Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. Barnes and Noble Books, 2004. 327 pages. $4.95. ISBN 076075084X

Readers Annotation: The March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy face many challenges but learn to overcome them during the American Civil War.

Plot Summary: In this Civil War classic, the March sisters learn to make the most of what they are given. After their father loses his fortune they are forced to make do with what they have, but Meg, Jo and Amy dearly miss the fortune they once had. Beth seems to be the only one who is content with living at home and playing her music. Meg finds love in the modest tutor of their neighbor Laurie, while Amy seeks love in the rich friends of Laurie. Jo wants fame as a writer but it isn’t until she meets Professor Bhaer and after the death of her beloved Beth that she begins to write from her heart. It isn’t until later that the sisters find what truly makes them happy.

Critical Evaluation: Although published in the 1860s, Little Women is still widely read among modern women and girls. It has been made into several movies, and has many spin-off novels and non-fiction based on it. The struggles of the March sisters can be felt in almost any family, if only their sisterly love and quarrels. In the twenty-first century, especially in light of recent misfortune in the American economy, I have a feeling their story will have an even greater effect on many young women today. Alcott was able to write a story, which is based upon her own life, which has stood the test of time. It captures the reader and makes one feel as if the March sisters are their own sisters. I feel that Little Women, which could in fact be read by a twelve-year-old or a thirty-year-old, is a novel that all young women should read, especially in their teens when they are figuring out their own lives and dreams.

Reading Level: The reading level of this novel is closer to middle school age than our fifteen to eighteen range, but the interest level of Little Women would suit teens from thirteen to eighteen.

Book talk ideas: Begin by reading a passage, I would read the first chapter. This chapter is essentially a conversation between the sisters, an average moment in their lives, and the reader gets a feel for each of their personalities. Then talk about how teens during the late 1800s weren’t all that different from teens today, they fought with their siblings, had goals and ambitions, dealt with war. Explain that just because a book was published a century ago doesn’t make it less appealing, or less worthy of their time.

Why it is included: I chose this book for the genre study because it is a classic, one that girls read over and over again. I felt that many older books aren’t considered worthy of a teen’s time, but they offer just as much as modern historical fiction, if not more because they’re a direct reflection of the time.