AR: 3.8

Story of Samantha, an orphan raised by her grandmother; her world, friends, and family.

This is a book about a girl named Samantha, and her summer vacation set in the year of 1904. We are able to learn about Samantha's adventures at her Grandmothers summer home with the rest of her family and friends. We also learn about her adventures to the island near where she is staying as well. It is a very positive book as well.

Samantha couldn't be happier! She is with Grandmary at their summer home(Piney Point) in the mountains. To add to the excitement, Agnes, Agatha, Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia are joining them! And so is Grandmary's special friend and admirer, Admiral Archibald Beemis! Fishing, swimming, and exploring in a canoe occupy the sunny days. And on rainy days, the girls complete jigsaw puzzles, paint pictures, play cards and work on their wildflower scrapbooks. When Samantha finds a sketchbook of her late mother's vacation paintings, she and the twins decide to visit Teardrop Island; Samantha is aware that her parents had a tragic accident there, but what could happen on such a beautiful, peaceful day?

Samantha Saves the Day is the fifth book in the Samantha series. Cleverly illustrated by Dan Andreasen.

The "Looking Back" section explores "America Outdoors in 1904." People in towns and cities wanted to escape to the mountains and seashores in the summer. Wealthy families often spent their entire summers at these vacation homes. They may have felt they were "roughing it", but servants made their lives easier. John Muir, Sarah and James Philip, and Theodore Roosevelt were active in early ecological movements. ( )

Summary:
Samantha Saves the Day is book five in a series of books. In this story the mail character Samantha and her family are on their annual summer vacation at Goose Lake. Samantha and her cousins, Agnes and Agatha, were enjoying their summer trip until one day when a bad storm came and they were forced to stay inside the house and became very bored. The girls decided to go up into the attic of their grandmother’s house to look for paint supplies and they were intrigued to find paintings that Samantha’s mother had drawn of Teardrop Island. Samantha had vowed never to go to the island because both her parents had tragically died there when she was just a little girl. However, after looking at the paintings she decided that she and her cousins were going to go there the very next day. The next morning, the girls set out in their boat to Teardrop Island. After enjoying a full day and trying to remember the fun times she had with her parents there a storm started to roll in and the girls knew it was time to head back. They failed to tie up their boat and when they returned to go home it was gone. After they climbed to the top of a tall peek they hear a rumbling in a nearby bush and it turned out to be the Admiral who had come to rescue them, but he had hit his head and was bleeding badly. The girls got themselves and the Admiral safely back into the boat and back home. In the end Samantha decided that she would return again to Teardrop Island to remember her parents.

Personal Reflection:
I remember reading these books as a child, and that is why I selected it to review. Even as an adult I enjoyed reading it.

Classroom Extension:
-This book could be used to introduce children into reading chapter books.
-This book could be used as a tool when teaching of life in the 1900’s.