“Changes for Rebecca” by: Jacqueline Dembar Greene

This is the 6th book in the American Girl Rebecca series by Jacqueline Dembar Greene. (Book 1 has been reviewed here: https://kbook-reviews.blogspot.com/2025/06/meet-rebecca-by-jacqueline-dembar-greene.html)

Age: 8+

Description: "Let's make a movie!" Rebecca thinks this is a grand idea, but when her gentle cousin Ana plays the role of a cruel factory boss, the fun turns sour. Once Rebecca learns the truth about factories, though, she begins to see why Ana acted so mean. A few days later, Rebecca visits the factory where Ana's brother and father work, and she's horrified. How can anyone work in such conditions? Is this the life that's in store for Ana? But as awful as the factory is, Tasha knows that Ana's father and brother desperately need their jobs. There's got to be a way to make things better at the factory--and Rebecca is determined to do her part, even if it means marching straight into danger.

My Rating: 4/5

I do not appreciate the secrecy in this book involves that *SERIES SPOILER* Rebecca did not tell her parents that she was in a movie (from book 3) until the end of this book. These books should be teaching her how to be honest and open with her parents not that she hides things from them. I am thankful she finally told them but I don’t think it should have taken this long.


On page 49, there is a statement, “the best thing we can do in life is follow our hearts.” Okay, I know this is kind of American Girl’s entire theme here, but it is wrong. Our hearts are not trustworthy. They are desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). The Lord cannot allow our sinful hearts into His heaven so He made a way through His Son to cleanse our filthy hearts. The best thing we can do in this life is believe this and live the rest of our lives for the Lord because of it. We should be asking God to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:10). That is truly the best thing we can do in this life.


For those two reasons, -1 star


Things to be aware of in “Changes for Rebecca”


Language:

  • 1 “I’m having a devil of a time”


Violence:

  • A character is whacked once with a club.
  • Some characters are jabbed with hatpins.
  • Some characters are hit with umbrellas.
  • A few characters (some already hurt) are hit with nightsticks by the police.
  • A character is thrown to the ground (via kicking away what they had been standing on).
  • A rock is thrown at a character, injuring them badly.


Additional Notes:

  • A major plot point of this book involves a factory strike where the workers shout at the owners for the poor working environment.

Links to the book:

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