Samantha's Surprise by Maxine Rose Schur

Cornelia always mentions how nice it would be to decorate a gingerbread house, like she did when she was a girl, Samantha says that she would like that too, but the cook is too busy to help this year. Cornelia even suggests sledding, to Grandmary’s surprise. Unlike most other grown-ups, Cornelia is not too dignified to have fun while sledding or get messy while making gingerbread houses. When Cornelia actually arrives and begins participating in the usual Christmas activities, Samantha sees that she is far less fussy than the people who were preparing for her arrival. However, Samantha’s attitudes toward Cornelia change as she gets to know her better during the holidays and comes to see her as a source of fun and support. Throughout the book, Samantha considers different presents that she could give to Cornelia, beginning with the most basic, convenient token gifts that she could give and then forget about, unlike her homemade, heart-felt gifts for everyone else.

Grandmary even tells Samantha that it would be better for Samantha to “stay out of the way” of their Christmas preparations. The cook, who was going to help Samantha with her gingerbread house, says that there probably won’t be time for it now because her grandmother has asked her to make extra, special foods for Cornelia’s visit. However, when Samantha tries to put up the usual homemade decorations that she made herself, the maid angrily takes them down, calling them “dustcatchers.” The house must be perfect for Cornelia’s visit, and Samantha is insulted that people see her decorations as an eyesore or inconvenience. At first, she says that she will help make Cornelia feel welcome and thinks to herself that she will have to get a present for Cornelia that is as elegant as she is. Cornelia’s visit changes Samantha’s plans.įor Samantha, Cornelia’s visit makes Christmas more difficult.

Christmas had started out so hopeful for Samantha, with an invitation to a friend’s Christmas party, elaborate plans for building a gingerbread house, and the secret presents that Samantha has been making for everyone. Uncle Gard is bringing his girlfriend, Cornelia, to spend the holidays with them. But when Christmas morning finally comes, Samantha has more than one surprise waiting for her.Ĩ8 pages ISBN-13 : 978-0937295229 Ages 8-12Christmas is going to be different this year for Samantha and her family. Samantha blames Cornelia for ruining the holidays. No one pays much attention to Samantha and her private wish for the beautiful doll in the window at Schofield's Toy Store. The household goes into a dither, and in all the confusion,

Things start to go wrong when her Uncle Gard announces he is bringing the beautiful Cornelia home for the holidays. Samantha has high hopes for the best Christmas ever.

Samantha's Surprise by Maxine Rose Schur