Published November 5, 2026
Growing up, my Grandma Betty gave my sister and me American Girl dolls and regularly sewed new outfits for them. Then I “grew up” (what an awful thought!). Luckily, that didn't last long, and I was back to my childlike self, enjoying movies like Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. Little did I know, this movie would plant the seed for what was to come.
In college, I had to write a practice paper on a topic different from the one I planned to cover in my history major capstone. I chose to explore how the American Girl doll books teach young girls about history. Rather than discussing all the dolls, I had to narrow my focus to just one. Naturally, I chose “The Rebel with a Hairbow,” Samantha Parkington, who I absolutely adore!
As I wrote this paper, my appreciation for the American Girl books grew, and I eventually ended up with a sizable collection of books from each of the six original dolls. I never wanted to lose sight of that project, so I decided to publish it on my website [read here]. With all of this context in mind, you can imagine how excited I was for this book to come out.
Have you ever read a book so good that you wished it would never end? That was exactly my experience with Fiona Davis’ Samantha: The Next Chapter. Find out why in my review:
The Review
Samantha Parkington at 25 in 1920? Yes, please! The book starts with everything true American Girl fans want to know: how Samantha, her family, and her friends are doing, the most important of all being hot Uncle Gard (IYKYK)!
Throughout the story, Samantha stays true to herself: a suffragist, an advocate for equality, someone willing to roll up their sleeves to work hard, a strong advocate and pursuer of justice, a teacher, and a young woman who refuses to let anyone or anything stand in the way of pursuing the life she wants or finding answers to her questions. This plays out in many ways throughout the book, often clashing with societal gender norms, but I dare not reveal more and spoil the fun!
Right from the get-go, I was thrilled with the audiobook narrator they chose: Saskia Maarleveld. Her voice is reminiscent of Rebecca Medar, the actress who portrayed Aunt Cornelia in the Samantha movie. I applaud Maarleveld for capturing all the endearing vocal cadences and nuances that American Girl fans know, love, and natural fit within the American Girl canon! Listening to her tell this story made me feel at home in this genre a cherish.
I really admire Fiona Davis for the amount of research she put into writing this book. She became well-versed not only in the historical context of the post-World War I era and the 1920s, but also in Samantha Parkington’s world. The book speaks fluently in the language Pleasant T. Rowland established in the late 1980s. Staying true to the tradition of the original American Girl books, Davis even includes a “Looking Back” section, which I listened to thoroughly. I was especially pleased to find a truthful, thoughtful account of the historical context and how it remains relevant today, just as readers have come to expect from American Girl (okay, that is the early original books, not the sacrilegious BeForever shift, which damaged American Girl's credibility. More on that in my research). I know Pleasant T. Rowland is smiling upon this book.
Davis also stays true to some of the storytelling methods that are so familiar in the American Girl canon, which helps the story flow naturally. She balances the different tones of the book in a way that keeps readers thoroughly engaged. The romance becomes irresistible, the mystery and suspense (and yes, there is plenty of both!) keep readers on their toes, and the other plot points provide just enough detail to keep readers informed without ever feeling overwhelmed. In other words, this is a truly delightful read, both as an addition to the American Girl collection and as a work of historical fiction in its own right.
This story hooks you, and you never want it to end. When it finally does end, it leaves you wanting more—SO MUCH MORE! Thankfully, Davis promises more in future sequels and books!
In a way, I put off writing this review—not because I didn't want to (this story certainly deserves one!), but because publishing it meant I would officially be saying goodbye to my first experience reading this book. There's nothing quite like reading a book for the first time, am I right? It's bittersweet, but at last, it's time for me to finish this chapter.
Do yourself a favor: read this book and feel all the feels! It'll surely rekindle your love of books (especially audiobooks), American Girl, historical fiction, and perhaps even American history.