At a glance
Happy Birthday, Samantha!
Children's fiction
Happy Birthday, Samantha!
Book 4 of the The American Girls Collection series
62 pages · First published 1987
Samantha travels to New York City with Grandmary for her tenth birthday and encounters modern conveniences and social ideas very different from those at home. The excitement of the city is complicated by what Samantha observes about working people, children, and the uneven benefits of the new century’s progress. Family celebrations and friendship remain central as she tries to understand how a modern world can be both exciting and unfair. This American Girl spring story uses a birthday visit to introduce Progressive Era change through Samantha’s increasingly questioning perspective.
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Jump to the pours ↓Happiness Experiment + Family Secret Sour
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Childhood bullying/pranks and threats; women's suffrage and sexism; runaway/lost dog peril; mild family conflict.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Happiness Experiment
A bright, refreshing sip suits a lively, lighthearted reading mood.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Combine the juices over ice, top with sparkling water, and stir gently.
- Garnish: Orange or lime wheel.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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Highball glass ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Family Secret Sour
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A warming pour with a sharp edge suits a lively, lighthearted reading mood.
What you'll need
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 3/4 oz simple syrup ↗
- 1/2 oz pasteurized egg white or aquafaba (optional) ↗
- Ice
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- If using egg white, dry-shake first. Add ice and shake again, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish: Lemon peel.
- Glassware: Rocks glass.
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