Come on, Barbie, let’s go party… at the bookstore? Mattel has announced that Barbie will be starring in her first YA (young adult) book. Set in a magical fantasy world, Barbie: Dreamscape will be written by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Alex Aster, who rose to fame with the publication of her Lightlark series.
According to Mattel’s website, Barbie: Dreamscape is “a coming-of-age story that follows Barbie, a girl whose perfectly planned future is shattered when she’s declared Fateless at her enchanted school’s graduation. To earn a Fate, she must journey across treacherous, magical lands in search of the mysterious beings who control the destinies of everyone in Heartland – and the buried truths that could change her world forever”.
At first glance, this sounds like a typical fantasy plot, one that Aster should have no issue hitting out of the park, with a signature Barbie twist. The book is said to feature themes of “defying expectations, rewriting the rules, and discovering that the greatest possibilities lie in stepping out of the box…and into the unexpected”.
Now, this isn’t the first time Barbie will be featured in any book, just a book targeting an older audience. Since her creation in 1959, over 175 books set in her world have been published, according to Mattel. Mattel’s Global Head of Publishing, Ryan Ferguson, stated Barbie: Dreamscape “ offers fans another way to connect with Barbie through an epic fantasy that explores destiny and self-discovery, while marking a meaningful addition to our publishing slate.”
With one of the most popular romantasy authors writing the story, I am sure fans are eager to get their hands on the book, both children and adults alike. However, Mattel is a toy company, and its main goal will always be to sell as many Barbie-branded products as possible. I wonder what this shift in the intended audience will mean for potential sales? Is Mattel trying to get teens and even adults interested in its brand again by promoting this book as “for young adults” and having an extremely popular, BookTok-famous author write it?
I am also curious if the book will address any of the “not so rosy” areas of Barbie’s history and the impact of the doll on girls’ body image issues that were present in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film.
At this point, Mattel has not announced any plans to turn Barbie: Dreamscape into a movie, but if the book is popular with readers, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the story on the big screen.
Barbie: Dreamscape is set to release on July 28, 2026, so keep your eyes peeled for that signature Barbie pink when shopping at your local bookstore.
