Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Great or Nothing by Joy McCullough et al - NO

Great or Nothing by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, and Jessica Spotswood, 390 pages. Delacorte (Random), 2022. $19 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

After Beth dies, the remaining three March sisters quarrel and then separate. Jo moves to a boarding house and takes a job in a wartime factory. Meg stays home caring for Marmie and hoping that john will come safely home from the war. Amy, meanwhile, is supposed to be safely in Canada, studying her art. Instead, she lies about her age and identity and ships overseas to serve as. Doughnut Dolly for the troops who are on leave from the front. None of the sisters are willing to take the first step to say “I’m sorry”. 

I didn’t realize it in my heart until I read this version that the charm of Little Women lies in the interactions and intertwined lived of the sisters. Take them away from each other, and though you have growth for each of them individually, the charm vanishes. Older readers who know the source material might be interested in seeing how the quartet of authors has each girl grow, but I am not interested in reading this again and I don’t think teenagers will be either – especially if they have no idea who the March sisters are. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

1 comment:

Test said...

This is a very odd use of the March sisters. Maybe a reimagining during WWII, but you're right, they would have to be together.