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One wouldn't think a burly, pony-tailed older man would have an interest in a movie dealing with young girls coming of age. One surely wouldn't think that man would have any interest in speaking to a child actor who is debuting in that movie. No, one wouldn't think that unless one were the parent of a young girl growing up with the American Girl doll series. Then, pony-tailed man or not, one would understand the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and help this series provides young girls. That was the case for me as I recently had the opportunity to speak with Brieanne Jansen, one of the girls featured in the new movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.

As I was driving down I-70 toward Colorado from Kansas, I had a phone conversation with Brieanne regarding her landing of the role in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. I was amazed and impressed with this young gir'ls story, a story that not only had her experiencing the excitement of being in a movie for the first time, but had her also taking a step of faith in life. You see, Brieanne experienced an abduction-hostage situation when she was four years old. One might say that the Brieanne taking on acting was an extension of the healing process from that horrendous experience.

I asked Brieanne about dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a child. She was very open in her reply: "It was really my friends who were there to help me out. You wouldn't think that kids could help each other out, but between my friends and parents, the hugs and love from them were very important. Their part in my healing process was critical."

When confronted with the willingness to put her life on display before others, I thought she must have had some experience with being in front of people; after all, acting and being on the big screen for the first time had to be daunting. "I had done a few things at church," Brieanne replied, "but never really anything big, and not that much."

"How did it feel seeing yourself on the big screen for the first time?" I asked. Brieanne was just like a young lady when answering the question. "It was kind of interesting seeing myself up there on the big screen. It was nothing like I expected. I realized after seeing myself that I had gained weight and grown since we had filmed the movie. It was just different seeing myself that much smaller."

While Brieanne may have had an "interesting" experience seeing herself on the big screen, it is likely we as viewers will see something special about this movie. While set during the Depression era, it shows us themes that resemble the news stories we see today—difficult employment opportunities for parents, the threat of losing homes to foreclosure, the need in some instances for children to grow up all too soon and take on responsibility to help keep the family together.

We also see the importance of family, and while today's "traditional" family may not resemble the family situation we see in the movie, that doesn't mean it shouldn't. One can't help but notice the importance of the family roles that includes not only parents, but even extended family and friends.

In that context, the story is also "about young girls coming of age," says Brieanne. "I really hope there are more movies like this in the future, especially movies that will show young girls coming of age, and the importance of being themselves."

This young actress, who has had to come of age through her own personal experiences, understands the importance of being a little girl. I realized this when she told me about the things she enjoys doing in her spare time. "Oh, I enjoy doing and going to the theater, being in and seeing plays at church, spending time with friends, singing, and I really like to spend time with my dog and cat." I was assured that Brieanne had begun to balance life out as a little girl. There were the important things, but there was also the importance of those special moments of playing with a pet.

It was here I was reminded of my own daughter, in a way—a deep thinking young lady when she was a child, but nonetheless, still a child&ellips; and it got this one old, burly, pony-tailed man realizing that this movie may be worth seeing after all. It challenges young ladies to be just that, young ladies. I always wanted my own daughter to experience life to the fullest, despite my own issues of having PTSD while growing up and knowing that my own daughter had to live through much of the rehabilitative process in my own life. Brieanne was convincing me that there are others out there doing this, even at a much younger age.

I was also impressed with Brieanne's work for charitable organizations. It seems as if this young lady has a faith that is real and important to her. It is not only evidenced by her willingness to speak openly about her relationship with Jesus Christ, but also by her willingness to raise money for various causes—or as is currently the case, raising food for the homeless. It seems as if my own pre judgment about the dedication and seriousness of faith related to an 11- or 12-year-old girl was quickly squelched when seeing or hearing the things she is saying and doing.

"I really want to do more movies in the future," she says, "but I would love to do movies like some of those done by Michael Landon, Jr. in the Jeanette Oke Series. I want to find an agent that understands that there are roles for Christians out there. Roles that Christians can do—and those are the types of movies I want to be in."

I don't know what the future holds for Brieanne. I do know that she has a great start and is in a valuable movie for young girls. Movies like Kit Kittredge: An American Girl are reminders to all of us of the potential of children, of the importance of the maturity that develops in children—and not merely in physical ways, but in a way that shows the beauty of God's creation and the intelligence given women.

I kind of knew that before speaking to Brieanne—though I had forgotten about my own daughter Marathana's love and appreciation of the American Girl series. It was she who reminded me initially of the importance of these books and these stories. Though we were never able to afford the dolls while she was growing up, she did get the books, and the words of those books permeated into her life. Now 26, she was encouraged not just by her parents but by the books to come of age, to become a fine young woman. Brieanne is now contributing in that way as well.

I have to admit, I still buy my daughter a doll every Christmas. I think that is likely more for me than it is for my daughter. She realizes that, though, and accepts and allows me this joy of being reminded that I have a beautiful daughter who has turned into a beautiful young woman. Even though she is married now, living away from the home, I still know she is my little girl.

After speaking to Brieanne, and after remembering the importance of this series in the growth of my own daughter, I think I may have an idea of the doll I will buy for Marathana this year. Hmm&ellips; I wonder which one that may just be?