Rebranding Samantha: Reflections on the First “Grown Up” American Girl Book

We had several things on our 40th anniversary of American Girl wishlist: The relaunch of Grin Pins; a new historical doll with a more contemporary history (we have consistently suggested something from the 1960s Chicano Movement); a few updated Smart Girl’s guides (please help us with our taxes, American Girl!). What we never imagined—even in our wildest prepubescent or current grown-up dreams—was an American Girl novel for adults. On February 11th, 2026, American Girl announced that they would