{"product_id":"an-american-girl-how-a-billion-dollar-doll-and-its-unlikely-founder-changed-girlhood-forever-amanda-fitzsimons-hardcover","title":"An American Girl: How a Billion-Dollar Doll and Its Unlikely Founder Changed Girlhood Forever -- Amanda Fitzsimons, Hardcover","description":"\u003cb\u003eA deeply researched, invigorating love letter to the beloved American Girl brand, its unforgettable female founder Pleasant Rowland, and her then radical, now iconic line of eighteen-inch dolls that surprised and transfixed a nation.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eAre you a Samantha? A Felicity? An Addy? Dive into the world of American Girl, the franchise that has captivated the world for generations. \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e For four decades and counting, American Girl has been a defining force in the lives of young girls, shaping their understanding of history, identity, and selfhood. But the story of its creation--and the visionary woman behind it--has never been fully told...until now. \u003ci\u003eAn American Girl \u003c\/i\u003eis the fascinating tale of Pleasant Rowland, the trailblazing founder who disrupted the toy industry with her line of dolls defined by their high-quality craftsmanship and rich, educational backstories--and how\u003cbr\u003e this iconic brand from America's heartland ended up shaping girlhood for generations. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Author Amanda FitzSimons takes readers inside Rowland's meticulous creative process and the far-reaching, almost incalculable legacy of her creation. This book explores how American Girl became a cultural touchstone, navigating the crosscurrents of third-wave feminism, the rise of consumer culture, and contentious debates over historical accuracy and representation. It dissects the brand's complicated relationship with race, class, and diversity, from the groundbreaking introduction of Addy Walker--the line's first nonwhite doll--to the critiques of its aspirational price point. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ci\u003eAn American Girl\u003c\/i\u003e is a compelling, eminently readable love letter to the entrepreneurial genius of a brand that has maintained its grasp on public consciousness for nearly half a century. It is an essential read for anyone who has ever loved a doll and recognized the powerful ways in which they can transform our understanding of ourselves--as well as the world around us.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Amanda Fitzsimons\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Atria Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/13\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781668060384\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmanda FitzSimons is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eMagazine\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eElle\u003c\/i\u003e, where she was a features editor.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Amanda Fitzsimons","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67567702606052,"sku":"9781668060384","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0611\/9587\/8628\/files\/9781668060384.jpg?v=1791963964","url":"https:\/\/bookandmortar.com\/products\/an-american-girl-how-a-billion-dollar-doll-and-its-unlikely-founder-changed-girlhood-forever-amanda-fitzsimons-hardcover","provider":"BookandMortar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}