About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.
When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.
In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.
As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.
In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.
My Review
This story is the fictionalized version of Ruth Handler’s determination to create a doll for young girls to encourage them to have careers. The doll certainly became a larger-than-life success. Before long, her team created a wardrobe and friends for Barbie. It helped to make her, and her husband’s, small toy company, Mattel, richer than they ever thought possible.
While this book is based on actual events and history, there is also some fiction combined. Most of the characters are real historical figures, but there are a couple of fictional ones as well.
I found the book to be a fascinating look at the doll and toy industry, but it’s told in a way that doesn’t get bogged down in details. It’s not a documentary. The author paints a vivid picture of the time era from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. She brings you through it all.
This book isn’t just about making a doll. There are also human emotions involved. It’s the story of betrayal, hardships, disappointments, addiction and emotional heartbreak. The story has it all. I was totally engrossed in everything about this book.
I’ve read other books by Renee Rosen and she is so talented in combining history with fiction. No one does it better. She has quickly become a favorite of mine.
For reading challenges:
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2025
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge 2025 (California)
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog! I always love reading comments and getting to know my readers!
After some careful consideration, I've decided to become an award-free blog. Although I appreciate and am honored by each and every award I've received, your comments and friendship are enough award for me. Thank you all so much for your thoughtfulness.
Due to way too many spam comments, I disabled the Anonymous User comments. We'll see if this works, otherwise I'll have to go back to word verification.