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Did You Ever Get Into the American Girl Series?

Sun, 07/06/2008 - 8:00am by BuzzSugar
799 Views - 68 comments


I've already declared my love of the American Girl books, which I enjoyed mostly because they incorporated interesting historical stuff into stories about girls who — aside from the differences in time periods — were just girls like me and my friends. Now, even though I'm an adult with no kids, I'm excited to see the adorable Abigail Breslin play Kit Kittredge in the movie adaptation heading to theaters just in time for the 4th of July.

Not only did I love the books, but I was the ecstatic recipient of a Kirsten doll at one point. My friend's mother even sewed us pajamas that matched our dolls (the white nightgown for me and Kirsten, the red-and-white striped two-piece PJs for my friend and her Molly doll). At that time, there were only three girls to learn about: Kirsten, Molly and Samantha. Now there are tons! And customizable dolls, too. It's crazy to think how far the American Girls have come over the years.

Was the American Girl series a part of your childhood, too?

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68 Comments Add a Comment

  • ladypenguin's picture
    ladypenguin
    1

    I LOVED the books, and had a Samantha doll. I really wanted Kirsten too!

    These books started my love for historical fiction.

    9 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • EllaB's picture
    EllaB
    2

    Ahhhh . Back when it was just "Pleasant Company" and not the American Girl Empire. I loved my Samantha doll! My mom too made tons of outfits for her (but nothing matching for me, unfortunately.) Those patterns are REALLY rare now. Makes me feel kind of old. Eye-wink

    9 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • intensebandgeek's picture
    intensebandgeek
    3

    I think I had the paper dolls, but I can't remember if it was from the American Girl collection or not. I do remember really wanting to read the books, though.

    9 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • amers230's picture
    amers230
    4

    i loved the books! there were only five i think when i was into them. felicity, kirsten, addy, samantha, and molly. they had just introduced josefina when i was starting to grow out of it. i had the addy doll but really wanted the felicity one too. i actually JUST packed up my addy doll lol, thought maybe 22 was a little too old to have a doll on my dresser.

    9 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • fleurfairy's picture
    fleurfairy
    5

    I have Felicity (I got her when she first came out in 1991) and Addy, Kit, and Felicity's friend Elizabeth. I adore them still and I'm 24. In fact, I just went to our AG store in Dallas last weekend.

    9 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Cherylish's picture
    Cherylish
    6

    I had Samantha and my sister had Molly. I live right near one of the American Girl stores and it seriously made my day when I found out. I might be a dork but some day I will collect them all.

    9 weeks 43 min ago Report Comment
  • laneylaney's picture
    laneylaney
    7

    i had felicity and molly dolls (loved molly) and i never really got into the books except i do remember the one about samantha's friend nellie. i also remember one of the kirsten stories and i think someone dies. . . i used to act that out really dramatically.

    9 weeks 30 min ago Report Comment
  • emilita's picture
    emilita
    8

    I loved the American Girl dolls! I had Samantha and Molly and my sister had Kirsten, Felicity and Addy.

    9 weeks 29 min ago Report Comment
  • lesmar912's picture
    lesmar912
    10

    I had Molly & my little sister had Samantha. We had all of the outfits they sold in the catalogs in the early 90's. Loved the books too!

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Happsmjc's picture
    Happsmjc
    12

    by the time these became popular i was a little too old for them but i wish they had been around when i was younger--i love them now that my little cousins have them and am so jealous!

    i did read and love the babysitters club though!

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • myladybloom's picture
    myladybloom
    13

    Are you crazy?!? I LOVED American Girl. Like, seriously loved it. All those girls were the reason I got into history in the first place.

    Although I do think they should introduce an Asian-American or Jewish-American character in there. I like that they're into diversity, but a little more would be nice, please. Maybe the Asian girl could be a Japanese-American, like, say in Hawaii in the 20's or something.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • JaeB's picture
    JaeB
    14

    I read most of the books for all the series', at least until the early '00's. Loved all the history. I got a Samantha doll for Christmas one year. Smiling I read the magazine for a bit, when it came out. Got all the catalogs in the mail. When we last moved, I had to spend some serious time throwing away all the catalogs I'd kept, from way back when!

    My mother asked me if I want to see this movie, which made me laugh. I don't think so...I'm 19 and have been American Girl free for at least six years. But I have lots of nice memories!

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • syako's picture
    syako
    15

    I had Samantha and Kirsten, my sis had Molly. We read the books, played with the paper dolls, bought all the outfits and some of the furniture sets. I have to say, that was one expensive "hobby!"

    BUT, I've kept both of my dolls and books in good condition and plan to give them to my daughter one day (if I have a girl).

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • syako's picture
    syako
    16

    that last comment makes me sound Pregnant which I'm not... just saying in the WAY FAR AWAY future if I ever have a child...

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • MandeeLei's picture
    MandeeLei
    17

    I loved Molly but never really got into the other ones as much but I did read them.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • k slice's picture
    k slice
    18

    i've never read american girl, i actually preferred harry potter!

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • JaeB's picture
    JaeB
    19

    You know, the Harry Potter mention reminds me, I think my American Girl fandom ended when I found The Lord of the Rings. Hehe.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • hippiecowgirl's picture
    hippiecowgirl
    20

    I got my first doll, Samantha, when I was 7 and gradually accumulated all of her accessories and furniture. My parents were big on reading so they never denied a request for a new American Girl book. I still read the new books when they come out, but they're just not as well written.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • katinka14's picture
    katinka14
    21

    Well, for one thing, I'm not American, LOL! But also, I was too busy reading the Anne of Green Gables series and then later on the Chronicles of Narnia.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Francoisehardly's picture
    Francoisehardly
    24

    I read books but had no dolls. There were only a couple when I was younger. I think Samantha might have been my favorite but I'm not sure.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Blackwidowchick's picture
    Blackwidowchick
    25

    I am 24 now, but when I was in 4th and 5th grade the series was very popular. Felicity was my favorite at first and I got the doll for Christmas. Then Josefina came out and she became my new fave and I got that doll the next Christmas. I still have them to this day.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • havok636's picture
    havok636
    26

    my parent's got my sister a felicity doll for her 10th birthday, so they promised me i'd get an american girl doll on my 10th.
    my favorite was samantha. i loved her clothes and the stories.
    i always told my parents that she was my favorite.
    well my birthday came, and i didn't get samantha.
    my mom got me josefina because she was the newest american girl and my mom found out she has the same birthday as me; march 19.
    i'd read her books, but i didn't have any of them. i didn't like josefina.
    to this day i still rag on my mom for that.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • nikki_'s picture
    nikki_
    27

    I loved the series! I collected every single book and it's still somewhere here.. My favorite was Samantha, I loved her clothes!

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • californiagirlx7's picture
    californiagirlx7
    28

    I LOVED the American Girl dolls and books. I had the Kirsten doll and then I got the Josefina doll, but I think Molly is my favorite because I like the 1940s. I was even in an American Girl fashion show once and I was the model portraying Molly.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • katie225's picture
    katie225
    29

    i loved molly the most! but i got one of those personalized american girl dolls to look like me. nowadays they come with freckles and curly hair to match you.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Renees3's picture
    Renees3
    30

    I don't even remember these books. I guess it wasn't really my thing anyway, I was into RL Stine and such. But these are super cute and as my niece gets older I plan on getting these for her.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • rickimc's picture
    rickimc
    31

    I was reading Sleepover Friends and Nancy Drew at the time.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • phatE's picture
    phatE
    32

    I had Samantha, Kirsten, Molly, and Felicity, and their sets, clothes, books etc.. I was obsessed! My mom would get the book sets so I could get something educational out of all of it, and I don't think I read any of them..

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • brittanyk's picture
    brittanyk
    33

    Oh man. I was obsessed. I had all the books, plus I had a bunch of the dolls. I had Felicity, Addy, Kirsten, Samantha, Josephine, and Molly. I think I started getting them for Christmas when I was 5 and I got one each year after that. I think I really got interested in history because of those books too. I mean, they were completely fictional, but now I'm a history major and it's probably partly because of those books.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • karlorene's picture
    karlorene
    34

    i loved these books, my dad and i would read them together sometimes Smiling
    i always wanted a doll so bad but it just never happened haha

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • christie's picture
    christie
    35

    I was busy reading classics, but some girly books I read were the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I read the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings books.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • RobinFabulous's picture
    RobinFabulous
    36

    I never read them. I think I saw the catalog when I was too old for them. My 10 year old has read all the books and has Elizabeth Smiling I think the baby (3) is getting a Bitty for Christmas because she always steals big sister's "merican gurl" doll when big sister sleeps Smiling

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • kscincotta's picture
    kscincotta
    37

    I LOVED American Girl when I was growing up. And I was one of the first girls to the party, I think. When I started reading the books, they hadn't even started with the dolls yet. There were only three girls, and Molly only had her first three books out. I remember the first time the dolls showed up in the back of the books and I was obsessed with getting them. And once the catalogs started coming, I would devour each one, picking out everything that I wanted (which, seriously, was everything). Eventually, I landed myself a Molly doll and a bunch of her stuff, which just made my day. I can't wait to pass her on some day.

    And now I feel very, very old.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • okmaebe's picture
    okmaebe
    38

    I loved the character Samantha, but had the Felicity books. There were five girls when I was into it. I so wanted a doll and matching clothes. I loved the catalogs too. But I hated when they came out with the newborns and the make your own lookalike. It stopped being a friendly little historical doll company and became so very very big. It was neat stuff, and it's fun to remember it.

    I was more into Anne of Green Gables, and the Narnia books, like one of the above posters, but I absorbed all this too.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • couture yourself's picture
    couture yourself
    41

    Oh man, did I love American Girl!
    It was a bonding thing between my cousin & I.
    I was SO envious because she had a Kirsten doll!
    My grandparents eventually got me one of the ones that looks like me.
    But it was still when they were kinda generic and didn't have many options.
    I can't believe how big its gotten!

    We used to go to the "meetings" at the bookstore with a bunch of other girls...haha.
    We even used to have the cookbooks and would cook a breakfast from it every Sunday before church.

    I wish I knew what happened to my doll,
    probably preserved somewhere in the attic Smiling

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • fashion4ward's picture
    fashion4ward
    42

    Totally! I have a doll and, like, 3 sets of books. When I was 10 I went to American Girl Place in Chicago.

    8 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment