Samantha Learns a Lesson (American Girl) [Paperback]

Susan Adler (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: American Girl

Samantha attends Miss Crampton's Academy, a private school for proper young ladies. Samantha wants to win the gold medal in the speaking contest, but she's worried about Nellie, the poor servant girl who has become her friend. If she can teach Nellie to read, maybe the boys and girls at school will stop calling Nellie "dummy" and "ragbag." Samantha sets up a school in Grandmary's tower room and becomes Nellie's teacher. But Nellie teaches Samantha some very important lessons, too.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: American Girl; First Edition edition (March 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937295132
• ISBN-13: 978-0937295137
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent Samantha story, November 20, 2002

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Samantha Learns a Lesson: A School Story, 1904 (American Girl) (Hardcover)

This is another in the American Girls series about Samantha Parkington, a nine-year-old orphan girl living in the America of 1904. In this book, Samantha is pleased to learn that her good friend Nellie and her family have been hired by a lady who lives a mere two doors away. Even better, Nellie and her two younger sisters are to start attending the local school. But Nellie is behind in her learning, and is relegated to the second grade, where she is teased as being stupid. With a quick thought, Samantha realizes that she can help.

The final chapter of this book contains a highly informative chapter on education in 1904 America. Also, I must say that I did enjoy the wonderful illustrations provided by Nancy Niles and R. Grace.

This is another excellent American Girls book. As with the other Samantha stories, this one shows the seamier side of the "good old days," but presents the story in a lighthearted and uplifting way. My daughter and I both enjoyed the story, and the lessons that it taught. We both recommend this book to you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book in this series, July 30, 2007

By 

Katrina Elizabeth "Kat" (Van Alstyne. Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samantha Learns a Lesson: A School Story, 1904 (American Girl) (Hardcover)

In this book we meet up again with Samantha Parkington, who is a nine-year-old girl living in the year 1904 with her wealthy grandmother.

Samantha is delighted to learn that her friend Nellie has returned to town with her two sisters. They will be living a few houses down from Samantha, where they will earn a living as servant girls. They also are allowed to go to a public school.

At school Nellie is teased by her classmates because she doesn't know the lessons. Back in New York Nellie had a job in a factory which forced her not to attend school with her sisters.

Samantha has a wonderful idea. She will teach Nellie her lessons in the attic of her grandmother's house. Over time Nellie's progress gets better and better. Meanwhile, Samantha must write an oral essay about progress in America. Samantha begins to write about all the wonderful factories and cars. She gives the essay to Nellie to read over, but is shocked when Nellie tells Samantha she is wrong. Remember Nellie use to work in a factory.

With Nellie's help, Samantha composes a new essay. But, will this new essay be too harsh for Samantha's grandmother, as well as the hundreds of people she is reading it to? Or, will it be just the right thing?

~~Kat

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Story, January 21, 2011

By 

N. Cline "Mommyof6" (OKC, OK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Samantha Learns a Lesson (American Girl) (Paperback)

My daughter and I really enjoy reading the American Girl stories together. This one was especially nice because Samantha shows her love for her friend, not so much empathy, but love. Other friends also read this book with us so we did a book study and the girls (2nd and 3rd grade) enjoy making their own speeches. Read it and you will understand.