Review of My Life School Boy Dolls

PRODUCT DETAILS

Recommended Age:  5+

UPC for African American School Boy:  042607187128

UPC for Brunette School Boy:  042607183991

Production Date:  2016

Produced by:  Walmart Stores, Inc.

Made in China

Websites:  www.walmart.com;  Mylifeasdolls.com

Doll Height: 18 Inches

Skin Color for African American:  Black

Skin Color for Brunette:  Caucasian

Eye Color (both dolls):  Brown, non-blinking, no eyelashes

Hair Color for African American:  Black

Hair Color for Brunette:  Brown

Box Contents for African American School Boy:  1 Doll with an afro; gray headband; gray t-shirt with fatigue sleeves and ringed planet design on front and Velcro back closure; pull-on jeans with loops; cloth black sneakers with white plastic soles and white elastic shoe laces.

Box Contents for Brunette School Boy:  1 Doll with a gray beanie cap; gray t-shirt with fatigue sleeves and ringed planet design on front and Velcro back closure; pull-on jeans with loops; cloth black sneakers with white plastic soles and white elastic shoe laces.

Movement:  (Clothes interfere) Head moves side to side but can't nod or even go all the way around like an Exorcist; arms go back and forth but not to the sides; cannot bend at elbows or wrists; torso does not twist; legs go back and forth but can't move sideways; doesn't bend at knees or ankles; doll can stand on its own; it can sit down if propped by hands behind them or something else--though clothing makes it difficult.

Additional information:  You can't wet the hair or use heat on it.   Dolls have additional accessories and outfits that are sold separately.

Availability:  Sold out at Walmart.  Available on ebay and amazon starting at $32 for the African American and $45 for the Brunette.  Original price seemed to be around $27.

Composition:  Vinyl

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After reviewing American Girl's first 18 Inch boy doll Logan Everett, I decided to see if other brands had came out with boy dolls.  When I first ordered Logan, it seemed that American Girl was the only company to have produced a boy doll--but right on their heels it seems other companies started putting out boy dolls too...significantly cheaper in most cases.  I was so excited by this emergence, that I wound up being very naughty this month and buying several boy dolls--even breaking into my savings, which I had vowed never to do.  Oh, well.

Of the doll brands out there, at least initially, the My Life School boy dolls were one of the cheapest, being around $27.  However, they have since sold out at Walmart--and while you can still get them on ebay and Amazon, the price has jumped up.  My mom got me the African American doll at Walmart when it was on sale for $15, but I had to buy the Brunette school boy off Amazon for $45.  They are, for the moment at least, still cheaper than Logan.

I read one review that claimed the boys were not as good of quality as the female My Life dolls.  Unfortunately, the boys are my first introduction to My Life dolls--and so I cannot comment on this.  Overall, I find them to be pretty decent quality.  I like their hair better than the American Girl doll, for it is silkier to the touch.

The boys are dressed identically except for the headwear.  The African American doll sports a headband, and the Brunette doll has a beanie cap.  The eyes don't close, and they don't have eye lashes.  The eyebrows on the African American doll appear to be bluish in color, though I suppose they are supposed to be black.  Though they are supposed to be two different nationalities, there are enough similarities that you could have them be brothers.  There is a subtle difference in the noses and lips...and possibly the cheekbones, though I'm not sure about that.

One thing that is different about the My Life School Boys compared to other 18 Inch dolls is that they have a full vinyl body, whereas most dolls have a cloth torso.  Though it limits their movement more, it has some advantages.  They won't absorb odor.  They will be easier to clean, so a child can enjoy rough play outside.  Though both can stand on their own, I do find that the African American doll has a little more difficulty--I think the afro makes him a bit top heavy.  The African American doll was wrapped in more plastic on the body, making me wonder if they thought he would have more rub off.

One thing I appreciate is that My Life makes it easy to remove the dolls from the box.  They don't make it the ordeal that Disney is famous for.

I have to admit that these dolls are some of my favorites.  What they lack in quality they more than make up for in personality.  Some dolls seem to take time to develop a personality, but these two came with an abundance of it.  I swear I've seen them grinning at me a couple of times while I do videos.  They seem to enjoy the scenarios I come up with.  They particularly like hearing about how all the women are chasing them (with at least nine My Life girl dolls to two boy dolls, they have their selection).

Look at my cute little butt!