Love her or hate her, it seems that most contemporary girls and women have strong feelings about Barbie. Tanya Lee Stone gives voice to opinions at both ends of that spectrum, from those who deplore Barbie as a “destructive force on the self-image of women all over the globe” to others who see her as “a symbol of empowerment.” In this even-handed account, Stone covers Barbie’s birth in 1959 through her various incarnations and evolutions over the following fifty years. The first few chapters serve as a brief biography of Ruth Handler, the woman who co-founded Mattel and conceptualized the idea of a teenage fashion model doll that could serve as an alternative to the more ephemeral paper dolls of the time. Barbie’s physical changes over the years—body proportions, facial expressions, racial and cultural characteristics, as well as her vast and much-debated wardrobe, from couture to trendy to career, all receive lively discussion. Barbie’s friends and relatives, Barbie mutilation, store-bought versus homemade clothing and other aspects of Barbie’s world in the lives of children are all brought to life with numerous personal anecdotes. Detailed source notes, a bibliography, and an index conclude this fascinating examination of “an American icon.” (Age 10 and older)

"Balanced, funny, provocative--and most of all, important for anyone wanting to understand girlhood in America."--E. Lockhart, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars

Barbie just might be the most famous doll in the world. She has represented fifty different nationalities. She's stepped into the always-fashionable shoes of more than one hundred twenty careers. She has been played with, studied, celebrated, and criticized for more than fifty years. And she has unquestionably influenced generations of girls--whether that influence has been positive or negative depends on whom you ask.

Acclaimed nonfiction author Tanya Lee Stone takes an unbiased look at how Barbie became the icon that she is. Part biography--both of the doll and of her inventor, Ruth Handler--and part exploration of the cultural phenomenon that is Barbie, The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie is filled with personal anecdotes, memories, and opinions from people of all ages. Featuring original color and black-and-white photographs, this book is for everyone who understands that we're all living in a Barbie world.


"This is no mere Barbie book. This is a how-to manual about being a girl."--Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author

* "Source notes, a bibliography, and lots of images, including an inset of color photos, add to an offering that pleases and intrigues." --Booklist, starred review