Addy was born in the spring on a North Carolina plantation. Her full first name is Aduke after her great-grandmother on her father's side a name which means "much loved" in Yoruba (a Nigerian language).

Who is Addy Walker based on?

Historical and Cultural Context

According to the Chapel Hill Herald, Addy Walker's story is based loosely on the real-life escape of adult slave Mary Walker from the Horton Grove Plantation in North Carolina. The historical Walker, like the fictional one, escaped to Philadelphia to start a new life (“Her Own Doll”).

Is Addy Walker a real person?

This girl is not real. Her name is Addy Walker; she is an American Girl doll, one of eight historical dolls produced by the Pleasant Company who arrive with dresses, accessories, and a series of books about their lives.