Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is by far, one of the most comforting classics I have ever read. Alcott's novel follows the familiar March family, sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, growing up in post-civil war America. The themes of women’s duty and personal growth, as well as rejection of gender stereotypes has allowed the book to turn hearts and grow famous in the world of literature for centuries. Josephine “Jo” March, our protagonist, is the fiery depiction of early feminism, rejecting the notions of housework, marrying rich, and the typical roles of women. With bigger dreams than that of sitting pretty or working for a man her entire life, Jo is an inspiration to all readers with those of high hopes and the passion to achieve more. I would absolutely recommend this book to others, in that not only is it a fantastic read, but it is one that is emotional, funny, comforting, and happy in all of its 759 pages. The book remains lighthearted in some aspects, while also mentioning tragic occurrences and important topics in America and for women at the time. Reading Little Women allows you to feel as if you are growing right alongside the March sisters, navigating high-society, work experience, ‘womanly duties’, and the power of love and friendship. Although a longer read, Alcott’s novel is absolutely deserving of 5/5 stars.
@readingmouse of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board

This story was very heartwarming. As readers dive into the chapters, we follow the paths of the March sisters as they journey from childhood to womanhood. I love the character Jo March simply because she has her rebellious moments and loves to write. It is almost as if Jo goes against the nineteenth-century society’s beliefs about how a woman should behave. I noticed that the sisters struggle between family duty and personal growth because they are trying to figure out who they are as an individual. Also, I liked the fact how the author mentioned gender stereotypes. I believe this book is perfect for ages 12 and up! @grumpykat of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board

Little women, by Louisa May Alcott, is an engaging tale of four sisters. The book is full of characters that you grow to love, heart-wrenching moments, and uplifting morals. I loved how I was able to connect to one of the sisters, which just goes to show how human and real Alcott developed her characters. It is unlike any book that I have read before, but I can see why it is a classic. The storyline was continuously entertaining and engaging, and I felt emotionally connected to all of the characters, which added to my overall enjoyment! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it.
@PenelopeScriptor of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board

Little Women is a great read because of its simplicity and the coming-of-age stories among four sisters in Civil War New England. Together, they face hardships, but also happiness. Not only does Little Women tell the story of four sisters, but also shares the moral lessons learned in life and the values centred upon family and love. Despite the fact, the March family suffer losses throughout the novel their devotion to each other is stronger than ever. The main character, Jo March who was based on the author Louisa May Alcott was a rebellious and outspoken tomboy with a passion for writing. Jo’s character comes across very strange for the nineteen century. I recommended this timeless masterpiece for all ages. 5/5 stars
@janmorrow1225 of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board

SO sexist It's hard to believe this was written by a female. I just let the messages of self-sacrifice and servitude and domesticity fly over my head and enjoyed the wholesome childhood fun in the first part. The second part gets a lot more complicated, as romance becomes an issue. I like Jo the most out of the March sisters.

My mother introduced this book to me at a young age, and I loved the book and loved watching it turn into a movie as well. The four sisters are lovable characters with each possessing unique qualities in which young girls can relate to. One of my favorite parts about the book is watching the relationships develop, and Laurie was one of the best characters in my opinion.

"Little Women" follows the story of the March sisters and their journey into adulthood. The book covers themes such as love, heartbreak and the importance of family. When the girls branch out into their own lives, they begin to miss their childhood and how well they had it. Jo, the second oldest sister, dreams of being a writer. Meg, the oldest, grows up to be a mother, and struggles to accept the hardships. Beth, the third daughter, was a happy young girl who loves the piano. Finally, Amy, the youngest with the biggest temper, moved to France to learn how to paint. Their friend, Laurie, is the subject of MANY romantic escapades.

I would recommend this book for anyone! The book shows a strong importance in why young girls should be independent and follow THEIR own dreams. This classic has been read by many, and it wouldn't hurt to add another! If you like to cry, laugh and cheer for joy, the book is for you. There are also several movie adaptations that you can watch if you prefer visuals and sound, but the book is an amazing starting point.

Similar reads: "Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maude Montgomery, "Pride ad Prejudice" and "Emma" by Jane Austen

- Sybille

L. M. Alcott’s Little Women is a heartwarming classic tale of love, tragedy, and family. The March sisters are endearing characters who undergo trials that teach them valuable life lessons. The novel encapsulates the hardships of growing up and leaving behind childhood, and simultaneously emphasizes strong morals.

A classic of children's literature, and a must-read for any age!
It speaks to the author's talent that a tale firmly fixed in the Victorian Era is still highly readable today.

The only reason why I didn't give it a full five stars is because of the overly sentimental morality lessons that Alcott addresses directly to the young reader. When I was a girl reading old children's books from the shelves in my grandparents' house, those kind of paragraphs were done in red ink -- makes it easy to skip!

One might think it odd that this talented and prolific author is famous for only this one book. That is because all her other works were -- in her own words -- rubbish; what we would call pulp fiction today. She was more interested in writing for money than writing for literature's sake. She came from a poor family and was determined to use her brains to make money, and this in a time when there were few opportunities for smart women to achieve that goal. And she succeeded! It was her editor who challenged her to write something worthy of her talent.

A very good classical book that is inspiring and teaches people how to be happy despite hard times. Beth, Amy, Jo, and Meg all are very poor but their mother teaches them that money doesn't buy happiness and they learn that lesson throughout the story.

I've read this book 4 times and I never get tired of it. it's such a heartwarming book and has lots of morals in it and the romance is wonderful.

Little Women is a classic novel that centers around the lives of four sisters living in Massachusetts in the 1800s. The story spans several years, so we get to see the girls grow up and go through their lives. It was a wholesome story overall and it was nice to see what happened to each of the sisters as they became adults. However, the story is lengthy and I am not a particular fan of this narrative style. It’s not that I don’t like classics; I loved all of the Anne of Green Gables books.

Personally I’m a huge fan of period pieces as most novels that are written from the 1800s or later are usually interesting and fun to read but for me Little Women was a bit of a boring book. Don’t get me wrong it has it’s moments, and its moment are wonderful but overall I found the novel to be unsatisfactory. However I believe Little Women is considered to be in the collection of classic American literature so I recommend reading it if you are interested in familiarizing yourself with classic literature. I also recommend it if you want to read something to calm yourself down as it is wholesome and more or less a very timid novel. 1.5 stars
@Celine of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board