Little Women.

Alcotts “Little Women” is a coming-of-age story following 4 sisters on their journey through ‘womanhood’. Sixteen-year-old Meg, known for her beauty and traditional femininity, fifteen-year-old Jo, known for her rebellious ideology and “tomboy” lifestyle, thirteen-year-old Beth, recognized for her musical ability and kindness, and finally the youngest of the sisters, twelve-year-old Amy, known as the stereotypical stubborn little sister whose greatness she felt had been lost in the shadows of her older sisters, reside in a small home in Massachusetts during the 1860’s with their struggling but loving mother while their father is away at war. Between Beth becoming ill with scarlet fever, Meg’s search for a purpose, and the constant competition between Jo and Amy which is only made worse when fifteen-year-old Laurie comes to live with his grandfather, creating a love triangle between the 3 that seems to only exist in Amy’s mind due to the budding, yet one sided romance between Laurie and her older sister, Jo. The girl’s upbringing represents how different women want different things in life, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It also shows the societal pressure on young women in both the 1800’s along with present day society and how it impacts the lives of impressionable girls, struggling to find a purpose in life. In summary, this story explores feminism, loss, individuality, sickness, money struggles, and the ever so unfair pressure from the world to be a man’s “little woman”. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an inspiring and comedic story. I think it’s exceptionally important for this book to reach young women because it shows the difficult time between childhood and adulthood for girls, and how there are unlimited paths to live your life and end up where you’re supposed to be; wherever you want to be.