Peppered with personal anecdotes and punctuated by a critical feminist lens, Hart provides a highly accessible introduction to the field of doll studies. […] Rejecting a popular tendency to view dolls through either a feminist or celebratory lens, Hart argues that dolls can simultaneously serve as tools of socialization through which we learn dominant ideologies about gender, race, and social class and as landscapes in which children (often girls) can explore various identities.

The American Journal of Play

Some of the information is jaw dropping ... It is very readable and relatable.

Is This Mutton blog

The fascinating facts [Hart] uncovered about the women behind the industry and her observations about how dolls are emotional vectors-simultaneously objects of scorn and adoration-are revelatory and relatable.

Brevity

Maria Teresa Hart's Doll is a fascinating personal and public exploration of the deeper meanings behind the plastic, polymer, and porcelain playthings that still shape American girlhood.

Susan Shapiro, New York Times bestselling author of Unhooked, Five Men Who Broke My Heart, and Barbie: Sixty Years of Inspiration

Doll is a heartfelt, intimate, and clever study of objects that terrify some and thrill others. Maria Teresa Hart answers the question "what makes dolls so special, anyway?" while giving us new perspective on these tiny, fragile mirrors.

Allison Horrocks, co-host of the American Girls podcast

Aqua once sang of Barbie, “life in plastic, it's fantastic.” The same could also be said of the experience of reading this great contribution by Maria Teresa Hart to the Object Lessons series. Through an analysis of “doll culture” Hart demonstrates the value of thinking with things. Dolls have much to teach us about issues of gender, sexuality, and girlhood. Through an exploration of different brands and styles, Hart reveals the stories we tell with and about dolls, and what thinking about them can tell us about our world.

Mary Mahoney, co-host of the American Girls podcast