Littler Women: A Modern Retelling – Laura Schaefer, Simon & Schuster, (9781481487610), 2017
Format: hardcover
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4
Genre: realistic
What did you like about the book? The classic Little Women is retold in modern times. Mr. March is abroad with the Coast Guard; Mrs. March works at a community center and the four girls are much like their original counterparts except that their peers have cell phones. Littler Women follows the four girls, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in one calendar year as they begin to grow up.
I was prepared to dislike this book; the original is one of my favorite books of all time. I was enchanted by this sweet modern middle grade version of Little Women, however. The characters are translated beautifully to modern times. Some of the stories from the original book remain and are updated appropriately (the girls write a ‘zine instead of a play), but other stories are new to this version. I especially love all the recipes and craft ideas that pepper the book.
Anything you didn’t like about it? It’s hard to rewrite a classic, especially in around 200 pages. The original is so much richer so, at times, it felt like the story was lacking a little or too condensed.
To whom would you recommend this book? Students who aren’t quite ready for the original yet or students who adore the classic and are curious about what it would look like as a modern retelling.
Who should buy this book? Most elementary and middle school libraries
Where would you shelve it? realistic
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? no
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Laura Gardner, Dartmouth Middle School, Dartmouth, MA
Date reviewed: October 30, 2017
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