A review by thewordwitch
Samantha's Surprise: A Christmas Story by Maxine Rose Schur
4.0
This is the book that I recall the most in Samatha's series. I used to re-read it every year around the holidays, and it defined the ideal Christmas for me. The hand-made decorations, sledding, holiday shopping in cozy little stores, a sleigh ride to get the tree. I wanted that to be my Christmas so badly. Even now it reminds me of all the holiday traditions I used to do with my mom. Christmas cookies, decorating our tree, watching movies and TV shows. It's sweet.
(Side note from an adult reader: Does Samantha never think about her parents in these? Like, how she misses them around the holidays? Also, it would be nice of her to wonder how Nellie is doing, since I am sure that Nellie's Christmas looks far different. I suppose the publishing company didn't want to bring the readers down with reality. As a little girl reading this, I may not have been as into reality when I wanted a Christmas fantasy.)
(Side note from an adult reader: Does Samantha never think about her parents in these? Like, how she misses them around the holidays? Also, it would be nice of her to wonder how Nellie is doing, since I am sure that Nellie's Christmas looks far different. I suppose the publishing company didn't want to bring the readers down with reality. As a little girl reading this, I may not have been as into reality when I wanted a Christmas fantasy.)