Ashley’s Reviews > An American Girl: How a Billion-Dollar Doll and Its Unlikely Founder Changed Girlhood Forever > Status Update

“The Al-ification of American Girl would be a unique shame: The story of the company is about how one woman with a singular vision created an astoundingly successful and influential business. How could a computer algorithm ever replace that kind of creative intelligence, or "golden gut," as Rowland liked to put it?

“In 2011, a Washington Post reporter compared the selection of one's American Girl doll to the ancient Korean ritual of doljanchi… said to decide said baby's fate. Similarly, a girl who… subconsciously gravitated toward a Samantha might now be working in fashion PR, or the girl who… selected a bespectacled Molly might have turned out to be a book editor.” I LOVE diving into the psychology of childhood

If you ever think representation doesn’t matter for kids!! I wanted Samantha bc she had pretty things, and brown hair like me, but ultimately chose Felicity bc she liked horses, had little curls, and, the deciding factor: had a purple dress HAHA

“[The store] had a policy of not shutting down no matter how famous the clientele was.” Tell that to the D.C. store my grandpa went out of his way to take me to in 2011 that was closed for a private party 😤🥺

Can’t believe I’m reading a book about American Girl by an author who suspects her doll is in the landfill… and doesn’t seem to care :(

“The hungover frat boy who waited in line at the Chicago flagship for hours to bring his little sister’s chosen doll home to Indiana for Christmas.” 😭💓

TIL SOME SCHOOLS GET AMERICAN GIRL DOLL HISTORY CURRICULUM!!!! I went to the wronggg elementary apparently

TIL Pleasant Rowland was a children’s textbook editor before starting her company :,)