American Girl Talk

We say goodbye to our girl Rebecca with labor unions, dangerous sleepovers, and a well-aimed rock that may have caused a TBI! Changes for Rebecca is another delightfully unhinged addition to the "changes" legacy of books, and boy, do we have some thoughts!  Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Sarah's back with thoughts on Rebecca!  9:36 - Chapter One: Movie Acting  22:02 - Chapter Two: Inside the Factory  37:5...

It's summertime and the living's easy! We kick off the season of fun with a boy becoming a man, egg salad on the beach, and a theme park that seems...mean! Rebecca goes to Coney Island for thrills, chills, and... spills from a 50-foot ladder? It's a lot for girl, never a woman, to handle! Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Sloan is back! We love Becky! 6:08 -Chapter One: A Bar Mitzvah Celebration 20:15 - Chap...

Have you ever dreamed of being a star kidlet? Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had the chance to star in reel moving picture? Have you ever been worried that your family might find out, and the news of your exploits would bring shame upon your elders? Well fear not! 2/3 of those things definitely do happen in our thrilling trip to sets of the silver screen - tune in doll-babies!  Ch...

Fry up some latkes, it's time to wish you and yours a happy Hanukkah! It's that time of year again! But what time of year IS that time of year, Rebecca wonders - Christmas, or Hanukkah? When a school project sends Rebecca into a low-stakes guilt spiral, she's forced to confront faith, festivities, and just what it means to celebrate during the holiday season. Chapters 0:00 - Intro - We learned it...

Cousin Ana has touched down in the good old US of A, and Rebecca is so excited to have a twin cousin she neglects to consider that Ana may have her own thoughts, feelings, and trauma to deal with! Rebecca is back and iconically self-centered as she learns a lesson about family, patience, and the exclusionary practices of the American Immigration System.  Chapters  0:00 - Intro: Welcome Back Paige!...

Mazel Tov! We're back in time again with Rebecca Rubin, the daughter of Jewish-Russian immigrants living out her showgirl dream in the LES during the 1910's. Rebecca has it all - creepy twin sisters, a penchant for showmanship, and a loving family (?). What doesn't she have? $64 candles and a cousin who may or may not be dying in a Fiddler on the Roof-esque Russian wasteland. She's a girl caught b...

SPECIAL GUEST ALERT! Huge relief, too, because we needed the energy of heaven itself to get through 90 minutes of Molly. Join us for ol' times sake as we cover the brattiest girl on the homefront, wonder why Molly Ringwald's agent co-signed this project, and experience a drive-by aunt! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the p...

Hello! I have a shorter episode for you all this week! Life has been hectic and I didn't have time/company to record a regular episode, so I hope this will suffice!  I'm talking about the recent CBS Sunday Morning interview about the American Girl Doll books, featuring the illustrious Valerie Tripp, and I'm giving you the first (of many) reviews of the brand new OFFICIAL AMERICAN GIRL COOKBOOK (sp...

Election connection! As we wind down our time with Julie, she's revs up her political career! Spurned by an unjust detention, does her ambition for power prevent her from seeing her friend who is suffering the most? (hint: a little)  Chapters 0:00 - Goodbye, Julie! Hello, Sarah!  14:28 - Chapter One: Detention!  33:31 - Chapter Two: Poster Power  43:33 - Chapter Three: Julie for President!  53:50...

It's a rootin' tootin' good time on the trail this week as Julie learns the legacy of America, the importance of setting goals, and that horses are cooler in practice than in theory. Join us as we go on a journey with our favorite 70s girl and discover the cult that is American Patriotism!  Chapters  0:00 - Yeehaw! Meet Sloan!  9:38 - Chapter One: Flying!  21:42 - Chapter Two: Wagons, Ho!  34:19 -...

Did you know the earth was in danger in the 70s? Did you know that eagles need Hack Towers? Did you know that some American Girl books are weirder than others? This week, we're reading about Julie's foray into activism and discussing the practicalities of commuting from Berkley to downtown San Francisco daily. Will Julie save the eagles? Was this just a PSA? Tune in to find out! Chapters  0:00 - T...

If you thought two Christmases was a bonus point for divorce, think again! Julie's first Christmas as a child from a broken home goes so horribly that only the Chinese New Year can save the day! But will mom, dad, Tracy, and their new lives get in the way of new beginnings? Tune in to find out!  Chapters  0:00 - New Holiday, new friend - Meet Alexis!  7:40 - Chapter One: Changes for Christmas  20:...

Are Julie’s parents divorced, or are they just the worst? This week, we’re recapping Julie Tells Her Story—where Julie is forced to confront divorce head-on and reckon with the reality that split custody kind of sucks. Family drama, high-stakes sports, and newfangled recording rules shape not only Julie’s school year, but her entire outlook on life. Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Meet Paige! 8:18 - Chapte...

We're so back and getting groovy with America's very first daughter of divorce! As Julie navigates the new world of split custody, she learns some harsh lessons about relationships, sexism, and whether or not mom has a new, homeless boyfriend.  Chapters 0:00 - New Girl(s)? Alert? Meet Chelsea AND Meet Julie! 13:28 - Chapter One: Moving Day! 30:18 - Chapter Two: Capitols and Cupcakes! 47:49 - Chapt...

Babes - we left for a while, but we're back. And while we've got a bittersweet announcement at the top o' the show, we've got GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS coming your way. But first - Felictiy! We watched Felicity: An American Girl Adventure! So you don't have to! Check out our hot takes, casting opinions, and speculation on whether the version we watched was too bootlegged, and enjoy your favorite dolls get...

Sam is so back and portrayed in living color on the silver screen.  We're kicking back in our month off the books and watching a year in Samantha's life play out in front of our very eyes.  What changed? What stayed the same? And why on earth is Grandmary so c*nty? This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from the American Girl Doll books are the property of the Pleasa...

Happy New Year, Dolls! We're back for one last yap (this year) and to look back at all the books we've read this year. What did we learn from reading 48 children's books in one year? Did they affirm our love of history? (yes), did they radicalize us politically? (also yes). In this bonus episode, we talk about why we love the girls, what we wish was different, and of course, whose dad was the hott...

Have you ever been bleu balled by a children's book? Because Changes for Kaya was NOT what we expected! We're okay, and we still love our girl, but...we were promised more. As we wrap up the original American Girl, we are forced to rant in equal measure about Kaya's inability to NOT be Magpie, and our hatred of how the US Government treated native people. It's an episode that contains multitudes! ...

It's summertime, the salmon is frying, and Kaya is FINALLY reunited with her sister, Speaking Rain! The cover spoiled us, but that doesn't mean the reunion goes smoothly. In this week's dive into Kaya's story, we unpack what happens when you physically lose a sister, and what might happen when you emotionally lose a sister, and how finding a new path (allegedly) might just mean you never have to t...

Have you ever thought about coping with your sister's kidnapping and your mentor's death by putting all of your hopes and dreams into a feral wolf-dog? Kaya is TOTALLY ok, by the way! This week, we're recapping Kaya as she takes a break from causing chaos and instead becomes the ultimate dog girl (horse girl being out of play, currently). Kaya learns how to nurture, Sparrow begs to be mauled by a...

*Slightly bad audio today, (sorry!)* Have you ever had a girl crush on a strong, powerful, possibly barren woman in your tribe? Who among us hasn't, you know? This week, we're diving into Kaya's Hero, in which a girl crush on Swan Circling teaches Kaya how to be a better person (maybe). What we aren't taught is what is going on with any of these ceremonies, and that's an issue for Caroline and Cel...

If you thought any of the other girls ended up in disasters of their own making, then buckle the F up because Kaya's about to take the finger cake. When Kaya and her sister get abducted by raiders in a mess entirely of Kaya's own making, Kaya must team up with a surly Salish boy carrying the energy of an angry NPC to try and find her way home. Will she survive? Is this all her fault? The answer to...

Chapters 0:00 - Meet Kaya: A Nez Perce Peek into the Past! 16:12 - Chapter One: Let's Race! 37:06 - Chapter Two: Switchings! 52:06 - Chapter Three: Courtship Dance 1:05:40 - Chapter Four: Rescued From the River (plus, a technical difficulty) 1:14:52 - Bonus Peek into the Past 1:22:25 - Closing Thoughts: New World, New Girl! This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Characters mentioned from...

Two hens are clucking once again about your favorite girls - from Kirsten to Kit, we're covering the best books, why Learns a Lesson's never quite hit, and comparing how bad our Halloween hangovers are in comparison to last year (you had to be there). Tune in for a little break between seasons, and a fun chat with Caroline and Celia about all things American Girl! This podcast is for entertainment...

Goodbye Kit! This week, we're wrapping up our coverage on this little writer girl by getting into uncle fights, becoming journalists, and perhaps most important of all, making a difference.  Will Stirling's mom ever be caught poisoning his soup? Does the eggman come at dawn? Is dad ever going to get a job? Find out all this and less in Changes for Kit!  Chapters  0:00 - Intro: Last Kit book!  2:34...