American Girls Require Deep Pockets

Surrounded
by exuberant girls, including her own 8-year-old, a Wisconsin resident
named Jean Carter seemed positively thrilled as she paid $650, more than
twice what she had planned, at American Girl Place.

To start, she had bought two of the store’s $90 dolls, each representing
a character from a different era in American history, and then novels about
each doll’s character. Then came high tea, the musical theater show and
finally some of the endless stream of tie-in merchandise that has made
American Girl a huge marketing success as well as a cultural phenomenon.
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"
It’s a racket, but it’s a good racket," Ms. Carter
said. "The kids get strong historical role models and stories that
teach them a lot about life. You actually feel good spending the money."

from the New York
Times