By iamsandykay on March 1, 2022 ( Leave a comment )

Book Review – Great or Nothing

Great or Nothing
by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond,
Tess Sharpe, Jessica Spotswood

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Book Description:

A reimagining of Little Women set in the spring of 1942, when the United States is suddenly embroiled in the second World War, this story, told from each March sister’s point of view, is one of grief, love, and self-discovery.

In the spring of 1942, the United States is reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. While the US starts sending troops to the front, the March family of Concord, Massachusetts grieves their own enormous loss: the death of their daughter, Beth.

Under the strain of their grief, Beth’s remaining sisters fracture, each going their own way with Jo nursing her wounds and building planes in Boston, Meg holding down the home front with Marmee, and Amy living a secret life as a Red Cross volunteer in London–the same city where one Mr. Theodore Laurence is stationed as an army pilot.

Each March sister’s point of view is written by a separate author, three in prose and Beth’s in verse, still holding the family together from beyond the grave. Woven together, these threads tell a story of finding one’s way in a world undergoing catastrophic change.

My Take:

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Delacourt Press.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#NetGalley

This is a great reimagining of a well-loved classic.

It is not a secret that I love a good retelling of a classic. While Little Women is not on the top of my favorite classics list, I am a fan of WWII stories and stories told by multiple authors, so I was happy to give this book a try. I am so glad I did. The familiarity of the original story is there, but the adventures and actions are well placed in their new time. While the characters may be familiar, each author did an amazing job creating situations and obstacles for each sister to face. This is not just a retelling of the original story with a different wardrobe or location, this is bringing characters we know to a new world (for them) and considering what they would do in this new situation. The authors answered this question very well.

Well-written reintroduction to characters we love and hope they find their happy ending.

While the situations are new, this is still the Jo and Amy and Meg that we love. Much like crossover episodes, the characters may not have always been in the new location, but they still have the same attitudes, reactions, and motivations. We see that throughout this book and it is so great.

The Final Verdict