AR: 3.7

AR: 4.3

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 but cannot read.

This book is a good historical fiction book since it describes what it was like to be a young lady during the Industrial Revolution, and the Women's rights movement. As well as what it was like to go to school during that time and to live in the city and work in a factory instead of going to school during this time period.

Another cute story in the American Girl: Samantha series. In this one, Samantha learns a little something about her privilege through the eyes of her friend Nellie, a girl from a poor family who used to work in a factory before Samantha's grandmother found the family servant work in a house two doors down.

We also see Nellie's very first opportunity to attend school and the problems that entails. ( )