Rainy Lanie Lane

“Buffalo Dreamer” is about a a twelve year old girl named Summer who lives with her dad’s Apache family in Arizona but she goes on a road trip to Alberta, Canada to see her mom’s family on a Northern Alberta Cree reservation. There she learns about her Grandfather and his terrible experience at a residential boarding school.

Native American children were often forced to go to boarding school as young as five years old to assimilate to Canadian or American society’s European-American Christian culture. They were punished for using their indigenous language among other things. Children were not given the care they needed and many died and were buried at the schools. Over the years many graves have been discovered at these schools and the book confronts this reality.

How does this relate to American Girl?

Though Summer is Cree and Apache unlike Kaya who is Nimiipuu, Kaya does have two jingle dresses that is similar to a jingle dress mentioned in the book. Both books also talk about the life of an indigenous American girl. Unlike the Kaya books, “Buffalo Dreamer” is written by a Plains Cree and Taino author, dancer, and storyteller from the Kehewin Cree Nation.

Recommended!

Stay in the shade, wear lots of sunscreen and a hat (and even rashguards if you need them!) and drink lots of water! Protect yourself from sunburns and heat exhaustion!

Maryellen School Outfit and Prototype

Julie, Ivy, and Not!Gabby

Pleasant Company Craft Kits

Back when the craft kits were in fancy boxes with real materials to learn old-timey arts and crafts. Luckily was able to do most of them. I can’t even find pictures of the Kirsten wax angel ornaments kit that I did. The beeswax smelled so good!

The dolls also had doll-sized crafts that were much more elegant than the later AG crafts sold later.

I am totally a “Great Courses” nerd since I can’t afford to go to grad school or anything right now. I have listened to so many of them!

I used to get the courses on DVD and CDs! I still have them. I am trying to brush up on my Japan knowledge before my (hopefully still going on) trip in the fall!

I’m still waiting for a full Japanese-decent AG doll. Thank goodness there is Jess at least. There are a lot of half-Asian Americans too.

I guess the Japan traveler outfit is better than nothing?

The Cute at Heart Collection is okay?

Is the kimono jacket the wrong direction? Does it matter in a jacket like that?

If it’s in the wrong direction it means death! 🪦

(I’m no Japanese expert)

Luckily there are some historical fiction books on Japanese-American girls. I have read a few but this link includes a lot more good recommendations:

RIP Marjane 😭 Peace in the Middle East ☮️

I gave in and got the Hill House dresses.