‘Let’s Call Her Barbie’ Review: A Page-Turning Tale of Perseverance

In her new novel “Let’s Call Her Barbie,” USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen provides an intriguing, fast-paced look at the trials and tribulations of the Mattel team during the creation of Barbie, shedding light on just how revolutionary Ruth Handler was within a male-dominated industry and the extraordinary payoffs of her determination.

Taking place in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the historical fiction novel follows Ruth Handler — one of the co-founders of toy manufacturing and entertainment company Mattel — during a time of strictly defined gender norms. Despite the inhibiting nature of those norms for most women, Rosen tastefully details the struggles Ruth underwent as a Mattel founder while also highlighting her strengths. From the outset, she is portrayed as a no-nonsense businesswoman. Ruth’s witty remarks, commanding presence, and push for greatness in the toy industry makes each part of her journey entertaining to read. When Ruth’s doll pitch fails to impress the rest of her team at Mattel, she provides all possible reasons as to why the team should undertake the project, making sure that her vision for the doll was understood. Outside of her professional prowess, however, Ruth struggles with making time for her family because of her responsibilities at work. In highlighting this difficulty, Rosen provides ground for readers to empathize and understand Ruth beyond the cold exterior that she so often presents at work.

Generally, Rosen’s writing hits upon the larger theme of Barbie’s introduction into a world where societal norms dictate the lives of women and girls. Ruth’s desire to provide little girls with a doll that better reflects the wide range of possibilities for their lives beyond just being mothers uniquely juxtaposes Ruth’s internal struggle with being present at home and being a shoulder to lean on, for both her husband and her kids. Rosen details the impact of the doll on not just little girls but also on Ruth, allowing the readers to gauge just how much she herself learns during the process of creating Barbie.

The novel does not solely focus on Ruth, however. By alternating between the stories of secondary yet key figures within Mattel and Barbie’s development such as Elliot Handler and designers Jack Ryan, Charlotte Johson, and the fictional Stevie, Rosen offers distinctly refreshing points of view that add to the overall journey. While Ruth is credited with the vision and creation of the doll, insight into the minds of the people on Mattel’s creative team provides readers with an opportunity to further connect with the storyline.

Equally fascinating is seeing how each of these characters bring something special to the creative team for Barbie; each person was vital to the doll’s success. For Elliot, Barbie’s success seemed like a figment of Ruth’s imagination, yet he supported Ruth and offered helpful, grounding advice when difficulties became overwhelming. With Jack, his previous expertise as an engineer brings a technical skill to the creative team, and his banter with other Mattel employees makes for memorable dialogue. With short but humorous lines, the way the team ultimately becomes a family is expressed in a memorable way throughout the novel.

Throughout the novel, Rosen’s prose is highly engaging. When the Mattel team shows up to the toy fair in New York City, the lack of investors is distressing, and hope is momentarily lost. Despite knowing that Barbie becomes widely successful, Rosen’s writing leads one to feel everything that the team itself felt, particularly Ruth’s sentiment afterward. With her last resort being the television advertisement for Barbie, the final chapter detailing its success and Barbie’s skyrocketing sales is entirely compelling. While the final parts shed more light on the heavier themes of Ruth’s life, such as arguments between her and Elliot, certain departures from Mattel, and financial trouble, Rosen carefully articulates the entirety of the story by making sure to preserve the facts. Although Rosen takes some creative liberties, the novel remains truthful and sprinkled with just enough drama to keep readers enthralled.

Ultimately, “Let’s Call Her Barbie” is a tale of the importance of following one’s gut and going after what seems impossible. Barbie became the phenomenon it is because of Ruth’s vision for the doll and its implications for society. With a dedicated team and around-the-clock efforts, the doll was successful, yet Rosen does not shy away from the difficulties experienced by each person involved in its creation. “Let’s Call Her Barbie” is not only a testament to the power of hard work, but also a testament to how we can empower women to be authentically themselves. Barbie is a symbol of determination, creativity, and resilience, and Rosen fruitfully provides readers with a backstory that lingers in one’s mind long after the final page is turned.

—Staff writer Emily G. Fallas-Chacon can be reached at emily.fallas-chacon@thecrimson.com.