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by Renée Rosen
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.
Overall, what did you think of Let’s Call Her Barbie? (no spoilers, please!)
I loved the book and have already recommended it to several friends. I also plan to suggest that my book groups (I'm in 3) read it in the next year. I was born in 1956, right when all the Barbie planning was going on. I thought the book was fascinating and enjoyed all the history of the era.
-Julie_P
Did you play with Barbies as a child, or did you shave off all her hair in a fit of protest? Were you allowed to have Barbies, or did your parents forbid you to play with "that" doll?
Barbies were a huge part of my childhood! I still have them all and recently took them out to admire again - along with the camper bus and the dream house and all the barbie cases and clothes! My two brothers, however, cut their hair and bit off their toes on a few of my dolls until I could hide ...
-Ann_M
If you grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, which cultural references mentioned in the book were you familiar with? If you were born later, did you read about aspects of the era that surprised you?
I also grew up in the 60's and 70's and all the references in the book resonated with me! I remember seeing what choices my mother and other women had in terms of family and career – and since career options were so limited, there was heavy pressure on women to be mothers and "homemakers." I love...
-Ann_M
Ruth’s and Jack’s relationship eventually becomes “openly hostile” after Jack appears on What’s My Line?. Who do you think is to blame for its deterioration? Could anything have been done, in your opinion, to salvage it?
I worked long enough to realize that things get done the best if there was a team working on it. Jack didn't want to be a team player and wanted all of the glory for himself. I don't think that the relationship between Jack and Ruth could have been fixed based on Jack's attitude.
-Susan_Roberts
Which of the main characters did you develop the most sympathy for? Are there any minor characters who stood out?
I felt sympathy for Ruth. No matter how powerful she became in the business world, her home life was kind of a mess. She just couldn't figure out how to take care of all areas of her life and family
-Susan_Roberts
At eighteen, Barbara insists on marrying. Why do you believe Barbara feels she needs to take this step? Could Ruth and Elliot have done anything to prevent what they felt was a “horrible mistake”?
I think because Barbara had a less than normal childhood and in her mind came in second after the Barbie doll, that she was looking for a way to get away from her family and create a new family.
-Susan_Roberts
Growing Up Skipper came under fire from the NOW as soon as she was released. Can you cite other Barbie controversies through the years? What do you think about the Barbie line today?
I was grown up when they first introduced Skipper so I don't remember anything about it.
-Susan_Roberts
Were there scenes related to how women were viewed or treated during the era that surprised you? What aspects of a woman’s life have changed in the years since Barbie hit the shelves, and how, do you feel, Barbie has reflected these changes?
My mom worked when I was growing up so I always knew that women could work and just maybe get promoted. But I'll never forget trying to get my first credit card and being turned down unless my husband signed the forms. I think that some things have changed over the years – women are CEOs and have...
-Susan_Roberts
Books by Renee Rosen
Glad to hear it. You won't be disappointed.
-Lloyd_R
Barbie has had more than 200 careers over the decades. What were the most important milestones for Barbie, and how was she ahead of her time? If you played with Barbie dolls as a child, were there specific models or outfits that you remembered owning?
When I played with Barbie, there were no careers. I love her careers like nurse and firefighter.
-Terrie_J
Stevie plays a large role throughout the novel, yet she’s one of its fictional characters. Why do you suppose the author created her?
I think she was created to add a little 'spice' to the book.
-Terrie_J
Ruth developed breast cancer in 1970, which led to the creation of Nearly Me. What did you think about her coming full circle in terms of her relationship with creating breasts for a doll for little girls and then creating breasts for grown women?
I think it was natural for Ruth to create Nearly Me. She saw a need and knew that she could create something to solve it. She was very talented.
-Terrie_J
Despite Ruth's intention to create a doll that would empower young girls, from the very beginning Barbie has been both celebrated and vilified. Do you think of Barbie as a feminist icon or a dangerous role model for women?
I think Barbie was an icon. She gave little girls the option of putting Barbie in charge when they played with her. She was beautiful and always happy. She also had her own home and car, which most women didn't have.
-Terrie_J
Barbie's creators never lost sight of the fact that the doll had anatomically impossible body measurements, yet som thought they were supposed to look like her. What is it about Barbie that you think separates her from other dolls and has this effect?
I never thought Barbie had an impossible body. I thought she was beautiful and had beautiful clothes when I played with her. Mattel's marketing worked. Barbie has changed through the years to make her more realistic.
-Terrie_J
Ruth was a nontraditional woman for her time. She tried to have it all—a husband, children and a career. What are your thoughts about her as a mother and her relationship with Barbara? How do you think her own childhood impacted her views on motherhood?
I don't think Ruth had a mothering instinct. I think she thought that she did and wanted her way to make Barbara love and admire her like a mother. She was more of a mother to Barbie than her children.
-Terrie_J
What do you think of Ruth’s and Elliot’s relationship? Are you surprised they stayed married through their ups and downs? What part does each play in Barbie’s success, and in their family’s dynamics?
Ruth and Elliot had a relationship that was more of a working relationship than a love relationship. Their family worked because of this. I feel they stuck to together because they loved each other and their family.
-Terrie_J
After Ruth has her mastectomy, she’s struck by how few breast cancer survivors will talk about their stories. Why do you think this was? Do you think it’s still the case today? What has changed since Ruth was diagnosed with cancer, and what hasn’t?
At that time in history, it was inappropriate to talk about your breasts. Thankfully, that has changed, and the progress made toward breast cancer and choices women have about their appearance has increased positively. Open discussions have also provided support for breast cancer survivors.
-Terrie_J
How did you feel when you learned that Barbie was inspired by Bild Lilli, a German prostitute gag doll? Did that surprise you?
This did surprise me. I had never heard this before.
-Terrie_J
Jack Ryan was the unlikely Romeo of Mattel. What do you think it was about him that women found so irresistible? What did you think about his relationship with Stevie, or about Ruth's attempts to shortchange him on his royalties?
This story took place at a time when power was a very attractive thing to women. Women didn't have much power and riding on the coattails of a powerful man allowed them to feel a bit powerful. I thought Jack was a womanizer and used women. Ruth was smart to make a change to his royalties because ...
-Terrie_J
Ruth felt that she "carries [Mattel] on her shoulders.” Do you agree with her assessment? What would have happened with Barbie had Ruth spent more time with her family? Is it possible to run a successful business without Ruth’s level of commitment?
Ruth was the driving force behind Mattel. I think one has to be that dedicated and involved to create something successful. Unfortunately, that took time away from her family. If she hadn't been that involved, Barbie would have been a very different doll (possibly failure) and Mattel would not ha...
-Terrie_J
Ruth and Jack were both instrumental in the creation of Barbie, and each took credit for the name and the doll itself. After Jack's tragic death, Ruth downplayed if not erased his contribution. Did you think Jack had a right to claim he created Barbie?
I think Ruth created Barbie and Jack designed her. I don't believe he created her. In his statements, he could have said that Ruth created her and he designed her to bring her to life.
-Terrie_J
About the Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen Discussion category
Is this the way that books will be discussed in future on Book Browse? I find it difficult to navigate and am not sure that I enjoy it as much as I did in the old format.
-Katherine_P
"Rosen vividly portrays her characters and deftly balances covering both the highs and lows of their personal lives and the professional challenges that arise along the way, from designing the first Dreamhouse to responding to criticism…With cultural interest in Barbie still sky high, this novel is a great choice for historical fiction readers interested in strong, complex women, both in and out of the toy aisle." —Library Journal (starred review)
"A fictional retelling of Barbie's origin story, from Ruth's first brainstorm until she leaves Mattel in the 1970s, Rosen's novel is infused with pathos and wit." —Kirkus Reviews
"As the narrative stretches into the 1970s, Rosen fleshes out intriguing subplots involving the Barbie fashion team, including designer Charlotte Johnson. Barbie fans will delight in Rosen's epic reimagining of the doll's origin story." —Publishers Weekly
"What a fresh and fun take on Barbie lore! Let's Call Her Barbie pulls off a feat: while digging deep into the history behind America's favorite doll, it's also a clever and satisfying exploration of creativity, feminism, and what it truly means to make art. And although the movie and the book are unrelated in this case, and the movie was fantastic… you know what they always say about the book being better." —Shelby Van Pelt, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures
"Renée Rosen's novel about the creators of the Barbie doll is inspired and brilliant. This is a tale of driven personalities who won't take no for an answer, of the obstacles that faced women in business in the mid-20th century, and of the complex relationships between creatives working in a team. As a former Barbie girl myself, I was riveted!" —Gill Paul, international bestselling author of Scandalous Women
"Think you know Barbie? Think again, in this delightful, fast-paced, compassionate, and well-researched story, Renee Rosen skillfully takes everything you think you know and turns it on its head, telling us the real story of the feisty, strong, original woman who created America's most loved and most hated doll. Choose this one for your book club if you want the conversation to flow. I promise you everyone will want to talk about this excellent and fascinating book." —Elizabeth Letts, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Ride of Her Life
"The story of how Barbie came to be is as iconic as the doll herself. Renee Rosen's research and deft writing bring Barbie - and those who brought her into the world - to vivid pink life and make Let's Call Her Barbie a riveting read for anyone who loves historical fiction, strong women (real and otherwise), Barbie the doll, Barbie the movie, or stories about the American dream. As an avid lover and collector of Barbies - at a time when society often looked as harshly at me as it once did the doll - this story spoke to my heart and spirit and made me love my beloved Barbies even more. The first must-read of 2025! It's DOLL-ing!" —Viola Shipman, USA Today bestselling author of The Page Turner
"Bold. Tenacious. Resolute. Renee Rosen's Let's Call Her Barbie vividly brings to life the incredible journey of Ruth Handler, the woman behind the iconic doll. Through impeccable research and masterful storytelling, Rosen captures Handler's fierce determination and the challenges she faced as a woman breaking barriers in a male-dominated world. Impossible to put down, this is a riveting portrayal of a flawed yet awe-inspiring visionary. I thought I knew Barbie's story, but Rosen's unflinching portrayal of the doll's meteoric rise, and the players behind it, proves there's much more to this tale. An absolute must-read." —Karma Brown, #1 international bestselling author of What Wild Women Do
This information about Let's Call Her Barbie was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
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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