#ag readathon

After reading Lila Goes for Gold, a couple thoughts on AG cameos:

I wasn’t able to read Lila’s journal (on that note, if anyone has the journals for Kavi, Lila, or Raquel and is willing to scan you would be my hero), but I did read her actual book, and I would say that arguably, McKenna’s cameo is much more substantial than the presence of Samantha in Raquel’s story. She’s in almost every chapter, and you see how she speaks and acts in her chosen “adult” field (or at least adjacent to it, since she’s coaching but studying education).

With Raquel, we are getting some new info on Samantha and her adult life, but it’s mostly Easter eggs. However, I think that for some people, Samantha’s “cameo” is more difficult to reconcile because 1) it necessitates her already having passed away, 2) many would argue it implies she has given birth to a child and married (which given the appearance of Raquel’s mom, I would be inclined to agree with at least the child part), and 3) Samantha is generally a more beloved character than McKenna.

I don’t particularly mind what we learn about Samantha in Raquel’s story. I think starting a school for girls is VERY in character for her, and I think her being referred to as “Samantha PARKINGTON” by the family has interesting implications, allowing us to come to our own conclusions about how Samantha might have formed her family. Based on Samantha’s childhood, I think family was very important to her and she would’ve liked to have her own, but how she made that happen is anyone’s guess. The cameo was definitely nostalgia-bait but I don’t hate it.

However, I think cameos like McKenna’s work really well because you get to see what an “adult” version of the character looks like without getting into that tricky marriage/kids/old age territory. The readathon actually actually endeared me to McKenna more than I expected, so I enjoyed seeing her grow into her best qualities in Lila’s story. Her and Samantha actually have some things in common, most obviously that they grow up to be educators! I think that interest lends itself to a cameo. For example, I imagine that Chrissa goes on to become an art teacher! I’d love to see her in that role, but because she’s so beloved to me I must admit there’s only certain information I’d be willing to see as a part of her canon.