Janet Beeler Shaw

This is the first Kirsten book, which follows her family's journey from Sweden to their new home in Minnesota.

This book felt refreshing to move onto a new story and a different American Girls author besides Valerie Tripp. But one thing that bothers me through all of these books I've reread is the messaging to always obey their father. While of course that's important, the times the girls in these books invoke that commandment seem oppressive and petty ("I will leave X Thing behind because I must always listen to Papa"). The framing of it being "must always listen to Papa" is just weird to me instead of "left it because I had no choice." Sometimes I wonder if these books aren't only trying to depict historical life, but to perhaps model such a conservative family structure to children as well.… (més)