In Laura Wood’s retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic, Little Women, the timeless story of sisterhood, growth and love receives a fresh spin. Set against the backdrop of war, with their father away and their mother working long hours, the novel follows the journey of the March sisters. The sisters have to look out for each other and make their own entertainment. Together Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy navigate the challenges of growing up, each carving a unique path in a world undergoing transformation.
Laura’s adaptation introduces these endearing characters to a new generation of readers, while preserving the essence of the original coming-of-age story. Meg’s kindness, Beth’s gentleness, Amy’s artistic spirit and Jo’s determination resonate strongly.
Louisa May Alcott’s semi-autobiographical novel also shares a message of resilience and how any problem or tragedy can be handled with the support of family.
“Little Women was the first book I ever took out of the library and it lit a fire in me that’s been burning ever since, so I’d like to dedicate this book to the librarians who probably don’t know just how many lives they’re changing,” says Laura.
“This retelling has been created with a specific goal in mind: to make Alcott’s original novel accessible to readers who may otherwise struggle to read it,” says Laura. For this reason, the combined length of the original books meant this retelling focuses only on book one.
Laura Woods is an award-winning author who mostly writes for children and young adults. She lives in England and also has a PhD in Nineteenth-Century Literature.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy Barrington Stoke