American Girl Gives Kirsten the Axe
One of the first American Girl dolls ever sold is being retired from the collection. Considering her story dates back to 1854, it’s no wonder Kirsten was getting a little long in the tooth.
She’s now following another one of her fellow trendsetters – Samantha Parkington who helped start the collection was axed last year – into the “archives.”
Apparently, with their new homeless girl doll, American Girl is busy hitting new frontiers – and they’re ready to leave their Minnesota frontier girl behind. According to the American Girl Wiki, “The official position of American Girl is that low-selling Historical items are removed to allow newer items to be released for purchase.”
I never had an American Girl doll, nor does my daughter – but I vaguely remember the catalog showing up in my house a few times, and Kirsten was always the one who caught my eye (what can I say – I was blonde-haired and blue-eyed). For that mere fact, the idea that she just wasn’t selling anymore makes me a little sad.
But there are no real loyalties here. Are you sad to see this plucky farm girl go?
Find out more on how to stock up on Kirsten goodies over at Droolicious.
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I have cookbooks from the American Girls, that show how to make the kinds of foods children of that time, place and ethnicity would eat. I love them. I have Kristen’s cookbook and it’s adorable. I will be sad to see her go, and I was sad to see Samantha go. I love history and it would be nice if they added new characters without axing old ones.
I had Kirsten when I was younger and I loved Samantha too! We are expecting our first baby this spring and I will be very sad to not be able to share my two favorites with my little girls! The newer dolls just seem to lack something that the historical representations have.
oh so sad. i loved kirsten. i got her for christmas one year and devoured the books. i especially loved that she had a best friend with my same name. however that girl dies on the voyage to america. anyhow i was kirsten’s new best pal. so glad i still have her.. somewhere in my storage garage. anyway, thanks for the update.
http://www.martawrites.blogspot.com
Samantha was my first doll and I did get Kirsten soon after. It saddens me that I won’t be able to buy these for my daughters since mine were very heavily played with.
Awww!! I’m blonde, blue-eyed and Swedish, Kirsten’s books were my favorite. I was given Addy and will pass that to my daughter, but Kirsten was the one I connected to.
Awww, poor Kirsten! As another blue-eyed, long blonde haired gal I was a fan of her growing up. My little sister (long brown hair, brown eyes) and I got American Girls dolls one Christmas. I got Kirsten and she got Samantha. While we never really got into the stories very much, or buying lots of toys for the dolls, we still loved our dolls.
I’m glad that I will still be able to share Kirsten with my kids, she still resides in a safe place in my closet.
Two out of the three original dolls have gotten the axe! I hope Molly is not the next to go…So glad I have the orignals from my childhood packed away for my kids.
I never had the dolls, but I had the books, and I loved them. I’m so sad to see Samantha go. Samantha’s story was set in the same year my great-aunt was born, so she was my favorite. I love Addy, Kirsten, and Molly, too, though. I will miss them!
We are losing our history!! What American girl was founded on is being retired to the archives!! Kirsten was my first doll ever and opened me up to the the treasures of history. Because of her and the other historical AG dolls, I became a historical fiction writer. I am devastated to see them one by one getting “the axe.” I worry about the future of our country if we lose interest in our rich history.