Historical fiction provides a wonderful way for readers to get lost in a different time or to learn about a real person, place, or event in an engaging way. Author Renee Rosen excels at this genre. With her latest release, Let’s Call Her Barbie, Rosen brings us back to the 1950s at a Mattel boardroom where toymaker Ruth Handler first presents the idea of the doll which would eventually become the biggest selling doll of all time.
This simple, yet incredible and mostly untold tale introduces readers to the creators of Barbie, the women and men behind the toy that changed the world in countless ways. First there’s Ruth, the mother of two and co-owner of Mattel who wishes for girls to have other ambitions beyond becoming a mother. Next, her head engineer Jack Ryan, a troubled genius living an unbelievable lifestyle, begins the lengthy process necessary to create the doll. Charlotte Johnson, a woman whose dreams of participating in the fashion world have left her teaching at a local art school, is tasked with creating a wardrobe for Barbie unlike the toy world has ever seen. Based on these three real people, the reader engages with the story from their varying points of view. Additionally, the fictional but fascinating Stevie Klein, one of Charlotte’s former design students who joins the team early in the process, gives readers a glimpse into the incredible Barbie story.
Don’t let the almost 400 pages of the novel deter you. With cleverly titled chapters that don’t drag on for pages and pages, the book is a breeze to read. Let’s Call Her Barbie is a book I did not want to put down. The narrative flowed beautifully, starting with that first meeting in 1956 through the next twenty years. This is a great book for discussion, including questions in the back to use if at your book club. In fact, if you contact the author and she’s able to fit it into her schedule, she may even meet with your group virtually. Then, you may even want to watch (or rewatch) The Barbie Movie after reading it (as I did); I guarantee you will never look at Barbie in the same way!
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Author Renee Rosen spoke with a book club at a local bookstore and signed books afterwards. She is always a pleasure to listen to as she describes her research and writing process, shares a laugh, and tells about her current work-in-progress.