancy Drew you will like the Samantha Mysteries!
June 18, 2012
A Samantha Mystery
Samantha can't wait to take Nellie to Piney Point, Grandmary's summer home in the mountains. Samantha is sure Nellie will love the lodge as much as she does. But the girls arrive to find Piney Point plagued with accidents - and Grandmary thinking of selling. Samantha and Nellie have to figure out what's going on before they lose Piney Point forever!
About The Author:
Barbara Steiner started writing stories and poetry when she was eight years old. Her favorite books were mysteries, and sometimes, all alone in a big house, she'd scare herself reading. She has hiked and backpacked all over the world. She has ridden elephants in India and climbed into tombs in Egypt. She has claustrophobia but loves to explore caves. Her motto is "Do something once a year that scares you." She has published many books for children and young adults, including an American Girl History Mystery, Mystery at Chilkoot Pass. Her book Ghost Cave, set in her home state of Arkansas, was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children's Mystery. She now lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her three cats.
I loved every minute of this book. It kept you interested in the story the whole way to the end. I can't get enough of these American Girl mysteries, it doesn't matter who wrote them they all have a way of pulling you into the story so that the reader almost feels like you're right there in the story.
Samantha can't wait to take Nellie to Piney Point, Grandmary's summer home in the mountains. Samantha is sure Nellie will love the lodge as much as she does. But the girls arrive to find Piney Point plagued with accidents - and Grandmary thinking of selling. Samantha and Nellie have to figure out what's going on before they lose Piney Point forever!
About The Author:
Barbara Steiner started writing stories and poetry when she was eight years old. Her favorite books were mysteries, and sometimes, all alone in a big house, she'd scare herself reading. She has hiked and backpacked all over the world. She has ridden elephants in India and climbed into tombs in Egypt. She has claustrophobia but loves to explore caves. Her motto is "Do something once a year that scares you." She has published many books for children and young adults, including an American Girl History Mystery, Mystery at Chilkoot Pass. Her book Ghost Cave, set in her home state of Arkansas, was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children's Mystery. She now lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her three cats.
I loved every minute of this book. It kept you interested in the story the whole way to the end. I can't get enough of these American Girl mysteries, it doesn't matter who wrote them they all have a way of pulling you into the story so that the reader almost feels like you're right there in the story.
March 3, 2021
Re-read: I guess Steiner didn't read the other Samantha mysteries, because the plot here is functionally the same as in The Curse of Ravenscourt. Where Ravenscourt had a sabotaged apartment building, this one has a sabotaged vacation home. And if you've read Ravenscourt, you'll guess the solution to this book immediately, because both guilty characters serve the same role in the narrative. I think I enjoyed this book slightly more, since I like Grandmary a lot more than I'd liked Raven and didn't care if he got sabotaged. But it's still kind of strange that American Girl would just let two incredibly similar mysteries get published for the same girl.
April 4, 2011
I had an impulse to read Adirondack stuff. This is one of the few semi-interesting things to turn up in our library catalog.
I've never read an American Girl book before. I can't say I'm too thrilled with it, but it wasn't _bad_ really. And it was interesting to get a look at the Adirondacks of the past, I guess.
Samantha and like.. newly adopted sisters or something.. go visit her grandmother and her new husband at a lake house. And I think it's like the late 1800s or early 1900s. And mysterious things happen. And will her grandmother sell the place?
I've never read an American Girl book before. I can't say I'm too thrilled with it, but it wasn't _bad_ really. And it was interesting to get a look at the Adirondacks of the past, I guess.
Samantha and like.. newly adopted sisters or something.. go visit her grandmother and her new husband at a lake house. And I think it's like the late 1800s or early 1900s. And mysterious things happen. And will her grandmother sell the place?
May 8, 2014
A fun and semi-mysterious story that reminds us that rich people in the early 1900s had problems, too. I.e., Losing their ritzy summer home because it's getting a bit stressful.
I'm kidding. It was a fun book, and I know I would have loved it in early elementary school. Samantha was my favorite as a kid, and she is a smart, heroic, and fun character for young girls to read about. I do hope that American Girl soon releases some books that highlight the value racial diversity and encourage young girls to think outside of their own stories!
I'm kidding. It was a fun book, and I know I would have loved it in early elementary school. Samantha was my favorite as a kid, and she is a smart, heroic, and fun character for young girls to read about. I do hope that American Girl soon releases some books that highlight the value racial diversity and encourage young girls to think outside of their own stories!
June 30, 2009
I love that the Samantha mysteries frequently include Nellie to the point that it's partly her mystery, too. I just wish she had her own as well. Anyway. Extra love for the Samantha/Grandmary affection and the Admiral is awesome as always.
I didn't figure out who did it [well, I was partly right:] but I did nail the motivation.
I didn't figure out who did it [well, I was partly right:] but I did nail the motivation.
August 4, 2013
Samantha loves Piney Point. And she wants Nellie to have the same expeirence. However, when the girls get there, its dreary and gloomy. then a seires of incidents start to happen and Grandmary is thinking of selling Piney Point. Can Samantha And Nellie find the sourse of all these incidents before its to late?
August 5, 2012
Samantha is really excited to be bring her to Piney Point with her Grandmary. She wants to go swimming everyday and stay by the fire at night. Although her hopes are bent a bit when odd "accidents" start happening. Samantha needs to fix the problems and solve the mystery or else her trip is ruined and Piney Point could be sold for good
October 23, 2018
This is a nice Samantha mystery that really builds on Samantha's story. We get background for Grandmary, something that had been very sparse in previous stories. Plus, this makes use of Piney Point, which has always been a favorite setting of mine.
Read
May 8, 2010another good one!
Read
January 13, 2011just bought this book from a book store. i'm not sure what store
i will find it out later.hope it's a good book
i will find it out later.hope it's a good book
Currently reading
January 23, 2011so far this is the best book i have read in a long time
September 30, 2012
i love amercian girl. i think this was an amazing tale.
May 9, 2013
It was really enjoyable to read and it is my second favourite out of all the Samantha mysteries!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews