American Girl books were a staple during my early reading years. Do they hold up 25 years later? Currently working through the winter/holiday stories since it's that time of year.

See my review of Felicity's Surprise as a quick introduction.

The question of Kaya's books isn't so much "Are these well written?" but "Can a white woman write about the Nimíipuu experience?" It's probably something that wouldn't happen these days. In 2023, we hire Indigenous people to tell their own stories.

But we do know that Kaya's collection was reviewed and developed concurrently with a board of experts, including members of the Nez Perce tribe. The AG wiki details the full history of Kaya's development. The board requested that Kaya's stories take place before European colonialization, and it was wise of AG to honor that request. Imagine reading these books today if Kaya's stories had taken place after first contact? Major yikes! European colonialization was the apocalypse for Indigenous people.

What is this book good for?
Kaya's books and collection have been revered but also critiqued. Is it good or bad representation? I can't answer that as a white person. Are these books a decent introduction to Indigenous, especially Nez Perce, culture for children? Maybe?

Bottomline: this book is troublesome with some moments that make you go hmmmm. Kaya and her sister are kidnapped by a neighboring "enemy" tribe, enslaved, and treated inhumanely. Even under these conditions, Kaya is resolved to do well and work hard for her captors. Ultimately, she escapes, some mystical stuff happens (another "magical Indian" trop moment?), and is found by her father. It's one of the most violent-adjacent books in the entire AG canon.

But can these books still offer empathy and life lessons? Sure. Will these books sell more dolls? Probably not.

First of all, kidnapping. This book does not skirt around but we get to see how strong and resourceful Kaya is. Suspenseful even for a now adult to read!

I promise I am trying to be cognizant of the fact that these were written for children. But I have a major issue with a white writer whose job is supposed to be introducing us to the culture and lifestyle of these girls in their historical context jumping to a kidnapping plot in book 2. I feel there are SO MANY more important aspects of Nez Perce culture that could have been explored in this novel.