dont even know how to write this review, I loved the idea of the modern day retelling of Little Women, and the March family being a blended family that is also biracial.
And originally it seemed like this version was sticking to the characterizations pretty well, But my goodness, why cant people leave classics alone, Just because out times have changed, doesnt mean these classic character need to change everything about themselves too, I hate the idea that just because we are in a more modern world where women have more rights, that suddenly Meg wanting to marry a guy who could take care of her is suddenly wrong.
Why couldnt she be a strong woman in and of her delve who also falls for a guy that just so happens to have money and the ability to take care of her.
Then she could still become a lawyer who helps underprivileged families, The beauty of the original character of Jo was that she realized her worth and value in and of herself and that she didnt need a man, and once she realized that, she found love.
So now, just because she isnt into girly things and is her own nonstereotypical girl, she is gay, I know, I know, the writers can do whatever they want, But isnt that just another stereotype The girl who doesnt want to dress like a girl and doesnt like fashion, . . is gay. The girl who speaks her mind and doesnt care what anyone else things, . . is gay. And then the book went one step further and made it about religion with Aunt Cath, Because she grew up in a devout religion that was against Jews and Muslims and blacks, Ugh. Im sorry I just couldnt take it by the end, To make this beautiful Little Women story for children, seriously, geared toward children, and then to make it a religious and a political guide, The story of Little Women was a beautiful story of the diversity of women already, Thats what makes it so beautiful, that women who grow up in a family together an still be strong and find and know themselves while all loving different things.
Ugh. Then the March girls march in DC, . not because young girls shouldnt know about the marchesthey shouldor shouldnt stand up for being a woman and having equalitythey shouldbut my goodness, I thought I was picking up a fun, graphic novel to show my daughter a story that I love that she just isnt quite old enough for the reading style of.
. Then she got this. Im just disappointed. I liked how they made everything so modern, I'm just not sure the story worked as a graphic,
Everything felt glossed over and less dramatic,
Maybe I've just romanticized my memories of Little Women
I think a reread has just been added to myto confirm,
I really enjoyed this retelling of Little Women! I thought the author did a wonderful job making this story modern and diverse, nothing felt forced.
Everything naturally fell into place, It was nice to sit back and spend time with my little women again,
I wish there was a teen version of them when they are older, I wanted to see Amy grow up!
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I'm not quite sure what the authors/illustrators were trying to accomplish with this.
At times, it adhered strictly to the original story, . . and at others, it threw everything of the original out the window in favor of unfamiliar characterization and modernday moralizing, It seemed what this book really wanted to be was somewhere in between, . . and it just didn't quite get there, on sale: It's beenyears, you better get your act together and make Beth pull through this, guys,
after reading: Mostly this just made me want to reread the original, though I definitely appreciated the steps it took to update the material Meg is going to college! Beth pulls through!.
It just feels very slight to pack all of the stuff that happens into a notthatlong graphic novel, I haven't read little women yet, but it doesn't mean I was able to really enjoy this graphic novel! I loved reading about these sisters who are all so different but love each other so much! I loved that it dealt with racism and homophobia, something I hadn't expected! now I'm even more excited to pick up the book it was inspired by! "Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy" a Graphic Novel by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo I am so overwhelmed, and in such a positive and empowering way.
"Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy" is absolutely magical, and, in my opinion, a nearly PERFECT modern retelling of "Little Women" which is steeped in research of the original book itself, but also the Author, Louisa May Alcott, and her family.
As a historian of Alcott myself, I could see and pick up on all the beautiful references of the original text that the authors left for new readers even down to the year of publication,!
More over, this book is filled with beautiful and living tolerance.
The March family is an interracial, blended family who struggle and succeed with love, loss, friendship, relationships, social justice, sickness, and even a parent in the armed forces! This novel packs a punch to the emotions and ties it all together with so much humor, Grace, and amazing popculture and history references that I finished it in mere hours.
This is a book I will reread over and over again and I would recommend it to any person, especially a young person, trying to figure out who they are.
Also, the intersectional female empowerment in this book is EARTH SHATTERING, Do not walk, run to your
nearest independent bookstore and pick up a copy, Read it with your mom, sister, partner, best friend, ANYONE, And then talk about it! I love Little Women, but I do think only really clicks with me when set during the Civil War.
Modern adaptations have failed to grab me, and this one is no exception, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, . . means well. The illustrations are pretty and bright, and changing the Marches to a biracial family was a concept that worked in some places, if not all.
The problem is that the story doesn't seem to be written from a point of view that can love the characters, while also allowing them to struggle everything they get needs to be out of nowhere and simply because They Are The March Girls! Another aspect that grated a little was that constant refrain of "Don't mess with the March girls!" "We're the March sisters!".
In the original, the sisters managed to have a close bond without having to constantly state it,
I appreciated the addition of , however, Jo's voice was incredibly irritating to me the entire book.
Her journal entries were flat and poorly written a note to writers: rarely do people begin to write out a sentence, then trail off like they would in spoken conversations, and the majority of her dialogue featured randomly inserted buzzwords, as if to say, "it's thest century!! feminism, amirite kids".
Social issues can be dealt with in young adult literature as long as they are brought into conversations organically, and not phrased like pullquotes from essays, which so many of Jo's lines sounded like.
The author also seemed afraid of giving her flaws, instead making her as selfless, caring, and cultured as possible, To paraphrase The Office, "There's no character growth here!"
The dialogue ranged from either slightly adorable to eyeroll prompting for me, Why was Meg, a caring older sister who often felt insecure about her family's financial status, reduced to someone who said the phrase, "I'm going to/want to marry rich!" in nearly EVERY.
SINGLE. CHAPTER. No one speaks like that! Beth seemed like a whole new character as well apart from one chapter, she was fairly outgoing and strangely sassy, Amy's portrayal here was great, though! Still her vain, sweet, charming self, Laurie was basically nonexistent, Aunt March had her moments but her importance to the plot seemed to be misunderstood, and there was a strange lack of Marmee in the girls' lives.
While there are other parts of the book I just didn't enjoy random introduction of neverbeforementioned characters, name changes that didn't make any sense, and AWFUL characterization of Mr.
Brooke I'm going to end by saying I'm sad I didn't enjoy this more.
A lot of potential that ended up letting me down as an adaptation and cohesive story itself, .