It's time for another American Girl road trip! In the second Claudie book, Brit Bennett takes us from Claudie's neighborhood in Harlem to her grandmother's house in Shellman, Georgia. Along the way, Claudie learns that there are different "rules" about living in the South and the North. She also sees a new side of her mother, an investigative journalist inspired by Ida B. Wells-Barnett. When Claudie returns to Harlem, she takes one of her grandmother's stories with her and offers an uplifting...

To round out our Julie coverage, we read something we think she would love: Matt Tavares’s Hoops. This graphic novel (based on a true story) follows an Indiana girls’ basketball team’s first season post-Title IX. We discuss the characters’ activism on and off the courts--and the ways that sexism persists in sports today. This episode also includes a recap of the Julie videos, her days as a baller, and of course, our overall take on the Julie series.  Resources: You can find episodes,...

On this episode, we chat with podcaster and pop culture critic Kate Kennedy. Kate is the author of One in a Millennial, a fresh new take on millennial culture (that also comes out this week). We talk about Kate’s early interest in American Girl and the process of writing her life story (thus far). Kate shares what it's been like to return to her childhood faves and what she’s learned along the way about girlhood and growing up. If you have *~ thoughts *~ On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and...

Happy 2024! While we take a break this week, we’re sharing a patreon ep from November where we answered patron questions about our book! Our patreon is a fun space where we share an extra listener-inspired episode per month, and offer access to our active discord community! Thanks to everyone who has bought, read, and shared our book! We love hearing from you and seeing your posts about it. Thanks for all of your support! We so appreciate this community! Resources: You can find episodes,...

We've already been through a lot with Julie Albright--but when a book promises a disco dance, we are in for the ride (and a mystery). In this episode, we travel with Julie to Chinatown and learn how to solve a crime after dinnertime. While reeling from roommate news and the discovery of a puzzling note, Julie has enough on her plate when she decides to visit The Happy Panda, Ivy's family's restaurant. Following a great meal, the plot thickens when Julie and Ivy's beloved dolls go missing....

Julie Albright knows that few things are fair in fifth grade. Yet, even Julie is shocked to receive detention after passing a note and helping her new friend, Joy, in the classroom. On the heels of a useless afternoon in detention, Julie decides to run for office. While battling a fierce opponent promising time off and pizza parties, Julie also has to learn how to be a good friend and ally to Joy, who is mocked for being deaf. We discuss Julie's various activist streaks across all the books,...

When your country is celebrating its 200th birthday, what kind of party do you throw? In the summer of 1976, Julie Albright wasted no time in getting herself involved in a complex bicentennial celebration. Along with her sister, Julie joins her cousin's family on a covered wagon trip to honor their country and Pony Express- riding- ancestor. On this "journey," Julie gets to meet a number of trinket-selling hucksters---and an elderly man who is descended from a signer of the Constitution....

Mary Wiseman has played many roles in her life. For years, Mary was a first-person interpreter in the role of Martha Washington at Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon. During her time in Williamsburg, Mary also played an important role in the creation of Felicity Merriman. We talked with Mary about her involvement in Pleasant Rowland's plans for her company, the "birth" of Felicity, and her views on the uses of history. Don't miss this insider's take on the creation of a revolutionary...

It’s book release day! To celebrate, we have a bonus episode featuring Kat Dennings. Kat sat down with us to chat about all things American Girl, starting with her early fandom. Tune in for an important millennial pop quiz, discussions of Kat’s AG-inspired fashion choices, and her current favorite things in pop culture. Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon:...

For years, @5Hensandacockatiel has been one of the bright lights on AGIG, the community of American Girl creators on Instagram. More recently, the artist behind the handle has gotten her name in American Girl catalogues, and her artwork featured in an AG store. On this episode, we chatted with Sydney Rose Paulson, a long-time AG fan and podcaster who works for/with the brand. Sydney talked about her journey loving American Girl, from childhood play to her current career. Sydney also shared...

Julie Albright doesn’t want much for her tenth birthday. All she’s really asking for is $1,000 to save a pair of national treasures—what could go wrong? Book four finds Julie fighting for a new cause after a chance encounter with a hurt animal. This time, Julie wants to see eagles fly again. We discuss her latest campaign, Earth Day, and news on the 2024 Girl of the Year. Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website:...

Surprise! It's the winter of 1975 and time for Julie's third story. After a family fight breaks out on Christmas, Julie starts dreaming of a happier new year. With the support of her friend Ivy and the Ling family, Julie gets excited about new traditions. We discuss 1970s Christmas celebrations, the Ford White House, and what in the world is going on with the Albright family's finances. Episode Resources: Ford White House...

What do paranoid presidents and curious children have in common? Both find tape recording devices to be life-changing. In Julie’s second book, she learns a lesson about the power of surveillance and gets dubbed Little Miss Watergate. We follow along as she struggles to write a report on the best and worst things to ever happen in her life. We discuss what Julie does and does not know about current events, her parents’ relationship, and the Peek into the Past on schooling in the...

Julie Albright is going through some CHANGES and we are along for the ride! If you missed the six book format, you’ll be thrilled to dive into Julie’s world with us. In Meet Julie, we are introduced to the Albright family, BFF Ivy, and a coach/villain who rejects Title IX. Throughout this book, Julie has to overcome a number of challenges, including a move, career day, and sexism in middle school sports. We invite you to grab your handbags, gladbags, and other groovy Julie gear to treat...

Some journeys start with a dream, or just a favorite doll. Author and public historian Kayla Chenault grew up with American Girl. Kayla's fascination with the 1940s (via Molly) even led her to pursue volunteering and then working at a local historical society. In this episode, Kayla shares her perspective on Melody’s stories and depictions of her hometown, Detroit, Michigan. Tune in for a spooky story about one possibly haunted Molly, a local's perspective on Melody, and a deep dive into the...

People say that music has the power to take us anywhere. American Girl took that literally with the third Melody book, Music in My Heart. In this choose-your-own adventure novel, we follow a protagonist as she goes back in time and navigates Melody's world. This forces us to decide whether we'd rather make music with Melody's brother or learn about the Civil Rights movement alongside her sister. With more than a dozen options for read-throughs, this book has something for everyone, including...

Denise Lewis Patrick, you’ve done it again! In the second Melody book, our main girl takes on a number of new challenges. In addition to becoming a backup singer, Melody has decided to renovate a community park and participate in a boycott. We follow Melody and her family through the summer of 1964 and consider how her story sheds new light on a key moment in American history. We also learn that this backup vocalist has amazing main-character energy. You can find episodes, resources, and a...

In this episode, we dive into Melody Ellison’s world. While growing up in a busy home in 1960s Detroit, Melody is getting singing lessons and an education in civil rights activism. In her first Beforever book, Melody must gather up the courage to sing a solo in the wake of a national tragedy. Meet this aptly named American Girl and learn about the side characters whose voices sing in concert to make “no ordinary sound.” You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and...

We are SO excited to bring you a special episode with Aisha Harris, author and co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour. Drawing on her new book, Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture that Shapes Me, we talk American Girl and growing up with pop culture in the 90s. We love Aisha’s new book, and we think you will too! Check out Aisha’s new book here: https://www.aishaharris.com/wannabe-book Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl Resources: You can find...

Join us on an exploration of 40s nostalgia. Inspired in part by the topics most likely to be suggested for Father's Day gift books, we discuss why *some* stories and subjects seem to persist in mainstream popularity, while others get less play. We answer your questions about 40s nostalgia and share some of our favorite things from the decade (see Molly's Radio Playlist and more below!)  40s Resources:  What’s a Dad Book table?  Bartram: On a recent trip to Barnes & Noble, I was not...

Filing cabinet fans, here we go! For this Patreon episode, we are diving right into the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This 1967 classic features the Kincaid kids, who just need a break from home — and the allure of solving an art mystery. Whether you really love hanging files, eccentric older people, or beds in museums, this book has a little bit of something for everyone (and a chauffeur). If you’ve never dreamed about sleeping in The Met, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs....

Join us as we turn to our archives to bring you one of our favorite episodes: In episode nine, we turn our gaze to the American Southwest & the youthful, plucky Josefina Montoya. Our analysis of Josefina’s books begins with two powerful questions—first, given the place and time, is this the story of a colonial girl? Second, just how many references to Tejana queen Selena will we make per episode? While representations of imperialism in early American history are hard to unpack, over the...

Would you give up a ticket for a midnight (overnight) train to Georgia to make someone else’s dreams come true? In watching “Maryellen 1955, Extraordinary Christmas,” part of the “American Girl Story” series of short films, we learned that Maryellen certainly would do such a thing. She’d also do just about anything to make other children happy—especially if it meant a moment in the spotlight. If you’re wondering how two AG books could be made into a full-on feature, wonder no more. We discuss...

Time for yet another tenth birthday and a great American road Tripp! In her second book, Maryellen celebrates her big day in style, throwing a movie star party that turns into a public health fundraiser. After doing her part to cure polio, Maryellen is free to enjoy her summer and look forward to her sister’s wedding. But Mr. Larkin (Dad) has other plans. Defying logic and possibly even gravity, Maryellen’s family sets out in a crowded airstream, visiting American landmarks and wreaking havoc...

Of all the questions put out into the world, some confound, others inspire, and a few just beg for follow up. But only Val Tripp would be bold enough to ask (through Maryellen Larkin): "how hard could it be to cut bangs?" Maryellen knows that nothing is fair in fourth grade, including the fallout from a quick and hasty morning haircut. We cover Maryellen's debut book, The One and Only, and her rapid-fire meet, lesson, and surprise plots. Though Maryellen proves to be a good student and critic...