American Girl World By Us Collection

(American Girl $110 each for basic doll and book )

Say hello to Makena, Maritza and Evette, a multicultural trio of friends.

Makena is a fashionable African American girl. Her hair is worn in long twisted style with golden butterfly barrettes. “See Me, Hear Me, Know Me”— that’s the motto on

her shirt and title of book that deals with racial injustice.

Maritza is Bolivian on her mother’s side and Mexican on her father’s side. Put that together and Maritza is an All-American girl and a Soccer player who dreams of playing on the women’s US Soccer Team one day. Her teammate and friend is afraid she and her family will be sent back to El Salvador. Maritza, Makena and Evette try to find a way to help in her book, Lead With Your Heart.

Evette loves recycling old clothes and while borrowing clothes from her Granny’s closet she discovers a family secret. Her efforts to clean up the polluted river also heals her divided bi-racial family.

These three certainly reflect the times we live in. In using several politically charged issues, these American Girls are more than fashion plates. They provide girls with some thought -provoking ideas. A brave idea. That said, there are still tons of fashionable and special accessories.

Each of the dolls has a $35 accessory set available for starters—with jacket, handbag and one other item. All three are the standard 18” with beautiful hair, soft body and a huge wardrobe of other add-ons to wear and use for dramatic play. We know these dolls are typically bought for younger girls, but perhaps with their stories, these three might be better for 8s and up.