American Girl: Kit Books

When her father's business closes because of the Great Depression forcing Kit to make changes in her life, the nine-year-old responds with resourcefulness.

In 1932, Kit faces a very different Christmas because of her family's financial problems and allows her pride to estrange her from her best friend.

In 1934 Kit finds that she has hard lessons to learn about the Depression both at home, where she is helping her mother run a boarding house while her father looks for a new job, and at school, where a fight spoils the preparations for the Thanksgiving pageant. Simultaneous.

As her tenth birthday approaches, Kit knows that there won't be a party since her father doesn't have a job and money is tight, but when her Aunt Millie comes to visit, her thriftiness and good ideas make for an excellent birthday celebration! Simultaneous.

In 1934, during the Depression, Kit's cantankerous uncle comes to live in the Cincinnati boardinghouse run by her parents, enlisting her aid in transcribing his complaining letters to the editor of the local newspaper and inspiring her to write a different kind of letter of her own.In 1934, during the Depression, Kit's cantankerous uncle enlists her aid in transcribing his complaining letters to the editor of the local newspaper, inspiring her to write a different kind of letter of her own.

Tired of doing chores and longing for adventure during the Great Depression, Kit meets a hobo and decides to hop a freight train.

Kit Kittredge is back, in a mystery that takes place in the Cincinnati Zoo! Kit lands a summer job writing a children’s column for her local newspaper and looks for story ideas at the Cincinnati Zoo, where her friend Stirling works as a guide and her old friend Will, the hobo, has a job cleaning cages. As Kit noses around, she stumbles into some strange activities in the monkey house. Meanwhile, Kit begins to notice small things missing at home too. It’s not long before Will looks like the logical suspect in both places. Can Kit clear her friend-and get a good story in the bargain? Fireworks fly as Kit’s mystery is solved at the zoo’s grand Fourth of July spectacular. Includes a full-color Looking Back historical essay.

Kit is visiting Aunt Millie in Mountain Hollow, Kentucky, in 1934. When a professor arrives to study Kentucky mountain traditions, Kit is thrilled to help with her research-until it becomes clear that somebody doesn't want outsiders nosing around. Kit decides to find out who's making trouble, even if it means venturing into Lonesome Hollow in the dark of night. You will love solving the mystery right along with Kit. An illustrated Looking Back section gives you information about the time period in which Kit's stories are set.

Ruthie Smithens, a girl who believes in fairy tales and happy endings, would do almost anything to help her best friend, Kit Kittredge, whose family has been hard hit by the Depression. But Ruthie has learned the hard way that offers of help, even between friends, are tricky. When Ruthie finds out some bad news about the Kittredges' house while at her father's bank, she has to find a way to help the Kittredges reach Kit's Aunt Millie, so that there can be at least the chance of a happy ending!

Kit Kittredge spends a week of her summer vacation volunteering at the local theater--she wants to write a newspaper article about a play that's opening soon. It even stars famous actors from New York City! But behind the scenes, Kit and her friend Stirling discover more drama than they bargained for. Set in Cincinnati in 1935.

To help her family make ends meet, Kit takes a job helping an elderly lady at a rundown mansion called Rivermead Manor. When she discovers a hidden room in the old house, she is sure its secrets will make a great newspaper article. But then Jessamine, Kit’s long-lost friend, appears and seems to be in trouble, yet she won’t confide in Kit. Determined to help, Kit follows clues, but will both of these mysteries lead to a story that’s bigger than she could have imagined, or will they stay hidden at Rivermead Manor?

What if you suddenly found yourself in Kit’s world during the Great Depression? How would your life be changed, and what ways might you help your family and others who are less fortunate? Join Kit on exciting adventures where the two of you can find ways to help the needy, have a hobo adventure, and maybe even hop a train! Your journey back in time can take whatever twists and turns you choose, as you select from a variety of exciting options in this multiple-ending story.

Kit can hardly believe her luck when she wins tickets to a sold-out jazz concert, and a chance to write a news story about it! But when sinister pranks threaten to cancel the show, Kit's research turns into an investigation. Then a valuable trumpet goes missing, and Kit herself is accused of theft. Can Kit prove her innocence and put a stop to the mayhem before the real thief sends the band packing? Includes an Inside Kit's World essay about the popularity of jazz and swing music during the Depression.