Josefina Montoya is growing up on a rancho near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1824. Ever since Mamá died a year before, Josefina and her three sisters have been struggling to carry on without her. One bright fall day, happy news arrives--their beloved grandfather is returning home after a long trading trip. Josefina knows that he will bring exciting stories and wonderful treasures from his journey. But this time he brings something more--a great surprise that Josefina and her sisters never even dreamed of!

Meet Josefina

Valerie Tripp

American Girl

Kirsten Larson and her family arrive in America in 1854, after a long sea voyage. Everything looks so different from the life Kirsten knew back in Sweden--the ways people talk and dress seem strange! Getting lost in a big city and parting with her best friend only add to Kirsten's worry. Will she ever feel at home here? It is only when the Larsons arrive at a tiny farm on the edge of the frontier that Kirsten believes Papa's promise--America will be a land filled with opportunity for them all.

Meet Kirsten (American Girl: Kirsten, 1854)

Children's Books

Shaw, Janet

Literature & Fiction

Samantha Parkington is an orpan who lives with her rich grandmother in 1904. There are many servants in Grandmary's busy, bustling household, but there is no one for Samantha to play with. That's why she's so excited when Nellie moves in next door. Nellie has come to work so that she can send money back to her family in the city. Even though their lives are different, the two girls become good friends. One day Samantha discovers that Jessie, the seamstress, is leaving. No one will tell her why. So she and Nellie plan a secret midnight adventure to find out.

Meet Samantha (American Girl: Samantha, 1904)

Adler, Susan

For Molly McIntire, life seems full of change. It's 1944 and the world is at war. Her father is far away caring for wounded soldiers. Her mother is busy working for the Red Cross. And everyone in America is so serious and practical that glamorous Halloween costumes are hard to get. Molly's special hula skirt is a huge success--until Ricky, her pesty big brother, plays a mean trick. Molly and her friends are determined to get back at him. One mean trick leads to another until the fighting goes too far.

Meet Molly

Tripp, Valerie

Kirsten starts school in America, but she doesn't speak English very well. Miss Winston, her new teacher, is strict and not very understanding. Things get worse when Miss Winston comes to live with the Larson family. Kirsten's only escape is playing with her secret friend, Singing Bird. When Singing Bird suggests running away forever, Kirsten must decide where she belongs. Kirsten does learn some important lessons in school, but she learns something even more important about herself.

Kirsten Learns a Lesson (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.

Samantha Learns a Lesson (American Girl: Samantha, 1904)

Molly is determined that the third-grade girls will win her school's Lend-a-Hand Contest to help the war effort. When they choose an idea that Molly knows will never work, she talks two friends into doing their own secret project. But the project turns out to be harder than Molly expected. Worried that it might not win after all, Molly decides to spy on the other girls to see how they are doing. When Molly and her friends get caught peeking in a window, they learn some important lessons.

Molly Learns a Lesson (American Girl Collection)

Kirsten and her family will be celebrating their first Christmas in America. Kirsten wants to keep some of their old Swedish traditions alive in the new country, so she secretly plans a Saint Lucia celebration. But everything depends on a trip to town with Papa, and he's too busy to leave the farm. At last they go--and get caught in a terrible blizzard. It's up to Kirsten to keep herself and Papa safe through the night. When she finally gets home, the candles in the little cabin glow with a special holiday warmth.

Kirsten's Surprise (American Girl Collection)

Molly and her family face a disappointing Christmas. Dad is off at war in England, Molly's grandparents can't come for the holidays, and it looks like there won't be many exciting presents. Worst of all, the family hasn't heard from Dad for a long time, and they're worried. But Molly decides they should make their own merry Christmas, filled with the kind of surprises that Dad would make. Thanks to Molly, the best surprise of all is waiting for the McIntires on Christmas morning.

Molly's Surprise: A Christmas Story, Book Three (The American Girls Collection)

Kirsten's excited about the changes spring is bringing to the Larsons' farm--including a big barn and a tiny baby. But changes bring new worries and more work, too. First Kirsten is afraid for Mama's health. Then caring for a baby seems to mean nothing but chores. Kirsten has to miss school to help at home, and she can't help with the surprise she and her friends are planning for their teacher. Will her friends forget all about her? But Kirsten's hard work is rewarded with a day of fun--and a special birthday surprise.

Happy Birthday, Kirsten! (American Girl Collection)

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