Come January 1, 2012, American Girl fans everywhere will be able to meet McKennaTM Brooks, at 10 year old gymnast who struggles with a balance between- well, the balance beam, and her schoolwork. The Girl of the Year® McKenna doll, books and accessories will only be available until the end of 2012. This is very smart timing for American Girl, given that 2012 is a Summer Olympics year and that should generate even more interest in yet another gorgeous doll friend from AG.
McKenna, aged 10, finds herself falling behind with her reading comprehension and discovering more talents and strengths in herself that she didn’t know she had. She gets hurt and ends up in a cast- and has to work even harder, and learns some great life lessons along the way.
McKenna was introduced to us a few weeks ago, when a surprise package showed up with a copy of McKenna and Take the Challenge: Crazy Challenges and Silly Thrills to Explore Your Talents and Everyday Skills.
My daughter tore through McKenna (penned by Mary Casanova) in one sitting (she seems to have my love of reading) and has asked me at least 2 dozen times when I’ll find a copy of McKenna, Ready to Fly! for her to read. The Take the Challenge book has been a lot of fun- for both of us- and I’m still (and likely always will be) the reining champ of doing things with my feet and toes in my house. We haven’t gone through the entire book of challenges but I love the huge range of challenges, from the super silly to more serious, and, most importantly, the kids will too!!
To our delight, McKenna herself arrived at our house on Friday afternoon, and with some quick juggling, we decided that this would be a wonderful surprise for our oldest for Christmas. We actually sent her home with my niece for the big S to leave under my sister’s tree, to be found with a few things for her siblings Christmas night. My Busy girl knows that McKenna isn’t “here” yet and was beyond excited that she got to meet her before anyone else. McKenna is beautifully constructed, just like all of the American Girl products. These dolls are not inexpensive by any means, but they are very well
constructed and built with care and quality in both materials and craftsmanship. I wish I had a photo, my niece E has three AG dolls from when she was younger (she’s 18 now) and got them all out to play with my girls, who had a Just Like Me Doll and a Bitty Twin with them at my sisters. They are all made so well!!
I have to say that while I enjoy McKenna’s story, and her fun color scheme collection, I think my favorite feature is her hair. She’s got some gorgeous hair coloring, and amazing highlights. Plus, her hair is like cornsilk. I don’t know what it is about her hair, but I am in awe. I love it. Love it so much I’d bring her to my stylist to ask for it replicated on me!!
McKenna’s Take the Challenge isn’t just in the book. Girls can also participate in the challenge at www.americangirl.com/girloftheyear. When they complete the quiz, girls discover their top three strengths from 8 categories. After completing 10 offline challenges that go along with the categories, girls receive a trophy. For each trophy earned, American Girl will donate 25 cents to Save the Children‘s US Literacy Program (up to $50,000).
There will be a movie based on McKenna’s stories premiering on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 2012, as well. I can’t wait to watch it!! (I haven’t any time frame on that, just that it will premiere and has been at least partially cast).
One of my readers will win a paperback copy of McKenna!
I received a sample of this product to facilitate my review. Opinions are my own.
About Brett
Samantha! Retired, but still my fave!
Kanani would be my favorite Girl of the Year!
I love Rebecca Rubin! My daughter likes the more modern dolls though…..
I think Julie would be my fave AG of the year. Molly will always be my fave AG doll though!
Kanini
Kanani is my favorite girl of the year doll.
My daughter is in love with Mckenna, she is a dancer and takes acrobatics. She cant wait to get her she says she wants all of her acessories.
My favorite girl of the year was Mia, but McKenna is a close second!
my fav wud be McKenna
I like Kailey because she reminds me of my own Kaylee!
snaugle81@gmail.com
Julie albright
My daughter’s (Savanna) favorite girl of the year (so far!!) is Lani. Savanna takes a gymnastics class every Saturday morning and is super excited that McKenna is a gymnist like her!! XOXO
Kit is my favorite. I’m ready for a new favorite McKenna. She looks so cute. I know a little girl that would think she was on top of the world if she won this doll.
Marisol!
I like Lanie
Wow, what a thrill to get McKenna before everyone else!
Our favorite is Kanani. She’s so pretty!
We really like Julie and Kit!
Lanie or McKenna or Kit.
We like Lanie, but my daughter really loves (and wants) McKenna. I sure would love to win this for her! Thanks so much for the chance.
Lanie or Julie.
Lanie or Julie.
I am not up on these dolls but I love McKenna. Rita
My 8 year old daughter is McKenna. She loves competitive dance and really is into gymnastics these days. Like the McKenna doll, she has the help of a tutor for her reading… so interesting! Another similarity is that her best friend is a boy named Brooks and the doll’s name is McKenna Brooks – - we feel like the stars lined up and created this 99.9% image of our own little girl.. such a fun thing to share with her! Can’t wait to get the doll and watch the movie and hopefully even read the book!
Happy New Year from Tennessee!
Marty that is so cool!!
My favorite so far is Marisol 2005
My daughter loves all of the books! She may love Josephine just a little bit better!
My favorite so far has been Lanie, from 2010 because we have a Laney in our family! Thanks for the chance to win!
mrsmchappell at gmail dot com
I like Jess! beecasagrand at gmail dot com
My daughter is so excited for this doll! It comes out right in time for her birthday too. McKenna is our favorite
but our favorite beyond her would be Julie.
I am confused, how did you get her? She didnt come out yet. Do you work at AG?
Their PR firm sent her for us to review
)
Oh, so any blog reviewer can get her? Does she cost money?
my favorite girl of the year so far is kanani
I’m so excited about McKenna!!!I loved Kanani too
Lanie
Your link to http://www.americangirl.com/girloftheyear did not work. Had to copy/paste it to get there.
I haven’t followed American Girl that closely. Kanani, the current one, looks outstanding though.
My favorite so far has been Mia but my daughters name is Makenna and she is a gymnast, so I think the new Mckenna doll will be my favorite!
Thank you for the great write-up about McKenna! That was very well done!
We had the opportunity to interview Susan Jevins from American Girl about the launch, which can be heard at:
http://girldolltalk.blogspot.com/2011/12/announcing-mckenna-brooks-2012-girl-of.html.
We are interviewing Mary Casanova tomorrow. Do you have a question you’d like us to ask her?
Happy New Year!
Christa and Mia
Hosts of American Girl Doll Talk Podcast
http://www.AmericanGirlDollTalk.com
My daughter wants to ask Mary Casanova how she chooses which characters get to have the most things to say and do, and also who decides about illustrations- does Ms. Casanova or does someone else. She’s very excited to get Ready to Fly soon.
oops I’m not sure Felicity was a girl of the year, so Kanani
Felicity
My favorite is Kanani.
The only one any of my 4 daughters has is Nicki and it is my favorite…and happens to be one of the American Girls doll of the year dolls. My youngest got her for her birthday gift a few years back.
thanks!
MCKENNA
McKenna!
McKenna
I love the 70′s inspired Julie and Ivy dolls – they remind me of my daughters (one with light hair the other with dark hair – and their unique sense of style).
Lanie Holland
Kanani – love her!
Lanie Holland is our favorite Doll of the year!
Kanini has been my favorite to date.
McKenna
Kanani
My favorite is kanani.
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com