When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.
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| January 2025; Berkley; 978-0593953631 audio, ebook, print (432 pages); biographical fiction |
I've never been a big Barbie doll fan. I had Barbies growing up, but they mostly belonged to my older sister. So why did I read this book? Partly because everyone was buzzing about Barbie after the movie came out (I still haven't watched the movie) and I love history.
After reading just a few pages, I didn't want to put this book down. It was so good.
There is a lot of focus on Barbie but that is what really put Mattel on the map of toy makers. And it was fascinating learning all the behind-the-scenes stuff about getting Barbie to market. But there was also a lot of focus on the people involved. Ruth and Elliot Handler who owned Mattel and their children Barbara and Ken as well as the head engineer Jack Ryan, head clothing designer Charlotte Johnson and her assistant Stevie Klein. Ruth, Jack, and Stevie are featured heavily in the book and are interesting people.
The book also highlights the path Mattel took from a small business to a Fortune 500 company. I felt a little sad at the end when it had become such a huge company and the close-knit family organization where employees went to the beach together after work and everyone knew everyone's name (and business) disappeared. I also felt sad for Jack - his story is quite heartbreaking.
If you watched Mad Men, you won't be surprised by some of the workplace culture that is detailed. It was the 1950s and 1960s after all.
While this is biographical fiction, it is a great read for Women's History Month. Ruth was ahead of her time. I could really relate to her and her need to be of use. Stevie is also a great woman to feature this month. She never stopped striving for her dream but also learned that her dream may look a little different than she first imagined. I wish there had been a little more about Charlotte. At one point she seemed to disappear from the story.
If you haven't picked up this book yet, you would make a great beach read.
Buy Let's Call Her Barbie at Amazon
Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.
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