Accessories from American Girl's Newest Historical Character: Courtney from 1986

 Courtney is American Girl's latest historical doll, coming to us from 1986.  She's a gamer, loving to spend time at the arcade in the mall, has seen Star Wars dozens of times, loves The Goonies, and is sad when she can't go over to her friends house to play the new Super Mario Brother's game.

With the release of every new character comes the doll, countless clothes, and accessories.  I didn't get the doll or clothes, but I did get four accessory sets and book.

 

The book, front and back.  There's only one book, though there will be a second book, yet to be announced.  Courtney Changes the Game only has 120 pages, which is short compared to Nanea's, Melody, and Maryellen's original first book.  Nanea's first book originally had 216 pages, though there were no pictures, but it was shortened to 144 pages with pictures for a re-release.  That seems the direction American Girl wants to take the books.  I do like the pictures in Courtney Changes the Game, it's just a shame that fleshed out stories will suffer because of it.  There's so much more material in the original American Girl books.

Courtney's Care Bears Sleeping Bag Set: $36

I was quite the Care Bear fan girl growing up.  I had the pajamas, bed comforter, bears, and other odds and ends.  And this sleeping bag looks really, really familiar.  I don't know if it's based off of an actual item from the past, but I swear I had this as a kid.  Such a flashback.

Comparing American Girls Bedtime Bear to World's Smallest Tenderheart Bear, as I've seen many people online mention that they have the World's Smallest Care Bears.  Just showing that there is a size difference between the two, though Care Bears come in many sizes, so it's all good, and World's Smallest has a nice variety.

Courtney's School Supplies: $30

No, these aren't Lisa Frank--that would have been cool--though these seem to be modeled after the popular stationary line.  This comes with a binder, 2 folders, paper, erasers, sticker sheet, pencil case, and pencil's.  I loved me some Lisa Frank in the day, and was obsessed with her dolphin line.  That would have been amazing, but licensing and all that.  I love the pencil case, as I loved this style of case when I was younger.  Brings back so many memories.  Be careful when opening it as the connecting plastic seems fragile and thin.

 Courtney's PAC-MAN Lunch Set: $25.

I love this so much!  On my first day of school, Kindergarten, I had a plastic lunchbox.  Don't remember the character, but light blue box color comes to mind.  And on the first day of school my Mom took me to a corner gas station store and bought me chocolate milk, and then poured it into my thermos.  It's such a nice memory, and I felt super special.

This set comes with a thermos where the lid twists off.  Unfortunately you can't put the food items and thermos in the lunch box at the same time.  Then there's a ham and cheese sandwich, wrapped brownie, cheese puffs, and apple slices.

This was literally my lunch, though with a peanut butter sandwich instead, from elementary through college.  PB sandwich, a Sara Lee snack, Apple or other fruit, and some form of chips (cheese puffs did make it in the lunch a few times).  Our family couldn't afford the hot lunch, so everyday, except for when the cafeteria did that square size pizza, I was a cold lunch girl.  And I can't eat peanut butter sandwiches anymore because of it, except on certain occasions, but it saved me so much money in high school and college.

So much fun!

 

Courtney's Sleepover Accessory Set: $50

This is my favorite set.  The boombox requires 3 AAA batteries.  You can turn the dial and it makes radio sounds.  It comes with 4 mini cassette tapes, and each side plays a song when it's in the machine.  They're original songs, a mix of vocal and instrumental, with an 80's flare.  Think Tiffany not Chicago.  Unfortunately there isn't an AUX hole to connect it with a device, like Nanea's 1940's radio has.  It's fun playing swing music on it.  So I was hoping there was a way to connect a device to the boombox, but there isn't.  Am I the only one who keeps an aux cable at the ready?

There's also a bowl of tortilla chips, a couple fruit punch cans, a doodle book with drawings on every page plus a pen, and a cootie catcher.  The back side of the cootie catcher had the instructions, but I still got confused.  I forgot how to make them!!!!  So I had to look it up on YouTube. -_-;; Heh.

(I somehow got on a YouTube channel that's playing random 80's songs, and Glory of Love from Karate Kid II is playing.  Memories!!  You know, I never saw that movie, but this song got SO MUCH airplay.  We Built This City just came on!  Gah!  I'm losing it!  How can I not dance around!!!??? Best. Song. Ever.)

So tiny.

And just the little pamphlet that came with the sets.

 

Definitely a trip down memory lane.

 

The American Girl Beforever Makeover: And all the Great Books that Came Before

 I found out a couple months ago that American Girl, my favorite childhood book series that brings history to life, was getting a complete makeover, which happened August 28, #Beforever style.  I put a hashtag there, because it sounds hashtagish.

I read someone that beforever stands for become forever, and the idea is that girls are forever, no matter the era they are born.  And with this change the 6 books have become two, all illustrations and looking back sections removed.

They removed my favorite parts of American girl!  I remember checking the Samantha (1904) and Molly (1944) books out of the Westfield Elementary library.  I loved looking at the pictures and reading the history sections at the end.  American Girl books helped me find a love of reading, history, and a realization that the past is alive.

Why did American Girl change an amazing concept?  These books have become cheapened.

 So I went to Barnes & Noble, and sure enough no illustrations nor history sections, just as I read online.

 I love the original book collections.

 The beautiful covers.

 And all the beautiful pictures.  All gone.

 One fun aspect, the only good aspect in my opinion, is the "choose your style" books that each historical girl received.  The idea is you've gone back in time and experience everything that is happening, choosing your path, getting different outcomes.

 So thanks to the change I went Amazon Marketplace crazy, and bought many of the past books at good prices before prices start rising.

I got all 12 book series.  (Yes, there's been that many!  Felicity, Kristen, Molly, and Marie Grace/Cecile dolls have been archived, and they didn't receive a Beforever update.  Samantha got brought back for the Beforever release.)

And if you want to get some of the past books, search "American Girl [characters name] Story collection."  "Molly Story Collection" works too, if you want her.  You lose some of the historical sections, only getting one at the end of the bound volume, but at least you get the illustrations, and the prices are still pretty good.)

 There were short story collections for many of the original girls: I bought Kit, Kristen, Samantha, Felicity, Josefina, and Molly.  Addy is still in the mail.  There are short stories for Kaya, but I haven't purchased the book.

(Out of print, only available used)

 Each short story has beautiful illustrations and a looking back section.

Then there were three traveling like scrapbooks published, one for Samantha, Molly, and Kit.

 Each book has fun tidbits, and things you can pull out.  I've received Samantha, and can't wait for Kit and Molly.

(Out of print, only available used)

 Then there's the Welcome to [Samantha] World books, which are essentially glorified "looking back" sections with a lot of great information and pictures.  There's one for Addy and Kaya as well.  Addy is still in the mail, and I hope to one day get Kaya.

(Out of print, only available used)

 There are the American Girl mystery books.  I have several of them, and they are quite fun.  The books are novel like with no illustrations . . .

 . . . but each book has a "looking back" section!

These books are still available for purchase.

 Best friend books!  I have Emily, Ruthie, and Ivy, but I don't have Nellie or Elizabeth.  Apparently the companion books for Felicity and Samantha go OOC (out of character), so I haven't bothered quite yet, though I should consider buying them.

 And once again the best friend books have beautiful illustrations and interesting looking back sections.

American girl has announced that they will no longer be publishing or making best friend dolls.

(Out of print, only available used)

Then there are the Girl of the Year books!  Each year there is a modern girl featured, who receives a doll, books, movie, the works.  They're fun, but my heart is with the historical characters.

So I'm a little disheartened with Beforever.  It feels as if American Girl has lost their charm, which is a shame, and if they release a new historical girl under this new format, I will feel cheated not having beautiful illustrations and looking back sections.