Samantha is a Victorian girl. She is an orphan who's Grandmother takes her in. Eventually, she moves to New York, where her Aunt and Uncle adopt her. While she is with her Grandmother, she makes new friends, plays tricks on the spoiled neighbor, and goes on lots of exciting adventures. I read the first book in her series last year. I completely fell in love with character! I decided to save my money and buy the Samantha doll from pleasant company. Over all, The Samantha books were great, and I reccomend them to readers ages 8 to 12.

These books will let young girls take a look back in time

"Cambios para Josefina" is just as good as it's English counterpart. Josefina and her sisters are planning a fandango. It'll be the first time Josefina plays the piano during a fandango, and she's looking forward to it. While she plays the song, Josefina's father asks Tia Dolores to dance. The next day, Tia Dolores announces that she wants to leave the rancho and go to Santa Fe to live with her parents. Josefina and her sisters are determined to find a way to get Tia Dolores to stay. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the American Girls Collection and can read Josefina's stories in Spanish as well.

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Felicity Merriman, a nine-year-old girl living in the America of 1774. In this book, Felicity's romping and playing causes trouble when she soils the washing of Mrs. Burnie, the crabbiest woman in town. Felicity know that it is up to her to make restitution for what she did, so she volunteers to clean the clothes she muddied. But working with Mrs. Burnie presents Felicity with something of a mystery; Mrs. Burnie is hiding something, and Felicity accidentally finds out what.

The final chapter of this book contains an interesting look at the history of eyeglasses, and has a project to make lorgnettes. This is another good Felicity story. My daughter and I value Felicity's honesty and helpfulness. We both liked this story and recommend it to you.

I have been reading the American Grils Collection books since I was nine, and am now 18. To be honest with you, Felicity Takes a Dare is just like the other American Girls Short Stories. Not bad, but not as good as the Longer, original American Girls Collection Books. In this book, Felicity takes a dare to feed the horses at the carnival during Williamsburg's Public Times, and the dare goes terribly wrong. Felicity learns a lesson in this book, and I gave it four stars for the attempt to make this book good. But I would recommend the original six Felicity books instead of this one. I bought it only because it was from Pleasant Company.

Candace

This book is by far better than its English counterpart, as is the case with all the Josefina books. The Spanish one tells a story similar to the English one: Josefina's birthday is coming up, the blanket weaving on the rancho is doing good, Josefina adopts Sombrita ("Little shadow") as a pet, and meets longtime friend Mariana as well. Josefina hopes to become a curandera some day like her godmother Tia Magdalena, until Josefina does somthing that makes her loose hope. It isn't until Josefina is "tested" that she gains that hope back. I recommend both versions of the book--the English and the Spanish--as both are very good and very well written.

Josefina's Story collection is a very nicely done book. It is edged in gold, has a ribbon bookmark, and a transparent dust jacket. It contains all six of her stories. My only complaint? That all of the Peek into the Past sections have been removed except for the last one, the one from Changes For Josefina. If this were truly a keepsake edition, it would contain all of the Peek into the Past sections as well as the stories.

I liked the Kit Story collection book, however, I noticed that the Peek into the Past selections have been removed from the book, all except for the last one. The original six books about Kit all have the Peek into the Past selections in the back, which give you an idea of what growing up in each American Girl's time was like. But with all the Story Collections, Pleasant Company apparently felt that the Peek into the Past selections were not neccessary. If all of the books had been fully intact, including the Peek into the Past selections, then I would have given this book 5 stars instead of 4. 4 Stars is for the effort...but the book is lacking something.

Candace Leutzinger

I think the American Girl series are very interesting, learning about the past your in a fantastic adventure. I started reading one book just to see if I might like it, now I'm almost through the series!!! Learning new information while having fun is a very important thing in an education.

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Molly McIntire, a ten-year-old girl living on the home front during World War 2. It is summer 1944, and Molly is at camp Gowonagin. It's time for the big hike, and Molly dreams of being like her hero, Sacagawea. However, when she should be following the rules of hiking, Molly sets out on her own, and into trouble.

My daughter and I just love the American Girls books, and this one keeps up the tradition of excellence that you expect from them. The story is gentle, and yet teaches an important lesson. The final chapter has a lesson on Sacagawea and trail hiking, which we quite enjoyed. My daughter loves these books, and yours will too!

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Molly McIntire, a ten-year-old girl living on the home front during World War 2. When Molly is paired up with her friend Susan to do a report on George Washington, she believes that this will be the best report ever. However, when Susan starts moving the project in new directions, Molly begins to fear that the project will end in disaster. Molly believes that doing things in a different way is always bad, but perhaps different can be better!

My eleven-year-old daughter and I love these American Girls books, and this one is just as good as the others. The author succeeds in driving home her point with a gentleness that makes the story a joy to read, even while you are learning something. The final chapter has directions for making Cherry-Nut Cupcakes, which have little to do with the story, but my daughter enjoyed making them, and I enjoyed eating them. (Actually, as a father, I do hope that they keep up with putting recipes in their new books!)