Title: Little Women
Author: Louisa May Scott
Publisher: Puffin Books
Number of pages: 816
Type of Book: Classic, Fiction
Age: 8+
Available here: http://www.konga.com/little-women-1541322; http://product.chelisbookazine.com/product/little-women-young-reading-series-3/; http://www.amazon.com/Little-Women-Puffin-Louisa-Alcott/dp/0147514010/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455598503&sr=1-1&keywords=little+women; http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/pdfs/free_ebooks/Little_Women_NT.pdf
Price: N1500; N580; $12.86; Free download
MY SUMMARY
Little Women is a coming of age story revolving around the March girls: pretty, lady-like Meg, tomboyish Jo, feeble Beth and precocious Amy. The girls live in genteel poverty in the mid 1800s with their mother (Marmee) while their father fights in the American Civil War. Little Women chronicles the life of the girls as they try to overcome daily obstacles, make friends and grow up under the watchful Christian eye of their mother.
NB: This story has two parts: Little Women and the Good Wives, usually contained in one book under the title, ‘Little Women’. Be careful, when buying to ensure that you get a double and not single part copy.
THUMBS UP AND DOWN
UP: An American classic, set in the mid-1800s, it gives readers an insight into the life of the typical American family during the civil war. It promotes the themes of love, friendship, hard work, etc., and shows readers the consequences of good and bad actions. The characters, interestingly diverse made this a delightful read. Rambunctious Jo, the second March girl had me in stitches for most of the book. Mrs. March (Marmee), reminded me of the Nigerian mother, determined to instill Christian values in her children and using every opportunity to do this. I recommend this book for all members of the family, old and young alike.
DOWN: It’s a bit didactic, quite long and sometimes, the dialogue/text dragged. Not for the reluctant reader.
RATING
4 Stars
TRIVIA
- The secret club formed by the March girls?C: The Pickwick Club.
- The Laurence boy? The bashful but fun-loving, half-Italian, teenage grandson of the rich old man that lived in the grand mansion behind the Marchs.
- Some of the kid’s favourite pastimes? Gardening, writing, acting plays, secret clubs.
- What were the kid’s unique daily burdens? Meg: poverty, Jo: a bad temper, Beth wanted to own/play the piano and Amy thought her nose was too flat (she put a peg on its tip sometimes to make it pointy and ‘aristocratic’.
- The kids’ daily activities? Meg babysat, Jo worked as their old aunt’s companion, Beth took care of the house and Amy went to school.
Read the book here: http://www.planetpdf.com/planetpdf/pdfs/free_ebooks/Little_Women_NT.pdf
CHALLENGE: Little Women
CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)
- Write a short 600-word essay on the American Civil War
OR
- Draw a picture of the March girls using the details below:
“Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain. Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt, for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. She had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, gray eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty, but it was usually bundled into a net, to be out of her way. Round shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a flyaway look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a woman and didn’t like it. Elizabeth, or Beth, as everyone called her, was a rosy, smooth- haired, bright-eyed girl of thirteen, with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression which was seldom disturbed. Her father called her ‘Little Miss Tranquility’, and the name suited her excellently, for she seemed to live in a happy world of her own, only venturing out to meet the few whom she trusted and loved. Amy, though the youngest, was a most important person, in her own opinion at least. A regular snow maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her manners.”
OR
- Write a 600-word short story with any of the following themes: Contentment OR Friendship
Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com
Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 8-12 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.
Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Sunday, February 21st 2016.
Next Book of the Week:
GOTH GIRL AND THE GHOST OF A MOUSE by Chris Riddell
U G O . . . .A N I D I 