Parents Television Council Reviews

PTC reviews aim to provide you with advance information about an entertainment offering so that you can be the final arbiter of what you and your family see.

Samantha: An American Girl Holiday Brings Holiday Entertainment for the Entire Family!
By Devon Good

Congratulations to WB on their first made-for-television movie! Based on the popular American Girls Collection of books and dolls, Samantha: An American Girl Holiday presents vision of what life was like growing up in 1904.

Samantha Parkington (AnnaSophia Robb), an orphan being raised by her wealthy grandmother (Mia Farrow) finds her life transformed after meeting the new servants for the family next door. This story of quintessential friendship between two young girls unconcerned with the social code of the day, takes its viewers through the experience of refined country living, as well as the chaos of early twentieth century New York City. Kudos to the writers and producers for providing a storyline that combines entertainment and a history lesson!

Complex issues raised in the movie are associated with death of parents, orphanages, and child labor in factories, but they are approached in a sensitive and explanatory way as to not come across as "harsh" for a young audience. The topics give elder family members an excellent opportunity to discuss children's lives in that historical period, and about experiences they had growing up in later decades.

You can buy the DVD here.

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