Meet Kit An American Girl

The Depression hits and nine year-old Kit writes her own newspaper stories.

When her father's business closes and her family is forced to make changes because of the Great Depression, nine-year-old Kit responds with resourcefulness.

A collection of stories about a girl named Kit, a clever and resourceful girl who faces the Great Depression with spirit and determination.

When her father's business closes because of the Great Depression forcing Kit to make changes in her life, the nine-year-old responds with resourcefulness.

This critical account of the American Girl brand explores what its books and dolls communicate to girls about femininity, racial identity, ethnicity, and what it means to be an American. Emilie Zaslow begins by tracing the development of American Girl and situates the company’s growth and popularity in a social history of girl power media culture. She then weaves analyses of the collection’s narrative and material representations with qualitative research on mothers and girls. Examining the dolls with both a critical eye and a fan’s curiosity, Zaslow raises questions about the values espoused by this iconic American brand.