Fan Girl

If you know me or have read anything I have written over the past year, it would not be surprising to you that I LOVED American Girl Dolls as a little girl. Even now, I appreciate how much history and empathy I learned from playing with the dolls, watching the movies and reading the books. 

I am sure that it also does not come as a surprise that my favorite doll was the journalist diva herself, Miss Kit Kittredge. For the uninitiated, and frankly boring, readers out there who know nothing about Kit let alone American Girl Dolls, let me give you a little crash course.

American Girl Dolls were created by the Pleasant Company, a doll manufacturing company, with the intention of teaching young girls about history. Since its inception in the late 1980s, American Girl Dolls have dominated toy sales records and have been at the forefront of Christmas lists and wishlists for nearly every girl under 12. 

Now, these dolls are not cheap. When I was little, a doll could set you back about $100, not to mention the all-important accessories the dolls had to have. That fact hasn’t changed. The 2025 rerelease of Kit Kittredge is selling for $160. Yep. One doll. $160.  

You might be asking yourself, Bergin, why would anyone spend that much money on a doll? Well, I have the answer. It’s because they are awesome. These dolls are not ordinary playthings, no no, they are characters with deep lore, accurate historical grounding, and hair you could really brush! 

Here’s an example. Margaret Mildred “Kit” Kittredge was born on May 19, 1923 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her story takes place at the height of the Great Depression as she has to watch her father lose his job and her mother open a boarding house all while trying to be a young journalist. 

Kit is a storyteller and her dedication to the truth provides her with a strong moral compass and ambition despite grappling with her family falling into poverty. 

Kit’s story is one of heart, resilience and the importance of family. Her journalistic integrity and passion for the scoop granted her the opportunity to be published in the local newspaper, a feat many girls were not allowed at the time. 

Kit is no princess, and there is no easy way out of her situation, but her determination and effort to be proud of her life is a realistic representation of how children cope during times of epic economic uncertainty.

It is wise to think about Kit during these uncertain times and ask yourself “What Would Kit Do?” The answer would probably be to use our voices in whatever capacity we can to speak out against oppression, lead with kindness because you never know what others are going through, oh and buy her limited edition Christmas outfit – it’s really cute.