About the Book:
She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.
When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.
In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.
As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.
In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.
Review:
After an overseas vacation in 1956, Ruth Handler returns to her burgeoning toy company with a new idea; a new doll for children that isn't a baby doll, but is an adult woman. Ruth's team isn't exactly on board with the idea, but she persists, wanting to give young girls a play option other than pretending to be a mother. Ruth's team of engineers including head engineer, Jack Ryan, get started on the multitude of problems that need be solved in building the doll including types of plastic, hair placement and proportions. Ruth then sets out to find someone who can design fashion forward clothes for the doll. Ruth finds Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein who set out on dealing with issues of fabric thickness, patterns, closures and proportions for the doll. As things progress with the doll, Ruth still has the matter of the name. Finally deciding on Barbie, after Ruth's daughter and Jack's wife, Barbie debuts at the Toy Fair to lackluster reactions. However, once Barbie hits the toy shelves, she is a sensation. Now, Ruth must deal with a rapidly growing business, new staff members, growing tensions within her team and fallout from financial woes.
Let's Call Her Barbie is a fictionalized, behind the scenes look at the business, design and engineering of the Barbie Doll. Focused mostly on Ruth Handler, the story also incorporated the points of view of Ruth's husband, Elliot, their lead engineer, Jack Ryan, Barbie's clothing designer, Charlotte Johnson and fictional clothing designer, Stevie Klein. I was intrigued by Ruth and her fiery attitude, determined to lead, push boundaries, forge a new path for women and girls and not back down when things were difficult. Going into Ruth's childhood, I felt a connection to Ruth's feelings of needing to be useful or productive to be loved and how that translated into her business savvy. Ruth's role as a mother was also surprising, feeling ineffective at home and impactful in the workplace. Jack Ryan is an enigmatic character, boundless intelligence paired with magnetic charisma and an addictive personality making him a womanizer, alcoholic and drug user. It also caused tension between himself and Ruth as he claimed to be the sole inventor of Barbie, leading to a series of downfalls for Jack, Ruth and Mattel. The business side of Mattel was intriguing dealing with patents, acquisitions, board members and intra-staff relationships. Let's Call Her Barbie brings together the human and business elements of a doll that revolutionized the way we play.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
About Renée Rosen: Renée Rosen is the USA Today bestselling author of Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants, and Dollface. Renée lives in Chicago.
She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.
When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.
In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.
As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.
In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.
Review:
After an overseas vacation in 1956, Ruth Handler returns to her burgeoning toy company with a new idea; a new doll for children that isn't a baby doll, but is an adult woman. Ruth's team isn't exactly on board with the idea, but she persists, wanting to give young girls a play option other than pretending to be a mother. Ruth's team of engineers including head engineer, Jack Ryan, get started on the multitude of problems that need be solved in building the doll including types of plastic, hair placement and proportions. Ruth then sets out to find someone who can design fashion forward clothes for the doll. Ruth finds Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein who set out on dealing with issues of fabric thickness, patterns, closures and proportions for the doll. As things progress with the doll, Ruth still has the matter of the name. Finally deciding on Barbie, after Ruth's daughter and Jack's wife, Barbie debuts at the Toy Fair to lackluster reactions. However, once Barbie hits the toy shelves, she is a sensation. Now, Ruth must deal with a rapidly growing business, new staff members, growing tensions within her team and fallout from financial woes.
Let's Call Her Barbie is a fictionalized, behind the scenes look at the business, design and engineering of the Barbie Doll. Focused mostly on Ruth Handler, the story also incorporated the points of view of Ruth's husband, Elliot, their lead engineer, Jack Ryan, Barbie's clothing designer, Charlotte Johnson and fictional clothing designer, Stevie Klein. I was intrigued by Ruth and her fiery attitude, determined to lead, push boundaries, forge a new path for women and girls and not back down when things were difficult. Going into Ruth's childhood, I felt a connection to Ruth's feelings of needing to be useful or productive to be loved and how that translated into her business savvy. Ruth's role as a mother was also surprising, feeling ineffective at home and impactful in the workplace. Jack Ryan is an enigmatic character, boundless intelligence paired with magnetic charisma and an addictive personality making him a womanizer, alcoholic and drug user. It also caused tension between himself and Ruth as he claimed to be the sole inventor of Barbie, leading to a series of downfalls for Jack, Ruth and Mattel. The business side of Mattel was intriguing dealing with patents, acquisitions, board members and intra-staff relationships. Let's Call Her Barbie brings together the human and business elements of a doll that revolutionized the way we play.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
About Renée Rosen: Renée Rosen is the USA Today bestselling author of Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces, Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants, and Dollface. Renée lives in Chicago.
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