American Girl Gone Wrong...

Are you familiar with the American Girl dolls? 

No? 

Allow me to introduce you...

Meet Addy...Her story begins as Addy and her mother escape slavery to find Addy's father and brother who've been sold.  But escaping means leaving Addy's baby sister behind, her cries could cost them their lives.  Once Addy declares her freedom, will she be able to reunite with her family?

Say hello to Felicity & Elizabeth...As a girl growing up during a revolutionary time, Felicity believes the American colonies should be free. Others think a king who lives far away is most fit to rule—even Felicity’s grandfather and her best friend, Elizabeth. Feeling torn, Felicity must find a way to hold both love and loyalty in her heart.

Here is Josefina...As a New Mexican girl growing up in 1824, Josefina is trying to preserve what is precious after her mother’s passing. Josefina is overjoyed when her mother’s sister, Tía Dolores, comes to live on the family rancho, but worries about her new ideas. Can Josefina welcome change and still remember the old ways?

Julie & Ivy (my favorites)...Julie Albright is a fun-loving San Francisco girl who faces big changes—she’s moving away from her best friend, Ivy Ling, and starting over at a new house and school. But soon enough, Julie learns how to create a few changes of her own.

Do you get the idea?  American Girl dolls are a line of dolls, books, and accessories based on pre-teen girl characters that originally focused on various periods of American history from the viewpoint of girls.  Now American Girl dolls come in "Girl of the Year" dolls, "Just Like You" dolls (dolls that are created to look like you), "Bitty Baby" dolls and so on....

Each doll is an investment of anywhere between $95 to $150.  Accessories are sold separately and there are also books, DVD's, furniture, ect. for each individual doll. 

I have three younger sisters...all three of them have several dolls of their own (the dolls were not created until I was well out of the doll playing age).  Most of the little girls that have American Girl dolls are allowed to play with them, dress them, style the dolls hair....not my sister's.  No, no, no....these dolls were purchased by my mother and father as "collector" items.  Each doll sits high on a shelf, untouched, like new. 

Personally, if I had a daughter of my own, I suppose I would buy these dolls as a collection as well.  I see nothing wrong with not allowing a young girl to play with a (minimum) $95 doll. 

I also think these dolls are really cool.  What a fantastic way to teach young girls history.  To engage little ones in the past lives of historical figures...an educational "toy" of sorts.  LOVE that idea!

HOWEVER....

Recently, American Girl released a new doll....

Meet Gwen...Gwen is a homeless girl and is meant to teach girls about the realities of homeless people in the U.S.

Hmmmm....I'm not sure that a young girl whose parents can shell out a minimum of $95 for a doll is going to learn too much about what it means to be homeless.  I'm just saying.

But this...this I found HI-LARIOUS....read the below comment from a mother that posted on the American Girl website after purchasing the Gwen doll for her daughter...

"I was rather disappointed by the lack of items for Gwen though. I expected some outfits and a real book for her." 

Ummm....yeah....well....that's because she's HOMELESS lady!

But wait....mother goes on to say....

"So if you are looking for a doll with a lot of accessories and a better story, I would recommend the Chrissa doll.  She comes with a lot more stuff."

Yep...I'm glad to know that there is one mother out there that is teaching her daughter what's important.