What is going on with AG historical characters books ? Julie is getting a graphic novel mystery and the twins are getting a graphic novel mystery in spring 2025! What do you think about it? Let’s talk!
For decades, companies have claimed that "young people these days don't read." It was said about my generation, my parents' generation, and now it's being said about the kids today. I don't think it's ever been true, but companies want it to be true because 100+ page books are expensive to produce and require talented authors who also cost $$. So they keep claiming that "reading is out." It's not, and never will be.
I personally love the og books, I have fond memories of getting them at a local half-priced store! Sure *I* would prefer full length books, but I’m fine with the graphic novels, as my younger sister was having a very hard time learning to read. It wasn’t until third grade that she got into graphic novels, and they helped her read.
I collect all the PC/AG books, our thrift store near my house has a small section of shelf for AG books in their children's book section. The Mystery line was seperate: one where each character solved mysteries. I keep a running tab in a book. My granddaughter loves the books, my children grew up reading them. I think as long as just the mystery line is graphic novels that is not a bad thing as these are definitely from what they said a new spin on the Julie mystery books. I think this idea might get children curious enough to want to read more. And it helps build a connection to the historical characters as real people with similar concerns as the girls today. They use to use comics as a way to get children who had bad experiences with reading to get into reading. To encourage reading parents need to read with their children, it sparks the curiosity that helps children to find a way to learn to read. It is never to late to learn. Oh look, the teacher and special ed teacher in me is coming out.
Great video! I honestly think having books and graphic novels may be a good idea. There are so many different kinds of books people like to read, and so making more kinds of books will allow AG to grab new readers. However, I do think the original books need to come back as they have enough in them to be engaging even in the modern era. I think they should do this more for different reading ranges. Say, the books like we used to have are made with older people who have better reading skills in mind while the graphic novels are aimed at the younger people who make up AG's target audience. I've read some stuff published by IDW in the past, and I can say that they do a great job with their books. I figure we're in for a good product when this Julie graphic novel drops later in the summer. Either way, thank you so much for reading and replying to my comments when I make them. I enjoy watching your videos and discussing AG with you in the comments! I hope you have a wonderful day.
I can’t wait for Julie’s mystery! I am not opposed to real novels for adults with AG characters all grown up, but I doubt AG will do it. I am currently watching The Guilded Age and thinking how great it would be to learn about AG characters’ lives as adults. Thank you so much for the kind words! I hope you have a wonderful day too!
When I saw the book cover illustration for Julie’s mystery book, I guessed that the book the modern character had was Julie’s journal! I bought Julie’s journal. I like the connection with three soon to be released mystery book! BTW, her newly released outfits and re-released jumper are in her journal illustrations.
I missed having American Girl be a part of my childhood as I graduated from high school in 1986. I embraced Josefina, her books and her collection as I moved to New Mexico in 1999. It provided me with a foundational knowledge of New Mexico history and culture. Children and people in general now live in a different world with all of the technology we have. I was an avid reader of books when I was young and now spend more time with RU-vid and Facebook. I have seen people go to AG stores (videos) and focus on dolls instead of characters and the books. This is both an adult thing and a child thing. They don’t read the backs of books to decide if they like the character and the story. The journal format is a far more enticing option than having the books disregarded. If the visual pictures and print style opens the door and has them reading, I am for it. I also have the six book sets for multiple early historical dolls. They are each 5 chapters long and not as overwhelming as when the six books got squished into two books. The condensed versions look like are for older readers. I do hope that when children start with the journals, they will go to the original versions or the condensed Beforever versions.
I love Josefina! She is so very unique due to being AG’s only Latina historical character! Yes, it would be great for AG to have journals AND books available!
@@rainbowunicorncat1 Based on Josefina’s social and economic status in 1824, she would be of pure blood Spanish descent. At that time, the Spanish from Spain were the Europeans who took over Mexico. Like the Europeans in America, they created a hierarchical system that put themselves on top and ranked the mixed populations that followed on a social and economic scale. The PC catalogs upon her release described her as “Hispanic”, which includes being of Spanish/Spain descent. Author Valerie Tripp would have known this in her research. I learned a lot from both Josefina’s books and a community college class on New Mexico/Mexico history. Mattel doesn’t know or doesn’t care about this information. If people buy her as a Mexican/Latina, more sales for them. Josefina would have become a part of a mixed population, but she wasn’t during her stories. My comments are based on the character and her stories. Anyone can see, label, and play with their dolls however they want to. I have her as a piece of New Mexico history and the Southwest history. I know little about the eastern and northern states and regions, so Josefina is the only character I know well enough to want to identify in a historical context.
I'm not a fan of the journals, but I do know that they are less intimidating for kids who are learning to enjoy reading. But I hope they still continue to release full-length books as well. Thanks for sharing!
I think a girl and their doll is a personal journey and so if you have a meet book the journey is more impersonal. I think both are necessary, but journals included with the doll now after getting used to the idea, I agree with but not without offering the historical story book for sale also!
I think that graphic novels are a fantastic gateway into novels and are genuinely great books on their own but I feel AG really needs to bring back the og books. Growing up I loved the AG books and they were super educational. When I was a kid we started learning about WW2 in class and I already had a lot of knowledge from the Molly books. I fear that this new generation of AG fans will miss so much of what made AG special if they only have access to journals or graphic novels(again great gateway books but we need more)
Though I prefer books the younger generation seems to have very short attention spans as they invest most of their time on virtual items. I think there is space for both the books and the graphic novels. As you stated we wants kids to read so we do need to meet them where they are. Thanks for the video.
I like your idea for large, hardcover books for the historical characters as I too loved the 6 book format. As for Julie's first book being replaced, eh, I don't care for that idea either. I would like to purchase that separately just as I would want to purchase Nicki and Isabel's journal books that come with the dolls (I know that I can't). Julie's mystery book as well as others sound cool.
@@rainbowunicorncat1 When AG stopped making them available for sale by themselves, it's as if they felt as if they were going to lose money. I honestly feel the same way about them not producing mini dolls starting with Courtney. It's as if they don't recognize or want customers unless they're spending a great amount of money on 18" dolls, collections, etc.
From a market standpoint it a great idea for the journals. For a girl to maybe pick the book and buy it.read the story and then buy the doll and get something different with doll then a book that you already read maybe own.
But they would have to buy the book first. I can see how this would work if AG promoted the books and the stories, but they are mostly promoting products.
The books are so good even as an adult. I remembered them all through adulthood and they helped me remember/know history. The art is great. I’m rereading Addys now. The new journals are so much less educational and less memorable
I guess it could be a way to have three audiences for the same character. Diary of Wimpy Kid and similar series are still very popular with kids, and the standard books could be there for the more traditional readers. The graphic novels is a third audience. It’s interesting they’re testing the waters with Julie since she’s so popular.
