Little Women: Annotated for Teen and Middle Grade Readers

by L M Alcott, Stephanie Ebert (introduction)

Genres: Teen, Middle Grade

594 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2024

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Woman was the first book I read as an adolescent that made me cry. Which sounds awful, but it’s not - it just shows a strong emotional attachment only achieved by good writing. Oh how I loved this story!

This past summer on my Literary Massachusetts trip we visited Louisa May Alcott’s family home. It was a delight to learn more about the Alcott sisters and about how they influenced the March sisters in Little Women.

This version of Little Women by Owl’s Nest Publishers is charming. I was delighted to get a copy for review, because I love this story so much. This copy is annotated for middle grade and teen readers, and the pages are packed with helpful explanations and insights. A lot of great background information is included in the introduction, including insight into the author, the history and time of the book’s setting, and themes of the book. There are reflection questions throughout the text and helpful footnotes on almost every page.

This would be an excellent gift for the young reader in your life! The insights in this book help make its length and language a bit less daunting!

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This annotated edition of Little Women is incredible and I’m so grateful to have had the chance to play a small part in bringing it to publication!

With a new introduction and biography of Louisa May Alcott, plus discussion of themes, and thoughtful encouragement about the timelessness of this novel (all spoiler-free!), this book really added to my knowledge of this classic. There are over 500 footnotes throughout the unabridged text and wow did I learn so much. I loved the explanations of older words, context from other contemporary books that are referenced, and reminders about how the every day life in this book is still so meaningful today. Plus there are loads of discussion questions perfect for family read alouds, classrooms, or book clubs. What a wealth of knowledge and such a great addition as a new edition of Little Women!

[Michaela Flack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me months - only because I loved it so much I didn't want it to end. (Those who know me well know that I have this issue. I sometimes don't finish some of my favorite things!)

As a 43YO I am a little sad I only just now read this book, since I think I would have loved it as a teenager, but at this age I feel like all the different characters and stages of their lives are relatable. I could feel the tension and stress of Meg's early marriage and mothering babies as much as I could feel Jo's desire for freedom and creativity, and Marmee, trying to patiently parent daughters with very different personalities. (Except for Amy because she's mostly the worst. And maybe Aunt March, ha.)

While still clearly set in its time, I was shocked at how ahead of its time it also was, particularly when it comes to gender roles. I feel like I could write a whole thesis on this, but suffice it to say that it was genuinely surprising in almost all the male/female relationships and friendships.

As someone who grew up on the 1994 film and then loved the 2019 version, I really thought I knew the March sisters, but the additional character development changed my mind about so so many things that the movies just didn't have time for. I've always been a little mad (in the movies) that

(SPOILER ON A 150 YEAR OLD BOOK WITH AT LEAST 5 MOVIE VERSIONS)

...Jo didn't marry Laurie. The Professor always felt like a consolation prize of sorts, and that she ultimately turned down a life with her best friend, and Laurie ended up with (frankly, insufferable) Amy.

Reading the book changed my mind for so many reasons. Jo and Laurie still get to be dear close friends, Amy and Laurie balance each other out pretty wonderfully (eventually - they are both annoying for a while still!), and we get so much more time with the Professor and the work he does, that he really does seem like a vast improvement to Laurie for Jo, and someone who can balance her well and who is great to build a life with. (The age difference is still a bit much, but Fritz is genuinely kind and good so there's that.)

I should add that I LOVED the wonderful, fun, helpful annotations of Stephanie Ebert. It made me want to read all the classics with such annotations (I learned lots of new words!), and I'm so glad that Owl's Nest Publishers has a few more to enjoy next (Anne of Green Gables and A Christmas Carol, I'm on my way!).

I am sad it ended, but so glad to find a new favorite "classics" book at my age! I loved it so much I couldn't shut up about it, and now my husband is reading it and he got me a Little Women shirt for Mother's Day, so I guess I'm officially a fan now. :)

[K.B. Hoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new edition of Little Women is one you will definitely want to add to your shelf! Specially annotated for adolescent readers, with a new introduction and afterword, and with reflection questions throughout, it acts not only as an unabridged copy of the book to add to your collection, but it also valuable educational resource to hand to the young people in your life. Whether you homeschool, have a classroom library, or just have kids interested in reading the classics, this is a fantastic way to help them understand what they are reading!

[Peter Binion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read Little Women before and while I, as an adult man, may not be the target audience I did still enjoy this story. As someone who loves history I quite enjoyed it as a window into a period of time in America life. The annotations helped immensely with this as I didn't need to do any research to understand the references and ways of life depicted in this story.

Favorite quote:

"Why not? I'm neat and cool and comfortable, quite proper for a dusty walk on a warm day. If people care more for my clothes than they do for me, I don't wish to see them." - Jo March

[Amy J · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyed this revisit. I have such fond memories of reading this as I grew up. And Ebert has such lively interpolations that her additional commentary and explanatory footnotes were a pure joy.
(I especially liked the footnotes as they have shown me how much I missed on initial read throughs, context - historical and literary - that I just skimmed over as a young reader, and would love to have known, but didn't know who to ask.)

[Holly Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read Little Women since middle school -- and I forgot what a wonderful book it was! Stephanie Ebert's annotations in this edition made it even better. I loved learning the meanings of words I didn't know, customs from the 1800s I was unfamiliar with, and all of the literary allusions. The glimpses into Stephanie's own life and growing up were also so much fun to read.

[Amy Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sections of historical context and footnotes throughout this edition were accessible, personable, and genuinely interesting. Highly recommended for students (and Little Women fans) seeking to trace the themes of the novel, better understand the text, and experience it the way the first generation of young readers would have.

[Nancy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

The annotations provide much appreciated background for terms, events, and book references that 19th century Alcott would have expected her readers to know. The annotations also commiserate with the reader when things are confusing or sad and occasionally share the annotator's experience in reading the book. It's like reading with an extremely well-informed friend.