I grew up in the 90s and the American Girl Dolls were all the rage. I remember the first catalog we ever had and how cool all of the dresses and furntiture was--how they fit into the narrative of the dolls' stories. I can remember the exact spot in the local library where all the books were. And read all of them.

I can't remember if that first catalog had Addy. She was released in 1993 and I got my first doll, Kirsten, for Christmas 1995.

It's been years since I read this book--I'd forgotten that I had it. I'm not sure when or where I picked up this copy, but it is the only American Girl book I have that doesn't belong to one of the dolls I own. And I went into it knowing the basics of the story. Addy and her mother make a run for freedom after her father and brother are unexpectedly sold.

But I had forgotten a couple things. SPOILERS--they have to leave her baby sister, Esther, behind.

So here I am, a grown woman, bawling my eyes out over a children's book. Because I have neices now and I can't imagine ever leaving one of them anywhere they aren't safe.

And there's more. For a book meant for ten-year-olds, the American Girl stories don't pull any punches. Addy has seen her brother whipped bloody, is forced to eat bugs as a punishment, is whipped herself. In their escape, her mother almost drowns, and Addy accidentally wanders into a Confederate campsite.

At the end of the story, there is a "Peek into the Past," an 8-page overview of slavery and what life might've been for a girl like Addy in 1864. All of the American Girl books have these historical appendixes to give context to the stories that are being told.

I wish I had the complete set of Addy's books. I've decided to collect all of the original dolls' stories, because after investigating the current American Girl website, it looks as though only the first two of Addy's books are still sold. Which is HUGE shame. The best part about the American Girl collection was the connection between the dolls and history. Without all the books, you don't get that.

I blame it on the sale of the original Pleasant Company to Mattel in the late 90s. Some changes are great--the historical collection now includes a Motown doll--but others not so much. Some of the classic dolls were retired or "updated" and so much of the history aspect (the books!) has been abridged.

All-in-all, I give “Meet Addy” five stars. It's a powerful book about real American history--that doesn't gloss over the subject just because the audience is children. If you can get your hands on the original set of 6 books, I would recommend it to any little girl, of any color, as a way to introduce them to American history. And if you have the means to buy a doll, I would recommend that too.