Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff

My children devoured the American Girl Historical Characters books, which explore critical moments in U.S. history from the 1700s through the 20th century. Published by Mattel, protagonists are physically represented by dolls with historically accurate clothing, accessories, furniture, and even pets. Since 1986, kids have been obsessed with them. In my family, dolls were passed down from cousin to sibling to friend, but the rule was you had to read the entire six-book set before even considering putting a doll on your birthday list.

My youngest daughter’s favorite was Kaya, a Native American girl living in 1764 who investigates colonialism and cultural erasure as her Nez Perce tribe is threatened by settlers. My middle daughter loved Josefina, who grapples with a caste system that indigenous and mixed-heritage people in 1824 New Mexico dealt with. The three of us spent many nights huddled up in my bed, reading the books together.

These stories reveal the systemic injustices that have existed since America’s inception—a truth that is now part of the so-called “woke ideology” that the current administration is trying to erase. According to PEN America, a nonprofit that has been fighting to protect freedom of expression since 1922, reports that in the last school year, nearly 7,000 books were banned in 87 districts across 23 states; since 2021, PEN America has recorded nearly 23,000 book bans, typically targeting those that discuss sexual and gender identity, race and racism, and social justice.

Backed by Mattel’s marketing muscle and deceptively demure cover designs, generations have learned about our real, flawed past through American Girl books. Like learning about immigration in 1914 through the perspective of Russian-born Rebecca, or colonialism in 1941 Honolulu through Nanea’s eyes. And segregation in 1963 Birmingham, where Melody, a Black American character, becomes an activist fighting for racial justice.

One day we may see a pink-covered interpretation of the story of Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old Ecuadorian child in his blue bunny hat. Or two-year-old Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, who was detained with her father in Minneapolis, then transported to a Texas detention facility despite a court order directing her release. 

“Never before in the life of any living American have so many books been systematically removed from school libraries across the country,” PEN American wrote in a recent report. “Never before has access to so many stories been stolen from so many children.” So far, no American Girl books have been banned. Though some sites report their removal in Florida, where one-third (2,304) of book bans took place during the last school year.

Allowing children access to books of all kinds provides an opportunity best summarized by author Judy Blume, whose catalogue is now among the most frequently targeted for removal from libraries or schools. “Let children read whatever they want,” she said. “And then talk about it with them.” 

I’m stocking up on these books so my future grandchildren can do just that.

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff is a recent RevPit winner who is querying her first novel. A climate communicator, podcast host, and journalist, Rachel interviews authors on Instagram, hosts the Santa Monica Silent Book Club, and has published the Good Newsletter since 2008. She also provides sustainability sensitivity reading and editing for fellow writers; find her at RachelLincolnSarnoff.Substack.com.