My two oldest daughters have been abuzz about Caroline Abbott, American Girl’s thirteenth historical character heroine, ever since they saw her blonde, cascading curls and rosy cheeks smiling back at them from the American Girl website. Recently, my almost 8-year-old daughter received a copy of the American Girl book Meet Caroline, and got to experience what life might have been like for a young girl growing up exactly 200 years ago.
Caroline’s time frame is set amongst the War of 1812 near Lake Ontario in Sackets Harbor, New York. A nine-year-old girl and lover of the water, her father is a shipbuilder with whom Caroline loves to sail. British soldiers, however, end up invading their ship, capturing her father as well as her cousin, and it’s up to Caroline to stay strong and take action to help her mother run the family’s shipyard. Throughout her story, Caroline manages to stay strong, believe in herself, and help those around her, all while navigating the challenges of wartime.
I myself loved the excerpts I read from this book. One of my catch phrases with my daughters when things go wrong is to say, “Let’s be a problem solver.” We then talk about options and the best way to figure out a situation. Caroline Abbott epitomizes a young problem solver. She is brave, independent, and manages to make good decisions, despite her tender age. I pointed this out to Norah, my daughter, who agreed and said she was surprised at how much Caroline “knew how to do” and “wasn’t afraid”. Two thumbs up from my own little blondie and her mama!
The launch of Caroline Abbott in early September was also accompanied by five other books besides the one we read. Norah is also looking forward to checking out Caroline’s Secret Message, A Surprise for Caroline, Caroline Takes a Chance, Caroline’s Battle, and Changes for Caroline. Girls can also discover more about Caroline through a free downloadable learning guide at americangirl.com, which helps them explore themes and issues from her stories. And for your little heroine, American Girl has introduced Caroline’s Share the Hero in You video contest! Girls are invited to submit a 60-second video clip about a time when they felt like an everyday hero. More information is available at www.americangirl.com/playcaroline, and the winner will receive a trip for 4 to Washington, D.C., a VIP tour of the Smithsonian, and a Caroline doll, accessories and book set. Check it out!
-Jessica
* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. Jessica received a copy of Meet Caroline from American Girl free of charge to facilitate this review. This in no way swayed our opinion of the product or service. The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.
