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pandal0vesbooks's review
4.0
Heartwarming story about the realities of orphans and adoption in Samantha's time
livruther's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
thewordwitch's review
3.0
This is the second book I've read that focuses on the best friend. I'm a bit perplexed at how different the best friends are once they have their own book. It's almost as if their personalities flip-flop with the former main character.
I feel like this book also could have used better communication between characters, because it would have solved a world of problems before they got too out of hand. In fact, that's something girls need to see. Young girls need to know that bottling up their emotions and not communicating isn't an effective way to handle things. Proper communication is important, and this would have been a good time for that to be seen.
I did find this book more enjoyable than "Very Funny Elizabeth", the other book in this vein. It was nice to revisit Samantha in her world and to see how things have been going after the events of the first six. However, I still largely prefer the original series over this spin-off.
I feel like this book also could have used better communication between characters, because it would have solved a world of problems before they got too out of hand. In fact, that's something girls need to see. Young girls need to know that bottling up their emotions and not communicating isn't an effective way to handle things. Proper communication is important, and this would have been a good time for that to be seen.
I did find this book more enjoyable than "Very Funny Elizabeth", the other book in this vein. It was nice to revisit Samantha in her world and to see how things have been going after the events of the first six. However, I still largely prefer the original series over this spin-off.
panda_incognito's review
4.0
I only read this once as a child, but it made a significant impression on me. I enjoyed reading it again last night, and with my grown-up understanding of trauma and the class differences of that time period, I was very impressed with the convincing portrayal of Nellie's fears and struggles to adjust to life in Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia's household. As a child, it made me sad that the happy ending couldn't be as happy as I wanted, but this book is extremely realistic, provides a natural continuation to the previous story, and is very moving.
The other books released in conjunction with American Girl movies range from subpar to abysmal, so I wasn't sure what to expect from rereading this, but it seems like a perfectly natural part of the series to me, not a later add-on. I'm glad that this was so well-written, enjoyed a story from Nellie's perspective, and like the part about the immigrant settlement house even more than as I did as a child, since I now have experience volunteering with a refugee ministry. It was interesting to see how things have changed over time and what is still the same.
I also appreciate the historical notes and photo reproductions about adoption in the early 1900s, the plight of orphans during that time period, the difficulties that immigrants faced, and the challenges of adjusting to life in a blended family. In terms of story and history, this book is just as good as the average classic American Girl book, and is even better than some of them. I'm glad that I now have this in my personal library.
The other books released in conjunction with American Girl movies range from subpar to abysmal, so I wasn't sure what to expect from rereading this, but it seems like a perfectly natural part of the series to me, not a later add-on. I'm glad that this was so well-written, enjoyed a story from Nellie's perspective, and like the part about the immigrant settlement house even more than as I did as a child, since I now have experience volunteering with a refugee ministry. It was interesting to see how things have changed over time and what is still the same.
I also appreciate the historical notes and photo reproductions about adoption in the early 1900s, the plight of orphans during that time period, the difficulties that immigrants faced, and the challenges of adjusting to life in a blended family. In terms of story and history, this book is just as good as the average classic American Girl book, and is even better than some of them. I'm glad that I now have this in my personal library.
cmw119's review
5.0
I love Nellie's story. I loved Nellie before she even had her own book. While it does bug me that Nellie and Samantha keep secrets from one another, I love how independent Nellie is and how she has such a caring heart.
simplyparticular's review against another edition
3.0
This review is from the perspective of a mother. I am reading the books to decided when they are age appropriate for my daughter.
Nellie gets her moment in the sun, supposedly, but it seems like this book is still all about Samantha. We do get to appreciate Nellie's character and wit, but much of the book is weighted down by Nellie's very real fear that she and her sisters could be returned to her loathsome uncle, and she has the added burden of dealing with Samantha's jealousy.
The ending is a little too neat and clean, but then, I've always had a problem with the likelihood of the Nellie story line to begin with.
The Looking Back section takes a realistic look at adoption and orphaned children in the early twentieth century.
Nellie gets her moment in the sun, supposedly, but it seems like this book is still all about Samantha. We do get to appreciate Nellie's character and wit, but much of the book is weighted down by Nellie's very real fear that she and her sisters could be returned to her loathsome uncle, and she has the added burden of dealing with Samantha's jealousy.
The ending is a little too neat and clean, but then, I've always had a problem with the likelihood of the Nellie story line to begin with.
The Looking Back section takes a realistic look at adoption and orphaned children in the early twentieth century.
piburnjones's review against another edition
3.0
Reading for the first time as an adult, so I have nostalgia-goggles for the characters, but not for this particular book.
The older I get, the less patience I have with stories where all problems would be solved if the characters would just TALK to each other. Especially when they're characters who like each other and live together.
Like, once it gets to the point where everything is tense and there's an emotional barrier to starting the conversation - I get holding back at that point. But if Nellie walks into the house on page 3 and says "Yikes, I just ran into Uncle Mike, is it true what he told me?" then this is an entirely different book. Not necessarily one without conflict. Just different, better informed conflict. Not to mention that because Nellie chooses not to confide in them, Cornelia, Gard and even Samantha feel very flat and cardboard-y throughout the book. Which... BUMMER.
Alas, Nellie is a girl who bottles things up - and frankly, maybe this bothers me so much because I am too and consciously try not to be. So we get a couple pages of happy Nellie, about 60 pages of Nellie fretting, and then a very sudden denouement in which the role of deus ex legal papers is played by Uncle Gard. I can't help thinking that Sam and Nellie's friendship deserved better.
That aside, I like the idea of Nellie working toward becoming a teacher - something practical that will allow her to support herself without depending on the Edwards/Parkington clan, or on finding a husband. (Besides, I'd rather picture Nellie and Sam living together their whole lives. Sam inherits her fortune and splits her time between painting and activism; Nellie insists on holding a job so she can contribute financially to the household - she becomes a teacher or a social worker. Is it weird for them to grow up and fall in love now that they're adopted sisters??) The acknowledgement of class conflict in this book is not deep, but it is there. I was impressed that Nellie talks openly at school about her past at the thread factory, though of course neither she nor the other girls quite know how to handle it when she does.
On the other hand, Nellie's connection to the settlement house made me wish for a bit more of a timeline. The story she tells in Samantha Learns a Lesson suggests that when she was working at the thread factory, she did not have time or energy to spare running around the settlement house learning languages and fixing things. Nellie suddenly becomes superhuman: she can translate, she can fix clocks, she even knows cars! (Yes, her dad was a driver, but wasn't she busy ironing and so forth? Did her work at the Van Sicklyns somehow leave time for school AND extra school with Samantha AND learning auto mechanics from Dad?) As usual, I'm expecting more detail from a 60-ish page book for eight-year-olds than there's room for - but I do think Tripp and her editor needed a few more rounds on this one.
The older I get, the less patience I have with stories where all problems would be solved if the characters would just TALK to each other. Especially when they're characters who like each other and live together.
Like, once it gets to the point where everything is tense and there's an emotional barrier to starting the conversation - I get holding back at that point. But if Nellie walks into the house on page 3 and says "Yikes, I just ran into Uncle Mike, is it true what he told me?" then this is an entirely different book. Not necessarily one without conflict. Just different, better informed conflict. Not to mention that because Nellie chooses not to confide in them, Cornelia, Gard and even Samantha feel very flat and cardboard-y throughout the book. Which... BUMMER.
Alas, Nellie is a girl who bottles things up - and frankly, maybe this bothers me so much because I am too and consciously try not to be. So we get a couple pages of happy Nellie, about 60 pages of Nellie fretting, and then a very sudden denouement in which the role of deus ex legal papers is played by Uncle Gard. I can't help thinking that Sam and Nellie's friendship deserved better.
That aside, I like the idea of Nellie working toward becoming a teacher - something practical that will allow her to support herself without depending on the Edwards/Parkington clan, or on finding a husband. (Besides, I'd rather picture Nellie and Sam living together their whole lives. Sam inherits her fortune and splits her time between painting and activism; Nellie insists on holding a job so she can contribute financially to the household - she becomes a teacher or a social worker. Is it weird for them to grow up and fall in love now that they're adopted sisters??) The acknowledgement of class conflict in this book is not deep, but it is there. I was impressed that Nellie talks openly at school about her past at the thread factory, though of course neither she nor the other girls quite know how to handle it when she does.
On the other hand, Nellie's connection to the settlement house made me wish for a bit more of a timeline. The story she tells in Samantha Learns a Lesson suggests that when she was working at the thread factory, she did not have time or energy to spare running around the settlement house learning languages and fixing things. Nellie suddenly becomes superhuman: she can translate, she can fix clocks, she even knows cars! (Yes, her dad was a driver, but wasn't she busy ironing and so forth? Did her work at the Van Sicklyns somehow leave time for school AND extra school with Samantha AND learning auto mechanics from Dad?) As usual, I'm expecting more detail from a 60-ish page book for eight-year-olds than there's room for - but I do think Tripp and her editor needed a few more rounds on this one.
oceanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Reread this book for the first time in I don't know how long. I love Nellie's story as much now as an adult as I did as a child -- likely more now that I have a deeper understanding of this time in history. I wish the best friend characters had been able to have a full series of their own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child abuse
lostinmylibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Valerie Tripp has never l let me down. I loved going back into this world!
rebekahmorris's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun story to read. It took me back to my childhood when I used to read the Samantha books. It was interesting to have Nellie as the main character instead of Samantha.