Changes for Samantha: A Winter Story (1988)

Publisher's Summary

Times change for Samantha when she moves to New York City to live with Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia. They change for Nellie, Samantha's servant friend in Mount Bedford, too. But Nellie's changes aren't as happy as Samantha's, and Nellie has to find work again. When her friend disappears, Samantha thinks Nellie has been lost forever. But after a long and scary search, Samantha finds Nellie in a New York orphanage. The orphanage is not a good place for Nellie, so the girls plan a daring escape.

Kate's Breakdown

It's 1906, and Samantha's life has already changed in some major ways. Grandmary has finally agreed to marry Admiral Beemis, and the newlyweds are traveling the world together. Samantha now lives with Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia in their townhouse in New York City.

In a letter, Samantha learns that Nellie's family was struck by the flu and both her parents died. The O'Malley girls have been sent to live with their Uncle Mike somewhere in the city. Samantha is desperate to comfort her friend, so she defies her aunt and uncle to find Nellie herself. She tracks the family down to a tenement in the lower east side, but learns that Uncle Mike took the girls' money and abandoned them. The girls have been sent to Coldrock House for Orphan Girls, which is as miserable as it sounds. Samantha finally finds Nellie in this orphanage and tries to help her with gifts, but can't do much. Nellie tries to be positive despite the demoralizing conditions— after all, the sisters are still together. But even that changes.

Nellie is going to be sent out West on the "Orphan Train," to be adopted by a farm family in need of labor. This would separate her from her younger sisters, which Samantha can't accept. Samantha hatches a plan to break the girls out of the orphanage and hide them in the townhouse attic.

It actually works for a few days. Samantha keeps the younger girls, Bridget and Jenny, safe and fed while Nellie goes out to look for work. After a few days, they are discovered by Gertrude, Cornelia's grumpy maid, and forced to come clean to Gard and Cornelia.

The next day happens to be Valentine's Day. The girls are brought to breakfast, where Gard and Cornelia announce that they have decided to adopt all three O'Malley girls, who will live with them as sisters to Samantha. Finally, Samantha will have a "real family" to call her own.

Cover Gallery

Editions & Revisions

Doll Collection

• The Changes book usually corresponded with winter outerwear instead of a new dress. Samantha got a plaid cape with matching gaiters for her boots, as well as a faux-fur hat and muff. A matching ensemble was sold for girls.
• The Winter Amusements included craft supplies that matched the valentines Samantha and Cornelia made, as well as paper dolls like the ones Jenny plays with in the attic.

Hear Kate's Full Breakdown

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