Anybody remember the American Girl books? When I was younger I remember reading them over and over. I was constantly rereading the stories about Felicity, Addy, and Samantha. I also remember wishing I owned the ones about Kirsten and Molly. All of these girls were American, and each lived during a different time in history. Besides the books, you could buy the dolls themselves, with matching clothing and furniture. My cousin had Felicity’s tea-table (she grew up during the American revolution) and it came with an actual tea set.
These books were a great way to teach young children about the diversity of America. Not only did they introduce topics like slavery (Addy grew up during the Civil War, and was a former slave) and immigration (Kirsten was originally from Sweden), but they also made readers aware of things like racism, poverty, and discrimination. I don’t want to just emphasize the negative topics however; these books also told stories of the importance of family, the necessity of overcoming obstacles, and the beauty of true friendship.
The girl I tutor gets the American Girl catalogue and when I flipped through it, I was shocked. What I remember fondly as wonderful stories with matching dolls, has now become so commercialized that its appalling. The books don’t even seem to be featured in the catalogue. Instead of the dolls in their original time period clothing, what’s pushed is modern ski clothes, or party dresses. Want your doll to go horseback riding? There’s gear for that! Perhaps you want your doll to keep her schoolbooks in a locker. You can buy that.
Rebecca, Julie, Ivy, Emily, Kit, Ruthie, Nellie, Elizabeth, Josephina, and Kaya are all new characters that I don’t remember from my childhood. Of them, perhaps Josephina and Kaya look like they have potential to be as influential as the original five girls. Josephina is living in New Mexico around 1824, while Kaya is a Native American in 1764. There are also “contemporary” American Girls: Chrissa, Mia, Nicki, Jess, Marisol, Kailey, and Lindsey. Are any of these as good as the originals? I don’t know. What saddens me is that some of the wonderful original dolls have been “archived” or “retired”. Obviously this all revolves around money and sales, but I wish it didn’t. The most recent American Girl? Gwen Thompson- her claim to fame? She’s homeless. Critics are quick to point out that no money from Gwen’s sales is going/will go to the truly homeless.
Is there anyone out there who has read, or has children who read, these newer American Girl books? Are they still as good as they used to be, or has the American Girl series lost its magic?
Have no idea what I’m talking about? Check out: Samantha
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Kathleen's Book Reviews... 
This saddens me, too. I know the American Girl books and dolls were favorites of mine – all I wanted for Christmas/birthdays for years on end were first the dolls and books and then the accessories to match. They are really what makes me realize how much I loved history even then. Now the focus has gone totally from the historical dolls to the modern day girls and it’s very sad. Are there not enough modern dolls out there?
I haven’t read the books of the latest ones so I have no idea what’s there either. I only started realizing what had happened when a friend of mine who lived in NYC rushed to the store to get a mini Samantha, her favorite, before she was retired. And now they’re retiring Kirsten. I’m glad I kept my books and dolls so my potential future daughter can have them if she wants.
I don’t know if I still have my books. I hope I do. I never had the dolls- jealous of you!
Well I never read any of the original ones, but my daughter has read almost all of them. She loved the Julie ones and she is currently reading the Rebecca ones. She is still learning a lot, and she actually prefers the historical ones to the modern dolls.
Having said that, most of her friends like the fashion aspect instead of the history aspect, and that’s sad! A few years ago, my daughter would dress up like Felicity and play tea party! But I know most girls (and their moms) thought she was crazy!
I’m so glad that some girls are still reading the historical ones. And Felicity was awesome, so I love that your daughter would dress up as her 🙂
I wish I had an American Girl doll :o(
Lol put it on your Christmas list. Maybe Jim will get you one- one of the ‘unretired’ ones that is.
I used to have almost all of the original American Girl Books. I also had Felicity and Kirstin, and my sister had Samantha. As an avid reader, I loved the stories that taught history while entertaining at the same time. I am rather dismayed that the company has sold out in the name of monetary gain. I think the original concept was a great one, and I am sure there are very few (if any) young girls now days who have any interest in “old fashioned” Kirstin, Samantha, Felicity and Molly as opposed to the new and hip American Girls who promote nothing about American history in regards to women. It’s a disgrace.
I’m glad you understand where I’m coming with this. These were such great books for kids- I feel like I learned so much from them.
Actually, even when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s, American Girl was pretty commercial- just more quietly so as they didn’t have those catalogs and MASSIVE stores. The American Girl store in Chicago is always full. They have some serious marketing savvy, but it’s really sad that the books aren’t the central aspect, any more. I especially liked those full page color painting-pictures in them. I wonder if those are still there…
I never had any of the dolls (I was never a doll kind of girl), but I really enjoyed the books I remember reading – especially the Kirsten stories.
I would love to introduce my daughter to the series of american girl books. Does anyone have any suggestion as to which goes first?, by name?, by date/year?, by series? Which are better, more informative? How are the short stories vs. regular? Older versions vs. the newer series… I’m confused and overwhelmed!
It strikes me that the AG phenom is as much about mothers as it is their daughters. Lots of implicit narratives guiding the consumptive practices, especially for those who go all in. Anyone care to articulate the stories that accompany the expenses?