History and Girls
I’m currently reading The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure. I’m only a bit into the book so I’ll save my review for another time, but so far I’m loving it- her wit, the various scenarios she writes about in her quest to understand and learn more about Laura Ingalls Wilder and the books she loved as a child.
I will admit that while I read Little House on the Prairie, I did not read all of the other Wilder books in the series, though I do remember owning them. I just recently read the section of the book where McClure discusses the American Girl dolls, books, and franchise– now that is something I can relate to even more.
I loved all the American Girl books and like to think that between those stories and a few Disney history movies like Johnny Tremain is where my love of history began. The American Girl historical characters and their books are well read and well- researched definitely would be a dream to work there.
Of course the franchise of the books, dolls, and more has grown since my time as a girl with them, but I still hold a fondness for them. I went to the website for the company to see the additional girls they’ve added to their lineup and I was sad to see that the doll that I had– Kirsten ( chosen because of similarity in name) has been retired. My friend (practically like a sister) Jessica had Samantha I think, also retired. I know I have Kirsten somewhere at my parents’ house, hopefully well-preserved in a closet or plastic bin in the basement.
While the franchise has become huge and has commercial endeavors with department stores filled with products for the dolls, I definitely loved the books as a girl and would get them for any young girls in my life ( Jessica just had her first child, a beautiful girl named Lyla, who I am sure will benefit from Aunty Kristen’s love of history and books with some American Girl in her future). The books for me were pure magic- they fed a curiosity about history and ignited it even more. I had a love of reading long before I discovered these books, but knowing that they blended fiction and history together was an awesome discovery for me- I’ve loved historical fiction ever since.
Review on The Wilder Life to come, but from what I’ve read so far it’s definitely going to be a thumbs up!
Life By Kristen 