Review of Our Generation Doll Neve

PRODUCT DETAILS

Year of Manufacture:  2013

Put Out By:   Maison Joseph Battat Ltd.

Made in China

Recommended Age:  3+

Doll Size:  18 inch (46 cm)

UPC:  062243264502

Contents:  1 doll dressed in a gray hat with pink bow, gray vest, yellow and white striped short-sleeved t-shirt, dark blue skirt with white stars (light denim like), pink panties, dark blue shoes, and hair care guide.

Doll Composition:  Vinyl head, arms, and legs.  Soft cloth body.

Hair Color:  Dark Brown

Eye Color:  Dark Blue

Skin Color:  Tanned Caucasian

Movement:  Eyes close, head turns side to side, arms go forwards and backwards, legs go up and down, knees and elbows do not bend.  Can stand on their own and sit down if propped with something or their hands behind them.

Availability:  Sold at Target for $22.99; also available on ebay and Amazon.

Websites:  OGdolls.com

I first saw the Our Generation Dolls at Target, and initially I admit I thought they were the ugliest dolls I had ever seen.  Creepy too.  I could just imagine them in a sci-fi movie where they either put their child owners under mind control, or they grew metal teeth and ate the kids eyes out when they slept.  They came with cool stuff that looked well made, and sometimes the outfits were quite nice.

My attitude towards them changed last year.  A seller on ebay who I bought my Journey Girls Meredith and Taryn from had some used Our Generation dolls--two for fifteen dollars.  Their hair was a mess, but they were quite adorable.  They looked like they had been well-loved.

When I went to Target to buy a Hearts4Hearts doll, I took another look at the Our Generation dolls--which are also in the same aisle at my Target.  They no longer looked creepy, though they looked...foreign.  They have the type of expressions that one sees on Europeans or Canadians...and I guess that shouldn't be surprising.  The company that produces them, Maison Joseph Battat Ltd. is located in Montreal, Canada...even though the dolls themselves are made in China.  What is the expression?  Pleasant but a little stiff.  The bodies are a little bit on the chunky side.  They claim these dolls can wear most 18 inch doll clothes, but I personally am skeptical.  I definitely am certain they couldn't fit the shoes of most dolls, but I admit I haven't tried exchanging clothes yet.

I still don't consider the dolls beautiful.  "Pleasant looking" is the adjective I use.  My mom often complains that McCalls patterns often use these dolls as models for doll patterns.  She doesn't think they are as attractive models as the Journey Girls could be.  Oddly enough, though, I have found that while the Journey Girls are more striking--they sometimes can't carry off certain colors and styles.  I discovered this when I dressed Kelsey in Jordana's dress...only to find that Kelsey looked fat and was too pale to look good in it.

The same day I picked up Shola and the Boba Fett alarm clock, I picked up Neve.  I had a bit of dilemma, for there were two dolls I liked.  The other doll cost seven dollars more but was prettier, had longer hair, and a beautiful outfit.  Neve, though, was friendlier looking.  Beauty vs. great personality...decisions, decisions (and I'm sure you all think I'm nuts).  It wasn't that the beautiful doll wasn't nice, but she was more aloof.  Neve looked more outgoing and fun, and in the end I chose great personality over beauty.

Our Generation dolls have eyes that can close, which is not a common feature on 18 inch dolls that are in the same price range.  They have eyelashes.  I thought the freckles sprinkled on Neve's nose were cute.  The dolls are rather blocky in build and have less movement than other dolls.

However, the company that produces them is impressive.  They go above and beyond with safety and environmental concerns.  They aren't just made in China, they are made responsibly.  They are phthalate-free and BPA-free.  I have no idea what that means, but I guess it is supposed to be a good thing.  They meet or exceed all USA safety standards.  For every doll or accessory you buy, 10 cents is donated to the Free the Children's Power of a Girl Initiative, which helps girls all over the world get the education they need.  The package is made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable.  It uses soy-based inks in printing.

Neve doesn't seem to have a biography.  There is something written on the back of the box that is supposedly her words:

There has never been a generation of girls quite like us.  We've always got something going on, whether it's a car wash to raise money for a homeless shelter, teaching the little kids on the block jump rope games, or cleaning up the schoolyard because we want to be proud of the way it looks.

At recess we play football and hopscotch.  And in the library, we try not to give each other that face that always makes us laugh (but sometimes just thinking about the face makes us crack up!).

We get nervous from time to time, sure (the first day of school makes me nervous)...but we know we have each other's backs and nothing stands in our way.  The possibilities for our future are endless, but we also know how important it s to embrace today.  This is our time.  This is our story.

---Neve

Somehow it has an old-timey feel about it.  Does anyone play jump rope games anymore?

It also tells the story of a real life girl Elizabeth.

When an earthquake struck Haiti, Elizabeth knew she just had to help the country where she was born.  Through radio interviews and posters, she put out the word that she would be holding a coin drive.  "Make a change with change for Haiti" she asked of people.

The donations began as a trickle, then poured in by lunchtime.  In one day, Elizabeth raised more than $15,000 to build a house for orphaned children.  It's amazing what a girl can do.

Well, that certainly makes you rethink on whether a penny is worthless.

I thought I would include the hair care instructions:

1.  For best results, use a wire brush.

2.  Divide hair into small sections and gently brush them one at a time.  Brush out tangles starting from bottom of hair and moving up.

3.  Mist hair lightly with water from a spray bottle if you are having a hard time detangling it.

4.  Brush ends very gently with curly-haired dolls to preserve the curls.

5.  You can finger style the hair for tight curls.  Separate hair into small sections and use your fingers, twirling as you go.

6.  Braiding hair while damp will control frizzy ends.

7.  Avoid using styling products like gel or mousse, which will damage hair.

8.  Don't use blow dryers, hot rollers, curling or straightening irons on the hair.

9.  Always keep hair from extreme heat.