Littler Women: A Modern Retelling (2017) by Laura Shaefer
This book takes the characters and story of Little Women and sets them in modern day. The girls are younger, but they’ve got their same personalities and go through many of the same life experiences, although usually with a bit of a twist. Littler Women, of course, doesn’t cover the entire plot, but it felt like a wonderful way to introduce Alcott’s story to younger audiences who might not be inclined to sit through the entire original.
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book. While I don’t feel that I know Little Women as well as some other books, I did use to read it once a year for awhile. I also recently saw the Greta Gerwig’s new film version. Well, I am so pleased to say, that the book is charming. Only a few chapters into my library copy, I ordered one for our family. The author finds clever ways to unfold the story in modern times, while still keeping the lovely feel of old-fashioned coziness. Each chapter ends with a recipe or knitting project or some such wonderful goodness. The story is told simply, but it hits many of the story’s events and really keeps the heart of the characters.
This book is probably advertised as a middle-grade novel. Some of the story does deal with a bit of middle-school age insecurities or transitions, but I would probably feel comfortable sharing a majority of the book with our seven-year old.
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“Sometimes it was fun to dream about the day and years ahead, and sometimes it was better to leave them alone to take care of themselves.” ch 13
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Little Women