The American Girl doll turns 40 : NPR

Key Points:

• Samantha Parkington is a popular American Girl doll character from 1904, recently featured in a new adult historical fiction book, "Samantha: The Next Chapter," by Fiona Davis, which explores her life at age 25 in 1920 amid social and financial upheaval.
• The American Girl brand, launched in 1986 by Pleasant Rowland, revolutionized girls' toys by combining dolls with rich historical stories and high-quality accessories, creating a unique, immersive experience that resonated with girls aged 7 to 12.
• Early American Girl stories, including Samantha's, focused mainly on white, Christian, middle- to upper-class experiences, but the brand expanded diversity with dolls like Addy Walker, the first Black doll introduced in 1993, whose story involved escaping slavery, though representation remained limited for years.
• Today, American Girl, owned by Mattel, features over 50 diverse characters and aims to engage both children and nostalgic adult collectors, reflecting changing demographics and the enduring appeal of the brand.
• Fiona Davis's book continues Samantha's story beyond childhood, portraying her as a dynamic adult involved in the women's suffrage movement, blending historical authenticity with new adventures to connect longtime fans and new readers.