Who inspired McKenna's stories? Girls and moms themselves. Based on surveys with mothers and daughters about issues that mattered to them, these rose to the top: believing in yourself, respecting those who are different from you, and getting good grades. Girls also weighed in on their favorite interests, and sports ranked high.
 Using those key issues and interests as background, the American Girl Book Editorial and Product Design teams met to brainstorm storylines. They imagined a girl who aspired to be a good gymnast and student but who had trouble "balancing" those interests. By consulting with a gymnastics trainer and studio owner, the Editorial team was able to create a safe and authentic portrayal of gymnastics throughout McKenna's stories.
Identifying McKenna's sport also helped decide the setting of her stories—Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. A number of gymnastics training centers are located there, and with its majestic mountains and towering forests, the Northwest seemed the perfect place for a girl to reach high and believe in her potential.
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The "fourth-grade slump"
To address the theme of being a good student, the Editorial team researched some of the hurdles that children McKenna's age face in the classroom. They discovered something called the "Fourth-Grade Slump," which describes a fairly common drop in reading and math scores among fourth graders, even those who excelled in earlier grades.
As many as 30 percent of fourth graders struggle with reading comprehension. One explanation is that between third and fourth grade, the focus of the classroom moves from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Students who haven't mastered reading comprehension begin to struggle in all subjects where reading is required.
After consulting with a reading specialist to help portray McKenna's challenges accurately, the team chose an author with intimate knowledge of those challenges. Mary Casanova, author of the Jess® and Chrissa® Girl of the Year series, was drawn to the storyline because she, too, struggled with reading as a young girl. She had trouble comprehending what she was reading and sticking with a book long enough to finish it.
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Respecting differences
As the storyline developed, the team decided that McKenna would need a reading tutor, which led to the introduction of another important character, Josie. McKenna's tutor and new friend has physical disabilities that require her to use a wheelchair, but she is academically strong and confident. The addition of Josie helped bring to life another issue important to moms and girls: appreciating those who are different from you.
To be sure Josie's character was sensitively portrayed, the team met with three experts: an advocate for children with disabilities, a social worker who aids girls and families, and the director of a horseback riding center for children with disabilities. The horseback-riding storyline was woven into the second McKenna book as a way for Josie to explore an interest of her own—and for McKenna to support and encourage her friend just as Josie supported her.
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Taking the challenge
Besides the fiction titles in the McKenna series, girls can learn and grow in many more ways:
Throughout the development of the McKenna books and products, the American Girl teams relied on the strengths of its members and were inspired by the lessons about teamwork that run throughout McKenna's storylines. The development team hopes that readers will also be inspired to believe in their potential—and to encourage others to do the same.
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McKenna's Take the Challenge! online activity
