When I was a kid in the '90s, the American Girl doll brand was different than it is now. It was definitely more historically-based, and less focused on attracting a hip-and-cool demographic than it is now. Most of the girls who liked the brand read the books, which detailed the lives of the historical dolls. These books were the main focus of the company, and the accompanying dolls and their accessories were decidedly secondary--sort of like action figures modeled after a comic book.

I didn't actually own any of the dolls, but my early interest in history was definitely because of the book series. I read the stories over and over. There was Addy Walker, who escaped from slavery with her mother, while her father and brother stayed behind. Molly McIntire lived in 1944, and her father was overseas in World War II. My favorites, Kirsten, the immigrant girl from Sweden and Felicity, a colonial girl, have since been discontinued.  

I credit the series with building a basis to my American history education, and for helping me continue to understand that history was relevant in modern day. The girls chosen were always relatable, and the lessons they taught were certainly relevant to any young person. The original mission of the company, which seemed to be to bring history to life, was admirable.

This year is American Girl's 25th anniversary, and it certainly seems that their mission has changed. Sure, they've kept creating historical dolls and series. They've added some interesting dolls, like Kit Kittredge, who lived during the Great Depression, and Josefina Montoya, a Mexican immigrant living in New Mexico in 1824. While these historical girls are still being created and marketed, the lion's share of the company seems to come from the sale of dolls and pretty accessories.

Perhaps I am misguided in saying that the books ever made up the primary sales of the company; it probably isn't true. But the books are the most interesting and unusual part of American Girl. While the dolls are probably the most wholesome and realistic option of the market--they are not Bratz by a long shot--some girls don't want to play with dolls or superheroes. Some little nerdy girls (like me, for example) appreciated the emphasis on reading, realizing that they were not the little girl who loved to read. I was disheartened at the American Girl store in Chicago when I last visited--it felt like another place to be a pretty girl, not a smart one.