SACKETS HARBOR — An American Girl will settle here in September as part of a wildly popular line of dolls.

Caroline Abbott is the 13th heroine to join American Girl’s family of historical characters growing up in important times of this country’s past.

American Girl describes Caroline as an “independent and adventurous 9-year-old girl whose story is set near Lake Ontario during the War of 1812 ... Going above and beyond to help those around her, Caroline gives of herself without expecting anything in return — becoming the kind of real everyday hero that any girl can be.”

The doll will be released on Sept. 4. She will launch with six historical books written by Kathleen Ernst of Wisconsin. The first is “Meet Caroline,” in which her father, a shipbuilder, is taken prisoner by the British.

“Our newest historical character is a brave, independent girl who teaches girls today that they can navigate life’s challenges by staying strong, making good decisions and taking actions,” Jean McKenzie, executive vice president of American Girl said in a press release.

As part of Caroline’s launch, American Girl is hosting Caroline’s Share the Hero in You video contest. From Sept. 4 through Oct. 31, girls will be invited to create and submit a video clip up to 60 seconds long about a time when they felt like an everyday hero. Six finalists will be selected. The grand-prize winner will receive a trip for four to Washington, D.C.

American Girl also has planned a free downloadable learning guide exploring themes and issues from Caroline’s stories.

More than 21 million American Girl dolls have been sold through the company’s catalog, retail stores and website since 1986. The company has donated more than $92 million in cash and products to children’s charities worldwide.

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