Did you have an American Girl Doll growing up, or wish you had had one? Author Angela Cervantes did. As a child, she dreamed of owning Josefina Montoya or Samantha Parkington. Years later, that childhood love has come full circle: Angela is now the author behind the books for the American Girl Doll of the Year 2026, Raquel Reyes.
Raquel takes on Kansas City!
Angela was approached by American Girl in 2024 to write the 2026 Girl of the Year, marking the second time the company sought her out to bring one of their dolls to life. At the time, she already had a few books published with Scholastic and had written two junior novelizations with Disney, including Coco. “I didn’t realize that other publishers could seek you out and ask you to do projects for them,” Angela said. “So, it was a nice blessing.”
For Angela, the opportunity was deeply personal. Having spent most of her adult life in Kansas City, she has long drawn inspiration from its Mexican American culture and tight-knit community. When American Girl approached her, they gave her just two requirements: the doll had to reflect Mexican American heritage and be a descendant of a former American Girl doll. Everything else was up to her. That freedom allowed Angela to create Raquel Reyes, the first American Girl doll to be a descendant of another doll, Samantha Parkington, one of the brand’s original three. Raquel is Samantha’s great-great-granddaughter, and the two share subtle connections, including a love for gingham.
Although American Girl initially suggested San Antonio as Raquel’s hometown, Angela chose Kansas City. As she was developing Raquel’s story in February 2024, Our Town’s Mexican American community was experiencing profound loss. Lisa Galvan, a beloved DJ whom Angela knew growing up, was killed at the Super Bowl rally downtown. Just days later, Clara Reyes, founder of Kansas City’s bilingual newspaper, Dos Mundos, passed away after a battle with breast cancer. “Those two things were really hard on our community. I could feel it. I could see it,” Angela said. “Everyone was talking about it, and I just felt like this was my chance to give Kansas City’s Mexican American community something to celebrate. I felt like this was my chance to make a tribute.”
That tribute is woven throughout Raquel’s character. Raquel’s last name, Reyes, honors Clara Reyes, while her passion for DJing pays homage to Lisa Galvan. Angela said music and dancing are central to Mexican American family gatherings, where there’s always a designated DJ, and for Raquel, that’s her role. She hopes children will connect with Raquel through music and even feel inspired to learn how to DJ themselves.
Raquel’s family also owns a paleta shop, a Mexican-style ice cream store inspired by Palacana on Kansas City’s west side. The detail is both cultural and nostalgic, echoing Samantha’s own visits to an ice cream parlor with her grandmother. Angela hopes young readers will bond with Raquel over those small but meaningful moments, and maybe even take their dolls along on trips to local paleta shops. Raquel’s favorite parts of the city include the Crossroads, River Market, and the West Bottoms. You might even catch Raquel walking her small dog, Luzita, in one of those areas or possibly at the Liberty Memorial.
Raquel’s love for animals is another side to her character. She enjoys rescuing animals, including a dolphin during a trip to the East Coast for a family reunion. Being from Kansas City and unfamiliar with dolphin rescue, American Girl paired Angela with Dr. Sarah Sharp, a marine veterinarian who leads a dolphin rescue and rehabilitation program. Dr. Diana León-Boys, an expert in Latina girls media studies, was also brought in to help shape the story thoughtfully and authentically. Angela hopes kids will look into volunteering or rescuing after reading Raquel’s story.
“I also try to write the kind of books I wanted to read when I was a kid,” Angela said. “I keep that principle with all my novels, and it’s never led me astray.” That philosophy traces back to Angela’s childhood. She remembers writing at nine years old after teachers encouraged her to tell the stories she wanted to read. Her love of storytelling eventually led her into journalism, where she became the first Latina editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper. After earning scholarships, she attended The University of Kansas, initially pursuing journalism before discovering her true passion for creative writing, a decision she says she has never regretted.
For Angela, that journey made it possible for Raquel to exist: a character rooted in culture, community, and ancestry, offering young readers the chance to see themselves reflected in an American Girl story. “I think it’s a great move on American Girl’s part to modernize their dolls, diversify them, and to bring them into contemporary moments while honoring their connection to the past,” Angela said. “I think that’s just beautiful, and I’m grateful and honored to be part of that and to celebrate Mexican American heritage.”
Angela said she still has to pinch herself at the opportunity to tell Raquel’s story, and to connect her back to Samantha, the doll she once dreamed of owning.
Featured in the January 24, 2026 issue of The Independent
By: Olivia Mahl
