Dolls of Our Lives

The series you loved, book by book. Join Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney as they explore the wild world of American Girl fandom. In each episode, Allison and Mary will dive into an American Girl book from their (and perhaps your) childhood. Using their knowledge as professional historians and finely tuned instincts as amateur pop culture critics, they’ll take you back to a very different time—the 1990s. Formerly American Girls Podcast.

Seeing the American Girl Store Through Silver Eyes 10/01/2024

Seeing the American Girl Store Through Silver Eyes In October, we set out one morning for NYC to take a VIP tour of the American Girl Store. What happened next cannot be described in a mere text box. Did we do a photoshoot on a train? Did we learn about a heretofore unknown to us diagnosis? Did we read the main floor display of the store through the lens of 90s figure skating? Listen as we explore the store, visit the doll hospital, fix a hair crisis, and more. Original air date: January 27, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250062

50 Shades of Red, White, and Blue (Ann Rinaldi's first and most unforgettable historical romance: Time Enough for Drums (1986) 10/01/2024

50 Shades of Red, White, and Blue (Ann Rinaldi's first and most unforgettable historical romance: Time Enough for Drums (1986) Clear your calendars. Burn a chakra candle. Prepare yourself for the greatest love story that never needed to be told. Join us as we tackle Ann Rinaldi's first and most unforgettable historical romance: Time Enough for Drums (1986). The cover poses the question: "Can Jem ever love a Tory?" Please trust us that this will be the lowest on your list of questions after following along with our Rinaldi read. Original air date: February 28, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250157

Little Women 10/01/2024

Little Women Buckle up for a real ride. We're taking you on an Alcott odyssey. First, we talk about the latest film adaptation of Little Women and ponder questions like: why didn't Greta Gerwig win ....everything? Is Thoreau a precursor to tiny house builders everywhere? We play a spirited game of scam or real Bronson Alcott business endeavor, and perhaps most importantly, report on recent communications by Comrade Spears Original air date: March 31, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250212

This is Not a Drill: Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic 10/01/2024

This is Not a Drill: Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic This month our Patreon bonus features commentary on *Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic.*We talk about the iceberg-level cultural fascination with the ship, the Titanic Historical Society, and survivors' videos on Youtube. The Titanic documentary we discuss can be found here: Original Air Date: April 20, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250267

Open Book by Jessica Simpson 10/01/2024

Open Book by Jessica Simpson Ashlee Simpson may have gifted us with her "Autobiography," but on this episode we take a deep dive into Jessica Simpson's latest memoir, Open Book. We discuss memoir as a form, Newlyweds, the Nick Lachey of it all, the toxicity that is John Mayer, and more. Original air date: May 29, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250297

Marsha, Marsha, Andre 10/01/2024

Marsha, Marsha, Andre This Pride month, we chose to cover three biographical projects that focus on Black queer experiences. First, we talk about two different approaches to presenting the life of Marsha P. Johnson, an important activist involved in the 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn. With the Drunk History episode " and the short film "" we see two paths to sharing Johnson's story & her connection to Pride. We also talk about the gaps in the documentary - a recent study of the icon Andre Leon Talley. Join us for this look at the man called "the Kofi Annan of what you've got on" and the woman who insisted: "no pride for some of us, without liberation for all of us!" Also mentioned on this episode: by Amber Officer-Narvasa Original air date: June 27, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250332

Allison and Mary’s Great Idea 10/01/2024

Allison and Mary’s Great Idea On this episode, we talk the first Babysitter's Club book and the latest Netflix adaptation. We talk about which member of the BSC we identified with as young readers and how we feel now, and much more. This episode is dedicated to Grandma Mimi, forever prom queen. Due to Covid restrictions, we were not able to record this in Stoneybrook, CT. Original air date: July 24, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250357

Full House: A Jane Addams Mystery 10/01/2024

Full House: A Jane Addams Mystery When author Frances McNamara isn't "sailing on the Charles River in Boston or beaching on Cape Cod," she's dropping red herrings & killing characters living in 1890s Chicago. Join us as we talk about "Death at Hull House," McNamara's second Emily Cabot Mystery. This former librarian has a brand (Progressive-era crime solving in Illinois) and we respect it. Grab a spare chair from a settlement house near you and settle in for a discussion on death, intrigue, and smallpox. Curious about what's coming next? We will be reading A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 See you in September. Original air date: August 30, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250377

Dear America, Did you read The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple? 10/01/2024

Dear America, Did you read The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple? . . . .Well, we seem to have not remembered and this story may have tested our patience. In this episode, we re-read the first Dear America book, set on and off the Mayflower in 1620-1621. Protagonist/diarist Remember a.k.a."Mem" experiences a lot of hardship and seasickness in this 1996 ribboned classic. She gets jealous when her friend is the "first" to step on Plymouth Rock and that's just the beginning. In our coverage, we talk about life in the 1600s, the limits of historical fiction, and representations of indigenous life in "pilgrim" stories. Want to learn more re-indigenizing education? Check out the Akomawt Educational Initiative - on Twitter. Original air date: September 28, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250412

Season of the Witch (of Blackbird Pond) 10/01/2024

Season of the Witch (of Blackbird Pond) Join us in exploring the magic that is The Witch of Blackbird Pond! We take you into author Elizabeth George Speare's world (1958) and her take on Connecticut Colony (circa 1680s). Trees will be used to harbor important charters, Quaker heroes will hide out by the town pond, and one spunky Kit will win you over as she avoids legal charges for witchcraft. Light a pumpkin spice candle and grab your map of the 17th century colonies--it's the season of the witch. Original air date: October 31, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250432

Dear America: Coal Miner’s Daughter 10/01/2024

Dear America: Coal Miner’s Daughter This month, we read A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska. This fictional diary was written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, who doesn’t shy away from complex or dark histories. Our lead Anetka marries a miner at age 13 and is a widow by 14. The book builds to the Lattimer massacre, with Anetka narrating her story and the challenges of being young and far from home along the way. Join us as we talk labor history, Loretta Lynn, and the purpose of diaries. Oh, and ... Did we mention how grateful we are for YOU? Original air date: November 25, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250462

The Meaning of Mariah Carey 10/01/2024

The Meaning of Mariah Carey For our twelfth Patreon episode, we chose the memoir of a modern diva and one of the most accomplished recording artists of all time. Join us as we consider The Meaning of Mariah Carey (2020) - an autobiography and fascinating portrait of race and fame in modern America. Why did Mariah have to sneak out to Burger King? What’s the deal with Carson Daly? Is Mariah the Queen of Christmas? We consider these pressing questions and more. Also—a very special thank you to everyone who’s been with us for a WHOLE YEAR! We look forward to bringing you more episodes in 2021. Original air date: December 29, 2020 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250517

Meet Phillis 10/01/2024

Meet Phillis This month we read The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers. This book of poetry examines the inner life and historical worlds of Phillis Wheatley Peters. Jeffers first learned of Phillis in school as one of America’s firsts. In this telling of Phillis’s story, Jeffers begins in West Africa, with the life that came before Phillis was an enslaved poet in Boston. Using historical research, Jeffers probes the under-examined aspects of Phillis Wheatley Peters’s life. How did she fall in love, nurture her faith, and make lasting friendships? Join in our discussion of this rich book. Original Air Date: January 25, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250552

Number the Stars 10/01/2024

Number the Stars Lois Lowry's classic novel Number the Stars shares the true story of the Danish resistance movement during the Holocaust. For a generation of readers, the story of Annemarie Johnansen and her friend Ellen Rosen served as an introduction to the experiences of children raised in Europe over the course of World War II. When we first meet Annemarie, she is unsure as to whether she has courage, but she learns her own strength when she is compelled to stand up for her friend. For this month's Patreon episode, we talked about Lowry's achievement with this book and the challenges of writing violence and trauma into books for young adults. Original air date: February 24, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250597

The Many Mysteries of the Lilac Inn 10/01/2024

The Many Mysteries of the Lilac Inn “Shine bright like a diamond / Find light in the beautiful sea / I choose to be happy…” Did you know that these lyrics were written about The Mystery At Lilac Inn, the fourth Nancy Drew mystery? Ok, before you call Rihanna on us, we know that they're not. However, we do hope that you'll still stand with us under a proverbial umbrella for a re-read of a Nancy Drew classic*. In this bizarrely action-packed story, Nancy has to find a jewel thief, save herself from a submarine, and navigate a stolen identity. While the true mysteries of Nancy’s world are not discussed within the pages of this book, we take on the hard questions such as whether Nancy actually had a job, and why she is single. We also consider what Nancy Drew meant to us as children, what she means to us now, and the many uses of a Nancy tote bag or purse. Like most "classic" books, this one had to be heavily edited between the 1930s and 1960s for racist language and themes. Original air date: March 29, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250642

Lois Lowry and Like the Willow Tree: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce 10/01/2024

Lois Lowry and Like the Willow Tree: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce Lois Lowry has written more than 40 books. As of this month, she is also featured in half of our 2021 Patreon episodes. This is incidentally very close to the total number of surviving Shakers. Just in time for spring, we read Lowry's Like the Willow Tree, a Dear America journey for the ages. Based on meticulous research at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community, this book features a young diarist named Lydia who loses her parents to the flu pandemic. Though the Shakers initially wreck her plans, Lydia eventually teach her how to bend to the wind. We discuss Shaker controversies, our varying levels of interest in intentional communities, and much more. Like to read along? You can support the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village by purchasing Lowry's book here: . Our next book (May 2021) is Last Night at the Telegraph Club, a novel by Malinda Lo. Original air date: April 21, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33250947

Last Night at the Telegraph Club 10/01/2024

Last Night at the Telegraph Club A wise person once said: "having fun is never hard when you've got your library card." To this precious adage, we'd like to add an additional locale for future fun consideration: the fictional Telegraph Club. In this month's feature, we decided to read Malinda Lo's phenomenal YA book Last Night at the Telegraph Club. We discuss the fantastic resources in the book (a bibliography! timelines!) along with the super-accurate-yet-still-deeply-compelling historical adventures of protagonist Lily Hu. While trying to dodge accusations of Communism, keep up her high math grades to participate in the space race, AND help a friend win Miss Chinatown, Lily catches feelings for her classmate Kath. Tune in to hear us discuss their romance at the Telegraph Club -- and to discover whether this Space Girl finds the one who can "know the galaxies of (her) heart." Original air date: May 30, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251072

Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler 10/01/2024

Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Filing cabinet fans, here we go! For this Patreon episode, we are diving right into the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. This 1967 classic features the Kincaid kids, who just need a break from home — and the allure of solving an art mystery. Whether you really love hanging files, eccentric older people, or beds in museums, this book has a little bit of something for everyone (and a chauffeur). If you’ve never dreamed about sleeping in The Met, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler still has an enduring appeal. We talk about the value of stories that center smart and funny young people, without a moralizing "parents just don’t get it" ending. So, will you accept this rose, we mean, invitation to the Met? Original air date: June 29, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251237

Lisa Frank Talk 10/01/2024

Lisa Frank Talk "I'll never forget the day I got stuck on Lisa Frank!" With these immortal words, Mila Kunis launched her career and the sticker obsessions of at least a million young people. In this Patreon episode, we talk all about the world of Lisa Frank. We share our own favorite characters, discuss the complex naming conventions of some of the more popular designs, and delve into the dark world of the Lisa Frank Factory. We have also included some other bonuses you will want to put right next to your vintage Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers. This summer, it was our pleasure to work with Rebecca Doyle, a student and designer who dazzled us with her talent and sharp instincts. Check out Rebecca's awesome work! for further reading, viewing, and shopping Original air date: September 27, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251287

Something Upstairs 10/01/2024

Something Upstairs Happy Halloween! On this episode we read Avi's Something Upstairs (1988). Seeing your favorite childhood keychain may take you back for a moment. But what if that keychain could also take you to another time period? Would you do what needed to be done to stop an injustice from repeating? Avi’s 1988 classic Something Upstairs asks and answers those questions, and boldly breaks the space time continuum. When protagonist Kenny moves to a new place, he finds that he's not alone in his attic bedroom. A ghost named Caleb has also been forced to reside there for centuries. Through this time travel story, Avi explores race and power across three centuries in Providence, RI. We talk about this twisty plot, the uses of ghost stories, and the real real estate that serves as the setting for this book. Avi's Website: A Real Pardon Tillinghast: Walking Tour: More on Slavery in Providence, RI: original air date: October 31, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251337

Amanda Montell’s Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism 10/01/2024

Amanda Montell’s Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism Tis the season … to be bombarded with MLM offers, fanatic workout club ads, and thought-terminating cliches (well, it is what it is!). For this month’s episode, we discuss Amanda Montell’s Montell is a linguist interested in why people end up in cults and how cultish language shapes all of us. Original air date: November 27, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251427

V is for Vanderbilt 10/01/2024

V is for Vanderbilt There comes a time in every woman's life when she must...flee from her family's summer estate holding precious heirlooms in trash bags? For this month's Patreon episode, we read Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. This short, punchy, and very readable family biography was written by Anderson Cooper (descendent of Vanderbilts) and Katherine Howe (descendent of some of Salem's finest). This book chronicles some of the Vanderbilts' finest moments during their ascent into America's elite, along with some of their more challenging times (see opening anecdote, and/or anything to do with Gloria). We consider what motivated Cooper to write the book, and what we can learn from another collective biography of the rich during a period of great economic inequality. original air date: December 30, 2021 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251462

Esther Forbes's Johnny Tremain (1943) 10/01/2024

Esther Forbes's Johnny Tremain (1943) This month we tackled a much-requested book: Esther Forbes's Johnny Tremain (1943). For some authors, winning a Newbery Medal would be enough. Others might dip out after a Pulitzer Prize. Esther Forbes won a Newbery and a Pulitzer within a few years--all while a war was on. During this episode, we discuss Forbes's fascinating career (read as: obsession with Paul Revere). Against this backdrop, we also track Johnny Tremain's puzzling journey from apprentice to American revolutionary. At the start of the book, Tremain is yet another young man trying to make his way in colonial Boston. Then, an injury forces Tremain to rethink his career plans, his love life, and the stories he's been told about his lineage. Despite the challenges in front of him, Tremain somehow feels both despondent and totally prepared to pivot from "aspiring silversmith" to international super spy/soldier. We talk about Tremain's transformation, the timing of the book's publication, and the author's push for men to "stand up" and fight. Next month? We ditch silversmiths and follow Ambassador Kwan in her pursuit of the gold. Original air date: January 28, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251547

International Relations: Meet Michelle Kwan 10/01/2024

International Relations: Meet Michelle Kwan With the 2022 Olympic Games warming our hearts and making us wish for brand new ice skates, we knew it was time...time to learn more about the one and only (Ambassador) Michelle Kwan! Join us in reading Heart of a Champion, one of Michelle Kwan's many autobiographies. Some people might wait to finish high school before writing a memoir, but Michelle had lived enough to write a book at 17. We talk about Michelle's years of training, her family's commitment to greatness, and of course, "the Tara Lipinski of it all." No coach has put us in, but we are ready to skate. Original due date: February 24, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251597

The Midwife’s Apprentice 10/01/2024

The Midwife’s Apprentice Do you remember this classic novel by Karen Cushman? Set in the Middle Ages, The Midwife’s Apprentice is about a girl named Alyce who is anything but mid. In spite of many challenges, starting with the fact that she sleeps in a dung-pile, Alyce finds her way in the world (and makes a few friends) while learning to be a midwife. We talk about our own medieval times, the transmission of medical knowledge, and what happens when cats name themselves (purr!). Original air date: March 26, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251757

Highlights from Dear Highlights 10/01/2024

Highlights from Dear Highlights Picture it: you are sitting in a doctor's office some time in your childhood. What magazine is strewn about the waiting area? For this episode, we tackled a publication that is probably tucked away in the recesses of your memory bank: Highlights Magazine. For decades, young people have sent letters to Highlights, a magazine especially designed by psychologists for kids*.* Some of these letters have been preserved in an archive in Ohio. Dear Highlights is a curated collection of some of these letters and a kind of "time capsule" of childhood. We talk about what changes over time in these letters--and what doesn't change in the responses. We also learn a thing or two from the editors' replies, such as how to get Baby Beluga out of your head once it's stuck (a real question asked of Highlights staff). Original air date: April 20, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251797

All-of-a-Kind Sydney 10/01/2024

All-of-a-Kind Sydney In 1951, Sydney Taylor introduced All-of-a-Kind Family to the world. Her novel about a Jewish family living on the Lower East Side in the early 20th century features five American girls: Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie. These tight-knit sisters love to read, eat candy, and occasionally, dust for their mother. We talk about our (first) read of Taylor's book, which holds up all these years later as an absolute delight. We also discuss the biography From Sarah to Sydney (2021), by the late Jane Cummins and Alexandra Dunietz. How much of Sarah Brenner’s life was put into the all-of-kind-family? How did Sarah become Sydney Taylor? Join us in separating fact and fiction. Original air date: May 27, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251817

The Story of Watergate 10/01/2024

The Story of Watergate Fifty years after the Watergate scandal, and endless “gates” later, what can we learn from a children’s book about one of America’s most famous crooks? For this Patreon episode, we looked at the dense and at times, baffling children’s book called The Story of Watergate. Though this is hardly a cool bedtime read, it does shed light on an important moment of reckoning. Original air date: June 17, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251852

Bicentennial Red, White, and Blues 10/01/2024

Bicentennial Red, White, and Blues With so much recent discussion about the ideas and intentions of the "founders," we decided to watch the film version of the musical 1776...so you won't have to. Clocking in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, this performance will give you more questions than answers as to how the Declaration of Independence was actually written. We talk about Mr. Feeny's (a.k.a William David Daniels's) turn as John Adams, what's really going on with the depiction of Thomas Jefferson's wife, and the general fixation with leading white men of this era. original air date: July 27, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33251942

The Birchbark Diaries 10/01/2024

The Birchbark Diaries The Birchbark House has finally moved off the Patreon TBR list. This beautifully written novel by Louise Erdrich has been much requested by you, our listeners! Set in 1847, The Birchbark House is a story about an Ojibwa girl named Omakayas. Throughout the book, we spend several seasons with Omakayas and her kin as they weather a smallpox outbreak. Omakayas learns more about her own history and starts to see herself as a healer. We discuss Erdrich's beautiful writing, how this book connects to themes in American Girl books, and why this widely acclaimed book ought to have a place on your shelf. Original air date: August 27, 2022 /episode/index/show/aec2f8c7-e82d-4ad3-9b21-817d2665c821/id/33252017

Dolls of Our Lives

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