A review by panda_incognito
Samantha's Surprise: A Christmas Story by Maxine Rose Schur
4.0
I remembered absolutely nothing about this book, except that Samantha wore a red dress and got a doll. I enjoyed rediscovering the book as an adult, and appreciated Samantha's realistic emotions about how the visit from her uncle's girlfriend's would change her Christmas traditions. Although her attitude gets a bit tiresome, it is completely true to life, and I enjoyed seeing how she processed this and warmed up to Cornelia over time.
Also, Cornelia is a delightful person, and I enjoyed viewing her from the perspective of being her peer, rather than viewing her as an Very Grown Adult. She's so nice to Samantha, remembers what it was like to be a kid, is playful and fun, and strikes the right balance between being respectful and forward-thinking. Although the second book in this series made historical missteps in understanding the world of ideas, this book is near-perfect in its evocation of a Christmas in that era and of a young, modern 1900s woman.
This book is by a different author than the previous two, and the writing and plot structure are much improved. My only complaint is that the "peek into the past" section gives an unrealistic view of Christmases in that era by only focusing on how the wealthy celebrated. I didn't notice this much as a child, but I wish that the historical note had contrasted Christmas traditions across classes instead of making it look like everyone lived in luxury, with lots of toys and lavish meals.
Also, Cornelia is a delightful person, and I enjoyed viewing her from the perspective of being her peer, rather than viewing her as an Very Grown Adult. She's so nice to Samantha, remembers what it was like to be a kid, is playful and fun, and strikes the right balance between being respectful and forward-thinking. Although the second book in this series made historical missteps in understanding the world of ideas, this book is near-perfect in its evocation of a Christmas in that era and of a young, modern 1900s woman.
This book is by a different author than the previous two, and the writing and plot structure are much improved. My only complaint is that the "peek into the past" section gives an unrealistic view of Christmases in that era by only focusing on how the wealthy celebrated. I didn't notice this much as a child, but I wish that the historical note had contrasted Christmas traditions across classes instead of making it look like everyone lived in luxury, with lots of toys and lavish meals.