Little Women

Louisa May Alcott

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March live in New England with their mother while their father has gone to fight in the American War Between the States. Once their family had been well-to-do but their circumstances had reversed. While the March family doesn't have monetary riches, they have love and family riches. Meg and Jo have jobs, Beth stays home with Marmee, and Amy goes to school.

Jo is the adventurous sister, the one who acted like a boy. She didn't often act like a lady like her sisters would. Jo is the one who befriended the lonely boy next door, Theodore Laurence. Soon Laurie is involved in many of the girls' adventures. As the five grow up, they enjoy many activities that grew from and strengthened their imaginations.

In time Mr. March returns home and the girls grow. They move from girlhood to womanhood, with the romances and businesses involved with that activity. Beth, the favorite of all the family, suffers from a life-threatening disease. Although she recovers, she never regains her full strength. Jo's untempered words get her in trouble more than once. Meg, then later Amy, meet the men who become the loves of their lives. Beth continues to comfort the March family. Laurie falls in love with Jo and is rejected - she knows they are better in a brother/siser relationship rather than husband and wife. Given time, a wise grandfather, and the right woman, Laurie recovers from Jo and discovers a new love. Jo continues to write, trying to make a small amount of money with her stories. She is certain she is to never marry, but even Jo finds someone who changes her mind.

This novel for girls is about 150 years old and is still charming to a young girl's heart. The March girls excite the imagination of the young reader. Miss Alcott brings the girls and her time period to life through a loving haze. Bad things happen in the book - tears are inevitable - yet overall this is a joyful book, full of hope.

I first read Little Women more years ago than I want to admit. I hope young girls can still enjoy this endearing novel, but they may be too jaded with all the amusements available in their environments. As an adult I find it overly sweet at times. It's overdone for my tastes now, but was perfect for my young imagination.

Yes, Little Women is a must read for all young girls, probably 10 and older. Us adult girls will enjoy it too, as long as we can let go of our cynicism. This is a charmer. A girl has to like Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.