Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Graphic Novel: A Modern Retelling of Little Women

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Graphic Novel: A Modern Retelling of Little Women by Rey Terciero

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Hachette Book Group Canada
Published: February 2019
Publisher: Little Brown, BFYR
Recommended Age: 10+
Genres & Themes: Tween, Retelling, Family, Siblings, Contemporary, Social Status

REVIEW:

This is one of those books that would make a lovely present for a friend, especially someone who is having a hard time because it can give them comfort and remind them of the importance of reaching out to friends and family.

It is a contemporary graphic novel retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s classic LITTLE WOMEN, which I read when I was in high school and enjoyed tremendously. The main reason for that is when I was a bit younger, I really wanted a sister. I had a brother (still have him presently) but he and I were not close back then so I fulfilled my wish of a sister through books and one of those books was LITTLE WOMEN.

As far as retellings go, this was a decent one. We get a sense of each of the sisters’ personalities—their likes, dislikes, wishes and values—and we see them interact frequently with their friends and family members. I found it heart-warming, even when the girls faced difficulties in their lives. The only thing is that the story was divided into short chapters that made the plotline, but alas because the chapters were so short I sensed a lack of meaningful depth. Important topics and themes were breached but rarely developed in a way that spoke of their importance… They were glossed over.

So I cannot give this book more, even though it was charming and I may want to read it again before Christmas or whenever I have a fallout with my own family, but then again there might be other such stories out there that rush less through events. Last points: colourful, atmospheric and relatively memorable despite its weaknesses.

lolareviewer