This was one of my favorite books when I first read it. I must have been ten or eleven years old at the time, and had not encountered many other books that were “for kids” and were anything like this book. I was impressed that it was as big as the books for adults, and, that it was not “dumbed down”, like many of the other books I had read at that time. (The world still had some years to go before bookstores and libraries created a “young adult” or “teen” section, and, there didn’t seem to be many authors who were seeking that particular audience back then). As I read Little Women now, as an adult, I find that I still enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as I did when I was much younger.

The story is basically about the lives of the March family. Its around the time of the Civil War in America, and the father of the family is off involved with that for a big chunk of the book. The Civil War, and the political environment that surrounds it are barely mentioned in this book. Its really about four sisters, their mom, and some friends and extended family.

Mrs. March, or “Marmee”, is the perfect example of what a mother should be. Meg, the oldest girl, is working as a governess, is almost old enough to begin to think about marriage, but is much to innocent to have even realized it. Jo is second oldest, an exuberant tomboy, who has a job reading to an elderly aunt. She reads every book she can get her hands on, and also writes quite a bit herself. Beth, the next girl, is sweetness itself, and overwhelmingly innocent and good. She plays the piano and sings, and cares for pets, dolls, and the family in small ways. Amy, the youngest, is beautiful, (the only blond haired blue eyed child in the family) and a bit self-centered about both her beauty and her developing art talent. Also, there is Laurie, the boy next door, who is more or less unofficially adopted by the March family. He is sometimes brother, sometimes friend, and later on, something more to some of the girls.

The girls grow from little girls to “little women” as the book continues, and have various experiences along the way. Many of the chapters are almost like little lessons, that the young girl who would be the intended reader can take away with her after she is done reading the book. It also shows a good picture of what life would have been like if you were a woman living in America at that time. Completely different social rules from what one sees today! Its an interesting read.
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