Her mom knocked softly. "Still playing those girl games?"

Tonight, she chose Style Boutique . She wasn't just playing a game; she was the owner of "Chic & Cozy," a tiny virtual boutique. A pixelated customer with a tear-drop icon walked in. "I have a garden party tomorrow," the customer said. "But I feel… gray."

Later, she switched cartridges. In Nintendogs , she whispered "Sit!" into the DS microphone. Her virtual Chihuahua, Pancake, obeyed. She rubbed the stylus across the touch screen to pet him. He yipped. She felt a swell of pure, silly joy.

Here’s a short story inspired by the idea of Nintendo DS games for girls. In the soft glow of her bedroom lamp, 12-year-old Sofía opened her jewel-pink Nintendo DS Lite. The hinge clicked perfectly, a sound more comforting than any lullaby. On her nightstand, a small stack of cartridges glinted: Nintendogs , Cooking Mama , Style Boutique , and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks — because even though the store clerk had tried to put a pink "For Girls" sticker on it, Sofía knew a good adventure when she saw one.