![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/dollie.jpg\")
Surrounded
\n by exuberant girls, including her own 8-year-old, a Wisconsin resident
\n named Jean Carter seemed positively thrilled as she paid $650, more than
\n twice what she had planned, at American Girl Place. <\/p>\n
To start, she had bought two of the store’s $90 dolls, each representing
\n a character from a different era in American history, and then novels about
\n each doll’s character. Then came high tea, the musical theater show and
\n finally some of the endless stream of tie-in merchandise that has made
\n American Girl a huge marketing success as well as a cultural phenomenon.
\n Advertisement.<\/p>\n
"
\n It’s a racket, but it’s a good racket," Ms. Carter
\n said. "The kids get strong historical role models and stories that
\n teach them a lot about life. You actually feel good spending the money."<\/p>\n
from the New York 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 … Continue reading
\n Times<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"