tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9111892212177038047.post8579990323097603516..comments2023-05-07T00:29:15.333-07:00Comments on Dolls, Books, and Things That Matter: A (small turned big) rant directed towards American Girl.Abbey Stellingwerffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426609355118356332noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9111892212177038047.post-60387719437243781582013-10-27T12:22:30.575-07:002013-10-27T12:22:30.575-07:00I agree! I always wanted one of the American girl...I agree! I always wanted one of the American girl dolls but they were just too expensive. I found it sad and confusing that they were "retiring" Samantha. Why would they do that? I've been collecting the older American Girl books myself and I reread them from time to time. Ooh... now I want to rewatch the Samantha movie. (:Emilyn J Cloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00892659942186331664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9111892212177038047.post-16487829372903761942013-10-25T09:55:43.077-07:002013-10-25T09:55:43.077-07:00I have to agree with you. American Girl Dolls has ...I have to agree with you. American Girl Dolls has gone down A LOT since Mattel bought them out. The stories are much more about being yourself and simple everyday challenges, which none of the AG stories I read growing up were about. Samantha was trying to keep her friend from getting shipped off as a child laborer, Felicity was dealing with the Revolutionary War, Molly was trying to help America win WWII, and so on. They were books that said girls could stand up and make a difference in big events, not just win the talent show at school. I was so sad when they retired Samantha, since she was always my favorite. (She still is on my doll stand which sits on my desk in her Christmas cranberry dress.) Hailey Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14102546253705260099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9111892212177038047.post-26933640425947337572013-10-25T08:05:33.160-07:002013-10-25T08:05:33.160-07:00I used to sit with the American Girl catalog and j...I used to sit with the American Girl catalog and just drool as a kid, knowing that I'd never be able to actually get one of the dolls. My favorite catalog was a really, REALLY old one where they sold the official costumes girl-sized so you could match the dolls. I really wished they still sold them, because they were REALLY cool. I wanted Molly, since we looked the most alike ... even dressed up for her at an American Girl tea party my library hosted. (Her birthday dress. My Grandmom was an AMAZING seamstress. My sister had Kirsten's dress.) However, it was Jess I ended up with, after I expressed enthusiastic interest in her to a friend. She was a really good friend, we've drifted apart since ... but I still remember her fondly. I possibly owe my writing career to her and Narnia.<br /><br />But yeah, the American Girl focus has shifted somewhat. And the retirement of Samantha really annoyed another friend of mine, and Felicity's annoyed my sister (she wanted Elizabeth). Luckily, both managed to get their doll before they disappeared forever (V's is a six-inch, but she says she doesn't mind, since it takes up less room). I've read at the Rebecca and the Orleans girls book. They were quite good. Rebecca isn't really about Jewish traditions, it's in there ... but it's more of what sort of life the immigrants led when they got to New York. My sister quite enjoyed it.<br /><br />There was a time when I had most of the Samantha movie memorized ... or at least Nellie's line. Wow. That's a chapter in my history.Kendra E. Ardnekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593051552921296108noreply@blogger.com