Would you give a 'homeless' doll a home?

One of the newest American Girl dolls is Gwen Thompson, and she's homeless. Of course, she also costs $95.

With a house full of five girls, I've somehow managed to steer clear of American Girl altogether. Just too pricey for my blood.

But since her debut several months ago, Gwen has been causing all sorts of trouble in the parenting world. She's a friend of American Girl doll Chrissa and in a book entitled "Chrissa" that accompanies the dolls, her story goes something like this.

Gwen's father walked out on her and her mother. The mother loses her home. So mom and daughter are forced to sleep in a car and then a homeless shelter. They eventually get their lives back together and move into an apartment.

Mattel says the doll offers a "valuable lesson about life," but some say it sends a sort of mixed message. It does seem kind of contradictory to charge nearly $100 for a doll that's supposed to promote compassion for homeless people, especially since the proceeds don't go directly toward helping the homeless, from what I understand.

Is the company exploiting the issue? I'll let you answer that one.

Some say the doll brings up a topic that's simply too harsh for children, while others say it paints a stereotypical picture of homelessness. Dad leaves. Mom can't keep up. Family ends up homeless.

Mattel markets the dolls for kids ages 4 and up. Too young to hear about homelessness? Nope, not in my opinion. 

Still, I turned to someone with more perspective on the topic, Debbie DeGraw, director of marketing for McHenry County PADS, the largest provider of shelter and services to the area's homeless. DeGraw raised two daughters. Her children grew up during the Cabbage Patch phenomenon so she's not too familiar with American Girl or the stories behind any of the dolls.

But she has heard of the homeless Gwen.

"I think it's great actually, that it's bringing awareness to kids who may not have any exposure to it whatsoever, and don't understand what happens out there," DeGraw said. "I don't think it's really that harsh. I think it's part of reality.