Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Semi-historical drama about a plucky girl is lots of fun.
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An American Girl Story - Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas
What's the Story?
Maryellen Larkin (Alyvia Alyn Lind), a young girl growing up in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1955, loves her big family but sometimes feels lost as the middle child. That's why she's going to make this holiday season extra-special in AN AMERICAN GIRL STORY - MARYELLEN 1955: EXTRAORDINARY CHRISTMAS. Wishing she could see snow for once -- and have an only-child Christmas -- she plots to visit her grandparents in the mountains of Georgia. Meanwhile, a friend of Maryellen's mother (Mary McCormack) arrives with her son Benji (Samuel Faraci), who has polio and is hoping to get an operation to help him walk. When Maryellen sees how much Benji wants to get better and how hard it is for his widowed mother to find the money to make it happen, she decides that there's a way she can help Benji and give everyone a special Christmas.
Is It Any Good?
Sweet and full of vintage details and clothing, this drama is tailor-made for young tweens who love a story about a relatable kid trying to make a difference. Despite growing up in an earlier time, Maryellen cares about the kinds of things grade schoolers care about -- Christmas presents, how she stands in the family pecking order, fairness, and friendship. In an attempt to stand out, Maryellen makes mistakes -- an attempt to distinguish her house from all the similar houses on the block by painting the front door red backfires, and she accidentally tells her whole family that her sister Joan (Madison Lawlor) is "pinned" to her boyfriend.
But Maryellen makes more kind gestures than mistakes, heeding her mother's words: "Sometimes if you listen, people tell you what they want most." Once she learns to listen to her family members and friends, she's able to figure out a way to make Christmas special for each of them, and the whole shebang culminates in an improbable Florida snowball fight. Grown-ups may find the proceedings a little cheesy, but An American Girl Story - Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas is fine, nonthreatening fare for young viewers in the mood for a kindhearted Christmas special.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Maryellen's compassion in An American Girl Story - Maryellen 1955: Extraordinary Christmas. How does she demonstrate kindness to her family and friends? What other positive character traits does she embody?
Where is Extraordinary Christmas set? How is the setting communicated? What clues does the show drop? Consider dialogue, costumes, set dressing, and other aspects of the production?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 24, 2016
- Cast : Alyvia Alyn Lind , Mary McCormack , Madison Lawlor
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Amazon Studios
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy
- Run time : 48 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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