Join Samantha, Molly, Kirsten, Addy, Josefina, Kaya, and co-editors KC Hysmith and Justine Orlovsky-Schnitzler in conversation with material culture enthusiast and cookie maven Lauren Dozier to celebrate all things American Girl and the publication of their new book An American Girl Anthology: Finding Ourselves in the Pleasant Company Universe.
This unique collection of essays turns American Girl dolls―and the ever-growing ecosystem surrounding them―inside out and serves as an ode to the democratizing power of the internet and the intoxicating power of nostalgia. Together, we'll utilize the world of American Girl Cookbooks and food history to unpack broad social concepts such as identity, class, and gender.
Don’t miss this conversation about food history, culture, identity, Instagram memes, and much more. Please feel free to bring your doll!
NOTE: This event is not intended for children. While the book covers the American Girl universe, the topics are suited for a more mature audience.
Ticket includes access to Flavor: The World to Your Brain from 6 to 7 PM and a specially made American Girl-inspired cookie by Lauren Dozier.
Copies of An American Girl Anthology can be pre-purchased in a ticket bundle and during the program from our partner bookseller, Books Are Magic.
KC HYSMITH, PhD, is a food scholar and writer who focuses on the intersections of food history, gender, and digital media. Previously, she has written for the Boston Globe, Food52, Gastronomica, Eater, and more. She is the co-author and co-editor of several books on food culture including the cookbook When Southern Women Cook (America's Test Kitchen 2024). She holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of North Carolina and an MLA in Gastronomy from Boston University. She was the Director of Communications at MOFAD for several years, until she left on good terms to go write about cake. See more of her work at kchysmith.com.
JUSTINE ORLOVSKY-SCHNITZLER is a writer, folklorist, and Yiddishist. She earned her MA in Folklore from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021, and her thesis, Mir Zaynen Do! was published in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Jewish Folklore and Ethnology. She is a frequent contributor to Lilith magazine, and her work has also been featured in Southern Cultures, the Jewish Women's Archive, In geveb, the Bitter Southerner, and the New York Times. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two cats.
LAUREN DOZIER is a writer, baker, and social media editor based in Brooklyn. Her work is informed by a childhood spent making up short stories and playing dress up in the Appalachian Mountains. Lauren is a graduate of the University of Virginia where she studied English and studio art with a concentration in printmaking. She began a career in media after graduating with a Masters from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2017. She is published in The Washington Post, CNN Styles, and GMA Digital, and has been featured by Cherry Bombe and Southern Living. See more of her writing and recipes at laurensflourfairytales.substack.com.
BOOKS ARE MAGIC is a family-owned independent bookstore with locations in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn, committed to being a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive space for all people. Books Are Magic is a place for children to feel comfortable, for young readers to grow into lifelong readers, and for our neighbors to be introduced to vibrant new books. Books Are Magic is owned by Emma Straub and Michael Fusco-Straub. You can read more about Emma Straub's books here.