Because of Courtney, Liz, and Mindy, I present

[throwingpens]

THE AMERICAN GIRL DOLL POLL

Poll

Apparently there are more dolls/books now? But Kit was BRAND NEW when I was 9 and I thought it was super cool that she had freckles like me.

Please rant about how great your favorite character is below.

Comments

[beetsbearsbsg]

Are American Dolls a rich kid thing ? I mean, the only real "doll" I had was a cabbage patch kid. And that was given to me when I was around 8-9 years old when my parents knew I wouldn't destroy it. Call me crazy but spending $100 on a doll is dumb. I'm not unamerican, I just grew up poor and played outside a lot.

And looking at this as a minority, Josefina Montoya??! WTF, is she supposed to represent me ? No thanks on these dolls. They just look creepy.

[lizinstereo]

They had hospital gown outfits!

[saucydiva]

This is, by far, my favorite mental picture of you (you are fully grown in this mental picture)

[whimsical_irony]

I HAD ONE OF THESE. Except mine had twins, which is potentially worse.

[throwingpens]

In the little town I grew up in, we had a Reading is Fundamental program, and that's where it started for me. RIF days were better than book fair days.

I liked the story more than the doll. But then I also read fanfic and was obsessed with historical fiction, so who knows? I think that's part of the reason we're so bent out of shape on this thread, because they're shying away from the historical dolls and focusing on dolls that are JUST LIKE YOU but then also ridonk expensive.

I will agree with Courtney that when they're all lined up, they are terrifying.

But I respect your viewpoint.

[lizinstereo]

I understand what you're saying. I don't think the dolls represent anyone unless a person, as an individual, chooses identify with them. Plus, the stories are sanitized because this shit is for children. AG is definitely the stuff of historical fantasy, which is why they are moving into the plan old fantasy market (with the Just Like Me dolls).

The little teeth are creepy. I noticed that a few years ago. I still love my doll, but I wish she didn't have two front teeth.

And if we are doing a demographic survey, I grew up middle class (in suburbia).

[throwingpens]

I, too, recently noticed the creepy-ass teeth. Not the ass-teeth. If the asses had teeth, that would be bad.

Demographics input: I grew up lower-middle class/middle class. In the middle of nowhere. In Iowa. Around the time I got interested in the dolls is when my parents started making a little more money.

[lizinstereo]

Also, the stories are based on stereotypes. Everything is watered down, which is why Josefina has a goat, Addy has a bird, Felicity has a horse, and the nonexistent Asian doll has nothing.

[beetsbearsbsg]

At least Josefina didn't have a pet chicken.

[throwingpens]

that we know of.

i did a brief google and came up with no conclusive results either way