The incredible story of the creation of Barbie is reimagined by Renée Rosen (The Social Graces; Park Avenue Summer) in an entertaining and informative novel about the history of the iconic doll. In the 1950s, Ruth Handler, co-founder of the Mattel toy company alongside her husband, Elliot Handler, realizes that every doll on the market was a baby doll, encouraging young girls to dream only of becoming a housewife and mother. Ruth decides there should be another option.
With the help of Mattel's head engineer, Jack Ryan, and fashion designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, the Barbie team pushes against all hesitations and pours their energy and expertise into creating Mattel's first doll. But after years of designing, tweaking, and finalizing the designs, Ruth's vision of Barbie as a grown woman with endless possibilities, accompanied by an even more endless wardrobe, is harder to market than she thought. Shocked by society's immediate rejection of a doll "with breasts," Ruth is devastated for herself, her team, and the employees that will suffer from her overconfidence. However, just when Ruth loses all hope, Barbie orders start coming in faster than Mattel can fill them.
Rosen's dynamic dialogue and raw portrayal of Ruth Handler, the real-life mastermind behind Barbie, showcase the determined, hardworking woman that she was without ignoring the mistakes she, and the others, made along the way. The immense success of Barbie came with great losses for the team: time with loved ones, struggles with mental health, and painful business and personal decisions. The poignant Let's Call Her Barbie is nonetheless inspiring. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer