It’s that time of year again! The time of year where American Girl doll fans of all ages start to wonder… they want to know… they just can’t wait… for the American Girl of the Year for the coming year. In this case it means we are all wanting to know just who the American Girl of the Year 2012 will be. I think we have been given some pretty good clues. I will be continuing to update this post as we get more information about the new doll, her story and sneak peeks.
HERE IS AN UPDATE (as of December 26):
Check: More Pictures of McKenna for a photo of her Loft Bed set
Here is another picture of the McKenna doll
Here is the long awaited photo of the AGOTY2012 doll McKenna Brooks from the Time Out Kids NY publication:
** Please remember that if you post this image or any image on this site (or any site for that matter) on another site you should ask permission and at a minimum be sure to always link back to your source.
And an ad for her books (sent in by Samantha):
HERE IS AN UPDATE (as of December 19):
It has been confirmed that the American Girl of the Year 2012 will be named McKenna Brooks. Supposedly the press have received their packets, but are under embargo (which means they agree to not say a word!) until December 26. Here’s hoping something surfaces before then, though. And I just found out that someone on the AGPlaythings message board has posted pictures of the GOTY 2012 book covers so it is just a matter of time before they show up elsewhere.
Here is a picture of McKenna the GOTY 2012:
Please note: I do not know the original source of this image. It was emailed to me, I have seen it on YouTube, have seen it posted on other blogs, and heard it was originally post on the AGPlaythings message board which I no longer have an account for.
There is also talk of McKenna having a new face mold – she is the first doll to have a “heart shaped” face – oh, the anticipation!
American Girl of the Year 2012 Books
We now have the official Library of Congress summaries. Looks like gymnastics, horses, disabilities awareness and teamwork are top themes in this series.
- McKenna – Girl of the Year 2012 Book 1 (American Girl Today)
by Mary Casanova – Seattle fourth-grader McKenna Brooks, who lives for gymnastics, struggles with school work until Josie, a tutor confined to a wheelchair, helps her with reading comprehension and much more. (Library of Congress summary)
- McKenna, Ready to Fly – Girl of the Year 2012 Book 2 (American Girl Today)
by Mary Casanova – When Seattle fourth-grader McKenna Brooks’ cast comes off she dives back into gymnastics training in hopes of making the competitive team, but after volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding center, she considers broadening her interests. (Library of Congress summary)
- Activity Book: Take the Challenge – Challenge yourself and others to these furiously fast and fabulously fun games! Includes timed challenges, art challenges, puzzle challenges, kindness challenges, family challenges, holiday challenges, and more! Fun facts, write-in logs, reward certificates, and other cool tools, will help you improve your skills, monitor your scores, and motivate yourself in work and play. So, go! (Description from Amazon)
On the American Girl in-store events page, quite a few events for the debut of the GOTY 2012 have been added. For example:
Girl of the Year 2012 Debut
Your girl will flip for our newest Girl of the Year! At this special event, she can be among the first to learn about this new character’s world. Join us for demonstrations, crafts, free giveaways, and more. Free and open to the public. For girls ages 8 and up.
Girl of the Year 2012 Celebration
She’ll do cartwheels for our Girl of the Year 2012! At this special event, your girl can be one of the first to learn about the newest contemporary character. Includes a delicious meal, fun activities, and an American Girl book to take home. Reservations required. For girls ages 8 and up.
A Movie in the Works
While there has been a lot of discussion as to whether the American Girl movie that is currently in production is the direct to DVD movie that will accompany the American Girl of the Year 2012 release or is the long rumored Julie, An American Girl Musical theatrical release, based on a photo posted on Twipic by Nia Vardalos which shows Nia, Olympic Gymnast Cathy Rigby and author Mary Casanova, I think it is safe to say that the movie is for the GOTY 2012 and not Julie.
The movie, which is currently untitled is being filmed in Winnepeg, Canada. According to IMDB the current cast includes:
- Jade Pettyjohn – McKenna Brooks
- Ysa Penarejo – I think she is the character Tammy
- Nia Vardalos- as McKenna’s Mother
- Ian Ziering- as McKenna’s Father
- Kerris Dorsey – Josie
- Will Woytowich
- Kadence Kendall Roach
- Paiten Raine Roach
The movie synopsis is:
AMERICAN GIRL Velma is a wonderfully spirited, strong-willed young gymnast with Olympic aspirations, whose whole world comes crashing down when she is unexpectedly sidelined by an injury. Unfocused, with her grades slipping; she meets a tutor “Jane” and learns a few choice life lessons about what really matters.
And possibly more about the main characters from National Feature Film Casting:
- McKenna - 9-12 years old. McKenna is a wonderfully spirited, strong willed, hard charging little girl whose whole world comes crashing down when she is unexpectedly sidelined. She meets Josie and learns a few choice life lessons about what really matters.
- Josie- 12-15 years old, She is smart, funny, and instantly likeable. None of her spunk or spirit is hampered by the fact that she is confined to a wheelchair. She is hired to help McKenna and though they get off to a rocky start, they soon become inseparable. Josie gently guides McKenna through the minefield that pre adolescence can bring.
- Toulane (not confirmed)- 9-12 years old. She is McKenna’s BFF and used to being #1 in all she does. When Toulane finds out McKenna lied to her about Josie, she is both hurt and confused. But the girls soon patch it up and figure out that more than just two girls can be BFF’s.
Questions
- Big question – will AG release three dolls again like they did with Chrissa??
- Why a gymnast? In my opinion, American Girl chose to have the GOTY 2012 as a gymnast because 2012 is an Olympic year and we all know that gymnastics is the darling of the summer games.
Sources:
- Photo of Jade Pettyjohn and her on screen Dad, Ian Zehring
- Various photos posted by Nia Vardalos on Twitpic
- Winnepeg Free Press
- National Feature Film Casting
- Library of Congress
I will be updating this post as we get more information. If you have anything to add to the GOTY 2012 scoop, please email me at share@dolldiaries.com and be sure to cite your source – where you found the information or another way I can verify it.
Kisten- if you are referring to Sonali, she was not African American she was Indian.
A- 100% agree, they shoul dhave more character dolls that are African American, However the new Historical figure Cecile is ABSOLUTLY GEORGEOUS, my oldest daughter is adding her to our collection when we go to the store this weekend.
Amelia- we have 17 dolls & will be getting 3 more this weekend, & from experience if you try to buy a retired doll youare going to pay a small fortune, I am looking for Kirsten Larson& she runs between 3 & 5 hundred dollars. The girl of the year dolls are always regular price, they do not go on sale, the best you may get is possible free shipping…….sometimes. My girls (including my 13 year old) LOVE the AG dolls & can’t wait to get new ones each year.
We have pics of our 1st 16, I haven’t done a new group pic since we got Emily, so after we go this weekend & get our new dolls I’ll take a new group pic & send it in!
I am very excited for the new doll to debut, but I do nto want the current GOTY, Kanani, to expire. I have at least 5 friends who already are planning on buying McKenna. I have heard about a new historical doll that I am not sure about. I can’t remember her name, but she is supposedly for 9/11. I hope that this is true, because it would be a great tribute to all of those who were involved in 9/11. Again, this could just be a rumor. Thanks for the information Doll Diaries!
I really love american girl dolls and i can not wait to get this doll i am a dancer and i also like to do cheer and gimnasticts i want to know how much McKenna’s bed is because i will be bying this mysylfe because i cant wait till my birthday to get it so i want to know at soon as possable
As soon as McKennah hits stores I am buying her
Already got her even before she came out. Went on the 25th Birthday Cruise.
Paige – we’d love to see photos if you want to share them.
shes soooooooooooooooooo pretty i hope i get her
Thanks for posting a picture of mc Kenna the American girl doll
I think she is beautiful but im not sure if i want her. I just read a comment about a 9/11 girl and if that was true i would probably buy her in a heart beat but i kinda doubt it because that only happened about 11 years ago and all the others are at least a few mor decades older. But maybe when my birthday comes mthen ill have christmas and b day mony and i can buy her then
Marie – the comment about the 9/11 doll is total rumor and I have not seen anything to even come close to confirming that. We are pretty sure another historical doll is being released in 2012, but no idea on her story line or time period yet.
I want her SO much!!!!!!!!!
I think Im gonna save up all year to buy her!!
I LOVE HER DRESS <3, it reminds me of lanies dress……
The actress playing Josie is the daughter from Moneyball!
McKenna’s lips remind me of Elizabeth’s. The way they are shaped and everything. I can’t wait for McKenna! My dad owes me Kanani, but if he doesn’t get me her, I told him he has to get me McKenna. I have a jar of money I’ve had since the beginning January of this year and I intend on saving for McKenna! Wish me luck! I can’t wait until 2012!
I figured out on a website that recived press packets that McKenna will cost 105$ prior to 100$! Good thind it’s only 5$!!!
That probably means that all the other dolls will be 105$ too. boo hoo
anyone that’s wondering, McKenna’s bed is $200. her bars and beam set is $85. She has the cutest school outfit and fancy outfit!!! I’ll try to email Char the pictures!!!!
-Alicia
I do gymnastics and I squeled with exatmant when i hered about she rocks
I can’t wait untill my friend sees this!!!
I am soooooo excited!!@!!@!!! She looks just like me and i am a gymnast! We are like twins. Why cant jan 1 be tommorow
I can not wait untill my friend sees this
haley don’t you love gymnastics I am in level three
love meckenna
I am sooooo gonna try and get her I have 75$ so i need 30$ and whatever the shipping costs!!!
McKenna’s dress is exactly Lanie’s dress. I wish american girl could come up with a fantastic idea!!!!
Morgan i don’t think its much like lanie’s at all. lanie’s is polo like. and mckennas has leggings
Going on the American Girl website at 12 o’ clock tonight
i can not wait to go on ag at midnight and tell my brothers that i knew waht she looks like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am waiting staying up till 12: 00 tonight to see her launch i was going to get her tommarow but i went to ag place yesterday and got julie insted but i sort of regret it now but mabey i will buy her soon i allso have both books and read the first one !!!!! i hope that her bed will be cheep and her stuff will be to hopefuly becuse i just got kanani last month i am siked sence i have wanted to be a gymnast forever and just started the day i heard about mckenna
haha ha
I luv mckenna, but i recently got kanani and i really dont know if i should get her. I already have 5 dolls, but she is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO adorable:) I really dont know what to do. Please Help Me…..
-Elliana
5 minetss till midnight i cant wait
People. U know that she is not going to be on the website until 5:00 am Eastern time. Right?
Oh and her bed is $255 she is $105 bucks her starter collection is $185 and her uneven bars and balance beam are $85 she has totes cute outfits two!!!
McKenna is on the website now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right after 12 am I turned on my computer and went to the americangirl website. And I saw MecKenna!!!!! I was very exited!!!! I hope I can buy her entire world collection! I already started saving up for it! I already recomend her since I saw her online! I can’t wait to get her! She isso pretty!
I alredy have my money saved. up I am,totally going to buy her. when I found out she likes gymnasts I was so happy. she is so pretty. I love her bed but it is to much money. I can’t aford it…
I have always loved american girl, but they never seem to make any girl of the years that aren’t Caucasian. I’m not complaining, but i think that they should switch it up every now and then.
I love her so much that on my birthday I’m going to get her, Thats in 18 more days I’m so so HAPPY!!!!
You know, I wonder if the movie will be for Julie after all, because i went to the official American Girl website and there is nothing on there announcing a Girl of the Year movie. Last time there was a movie for a Girl of the Year doll it was for Chrissa and it said “available January 6th 2009″ So, this is getting really strange…
I don’t really know about American girls but they are pretty cool! While they were filming the movie where I live (Winnipeg) my gymnastics club was chosen to be in the movie! It was so exciting but we were basically just extras. During the scene where Mckenna was walking into the gym, my friends and I have to do a routine for them to watch
Hi.
This is Sophia. I love gymnastics and I’m in a really high level after a lot of hard work at Team OC. I’m so excited for the McKenna Brooks to be here – I can tell we share a lot in common!
Can’t wait for all the news to come. I love American Girl dolls!
I Love AG Dolls
Ysa plays Toullane, i think.
MCKENNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.portraitmagazine.net/interviews/kerrisdorsey.html
Interesting interview with Kerris Dorsey – before Moneyball was released from her answers.