Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - Perfect Movie for the 4th of July Weekend

Monday June 30, 2008

American Girl books and dolls are incredibly popular among young girls, and each book tells the story or continues the story of a remarkable young girl living at an important time in American history. The heroines serve as examples of bravery, strength and independence, and Kit Kittredge, the first American Girl to be seen on the big screen, displays all of these characteristics and more.

I have to say that I read one of the American Girl books, Meet Felicity, with my daughter and I was disappointed. Felicity disobeyed her parents and put herself in a number of dangerous situations. I know there has to be some element of danger or conflict in any story, but it just didn't sit right with me. I have not read the book about Kit yet, but the movie was a touching surprise.

Kit's is a story about a brave and independent young girl, but it is also a story about life during the Great Depression. The film is much heavier than I imagined. Life during the Depression was no picnic, and kids may be unsettled by a couple of scenes in the movie;however, the story still manages to be uplifting, and I think kids will be all the better for having been reminded of this difficult time in American history. They will get a chance to reflect upon how much we now have to be grateful for, and how hard is was for Americans who lived during those times.

Also, Kit acts as a great role model for kids. During one scene in the movie she is intensely upset, and rightly so, but she stops herself from wallowing in despair and sets upon a productive course of action. Her story may be fictional, but it reminds us that Americans throughout history have been through some hard times -- but they were able to overcome.

Being the mother of three girls, I also have to note my excitement over a movie that sets a positive example for girls in particular. Last year, I loved Nancy Drew ; this year, I've got Kit. Both heroines are smart, independent, self-reliant problem-solvers and are confident about who they are. Neither of them wears skimpy outfits or obsesses about hair and make-up.

A.O. Scott recently wrote an article in the New York Times entitled "A Girl’s Life", in which he discusses some of the messages sent to girls by Hollywood and how the new Kit Kittredge movie and the American Girl line in general relate to the issue. I found the article interesting, and I would love to hear your thoughts on it as well.