The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kitkat133's review against another edition
3.0
Feels like an underwhelming end to the Felicity series. Just ok
slabrey's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, I did not realize that I would be my most vocal on Goodreads over the American Girl original series. But, the changes in publications in the past decade have made me angry, so here we go.
I LOVED these books so much growing up, and felt the need to revisit them. Looking back, I think that this series in particular started my interest in History. They just don't make them like this anymore.
Literally.
The American Girl Company, formerly The Pleasant Company, has stopped writing this particular style of books. Looking in the new books, you don't have the illustrations anymore, or it seems the little history snippet in the back. Which was what set the American Girl stories apart.
The illustrations in the series are wonderful, they had a realistic, detailed touch to them that was rare in children's books.
It was the same with the historical pieces. It added a bit a realism to the story. sure, you were reading fiction, but you also got to learn at least a little bit about life in America in the past.
Its very sad to me that these are out of print. I don't see why they couldnt print this series along with adding in new girls, and maybe growing the series for the originals as well.
I LOVED these books so much growing up, and felt the need to revisit them. Looking back, I think that this series in particular started my interest in History. They just don't make them like this anymore.
Literally.
The American Girl Company, formerly The Pleasant Company, has stopped writing this particular style of books. Looking in the new books, you don't have the illustrations anymore, or it seems the little history snippet in the back. Which was what set the American Girl stories apart.
The illustrations in the series are wonderful, they had a realistic, detailed touch to them that was rare in children's books.
It was the same with the historical pieces. It added a bit a realism to the story. sure, you were reading fiction, but you also got to learn at least a little bit about life in America in the past.
Its very sad to me that these are out of print. I don't see why they couldnt print this series along with adding in new girls, and maybe growing the series for the originals as well.
frogy927's review against another edition
2.0
I missed two of them, but I'm calling my Felicity (re-)read done. And this was my least favorite of the ones I read. I just did not like any of it.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
4.0
Whenever anyone tells me, "You just don't like change," I picture the cover of this book and feel perfectly validated in my opinion. Change is difficult! Change is bittersweet. Change shakes up your life, and then you have to wait nervously to find out what happens next.
I appreciated this book more as an adult. It's still sad, but I'm now accustomed to life changes, and appreciate this book's sensitive portrayal of Felicity's emotions. Even though I used to laugh at my mother for crying when she read children's books aloud to us, I cried over this one, mainly because
This one is one of the most bittersweet series conclusions, in my opinion, because even though it provides a satisfying ending to the series and has a redemptive story arc, a lot of sad and scary changes happen. It's authentic to the time period and to life's realities, and provides a moving portrait of how children process changes in their lives, but I can see why this was a downer to me when I was that age.
Years later, when the American Girl mysteries came out, I was thrilled, because they picked up where each series ended and I could find out what happened to the characters next. I especially valued this in the case of Felicity, since this book involves so many huge alterations to daily life without fully showing what happens next. Finishing this makes me want to reread the mysteries, so in that sense, not much has changed.
I appreciated this book more as an adult. It's still sad, but I'm now accustomed to life changes, and appreciate this book's sensitive portrayal of Felicity's emotions. Even though I used to laugh at my mother for crying when she read children's books aloud to us, I cried over this one, mainly because
Spoiler
the death of Felicity's grandfather hit very close to home. The day before I reread this was the sixth anniversary of my paternal grandfather's death, and I was in exactly the right frame of mind to get really teary.This one is one of the most bittersweet series conclusions, in my opinion, because even though it provides a satisfying ending to the series and has a redemptive story arc, a lot of sad and scary changes happen. It's authentic to the time period and to life's realities, and provides a moving portrait of how children process changes in their lives, but I can see why this was a downer to me when I was that age.
Years later, when the American Girl mysteries came out, I was thrilled, because they picked up where each series ended and I could find out what happened to the characters next. I especially valued this in the case of Felicity, since this book involves so many huge alterations to daily life without fully showing what happens next. Finishing this makes me want to reread the mysteries, so in that sense, not much has changed.
meghan's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bronwynmb's review against another edition
4.0
I’m starting the American Girls podcast, so I’m rereading my AG books before I listen to the episodes.
I really enjoyed this one. The gains and losses, the friends made and people lost - whether permanently or temporarily. Again, Mother was wonderful.
I really enjoyed this one. The gains and losses, the friends made and people lost - whether permanently or temporarily. Again, Mother was wonderful.
piburnjones's review against another edition
4.0
You think this is about horses, and then suddenly it's something else entirely. Jail and grief and sadness in the middle, bracketed by a horse story. A grief sandwich on horse bread?
...no, maybe not.
The horse parts tie up Penny's storyline nicely: the we-don't-say-stealing of Penny is remedied by Grandfather. His generosity and Felicity's kindness inspire Jiggy Nye to turn over a new leaf - thus becoming an ally when Felicity needs help during the birth of Penny's foal.
(I can't help wondering, surely there were other, closer neighbors and *ahem* enslaved people who could have helped in the absence of Father and Marcus, but this is a case of plot overriding logic.)
Also worth noting, Felicity's kind gesture to Jiggy Nye only happens because Elizabeth pushes her to be her best self. It's no coincidence that there's no sign of Annabelle, who always seems to bring out the worst in the younger girls.
In the middle is all the sad stuff - Mr. Cole being jailed for his political opinions, Grandfather's illness. In the wake of it all, we reflect on Felicity's growth over the course of the series: a conversation with her mother closely mirrors one Molly has with Jill in Changes For Molly. (I see and honor your patterns, Valerie Tripp.)
As throughout the Felicity books, the revolutionary politics stay very black and white. (Or perhaps, white and more white, as we are still definitely not talking about Black people or slavery in this book.) And of course the ending has to be fairly optimistic about the war to be a happy ending, but you know they have a hard road ahead.
...no, maybe not.
The horse parts tie up Penny's storyline nicely: the we-don't-say-stealing of Penny is remedied by Grandfather. His generosity and Felicity's kindness inspire Jiggy Nye to turn over a new leaf - thus becoming an ally when Felicity needs help during the birth of Penny's foal.
(I can't help wondering, surely there were other, closer neighbors and *ahem* enslaved people who could have helped in the absence of Father and Marcus, but this is a case of plot overriding logic.)
Also worth noting, Felicity's kind gesture to Jiggy Nye only happens because Elizabeth pushes her to be her best self. It's no coincidence that there's no sign of Annabelle, who always seems to bring out the worst in the younger girls.
In the middle is all the sad stuff - Mr. Cole being jailed for his political opinions, Grandfather's illness. In the wake of it all, we reflect on Felicity's growth over the course of the series: a conversation with her mother closely mirrors one Molly has with Jill in Changes For Molly. (I see and honor your patterns, Valerie Tripp.)
As throughout the Felicity books, the revolutionary politics stay very black and white. (Or perhaps, white and more white, as we are still definitely not talking about Black people or slavery in this book.) And of course the ending has to be fairly optimistic about the war to be a happy ending, but you know they have a hard road ahead.
emlickliter's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Changes for Felicity: A Winter Story by Valerie Tripp – This one is both sad and sweet as Felicity’s coming of age coincides with the new nation that is only a dream in her heart at the moment! Happy Reading!Â