Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Little Women

Little Women
Little Women
Author: Louisa May Alcott
ISBN-13: 9780671519025
ISBN-10: 0671519026
Pages: 144
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 31

4.1 stars, based on 31 ratings
Publisher: Aladdin
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

51 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

ScoutDarcy avatar reviewed Little Women on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Oh my God. I can't believe how I ever ignored my mother's suggestion to read this. This has to be one of the most beautiful, worthwhile, funny, and heartbreaking books I have EVER read-- and trust me, I read a lot. Louisa May Alcott is amazingly good at depicting the workings of a small family, and I teared up and/or cried at least five times while reading! As a young writer, I empathized with Jo March, but surely everyone will find some bit of themselves in every one of these four sisters and their "brother" Laurie-- they are some of the most human characterizations I have ever seen. Some believe this book is outdated, but I honestly do not care-- it is an amazing achievement, and those who do not read it due to length or the belief it is "boring" are missing out. Do yourself a favor and READ IT!
knittymama avatar reviewed Little Women on + 424 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Great classic.
reviewed Little Women on + 209 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I've loved this book for years!
reviewed Little Women on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
A must-read for all young women, in my opinion. I was practically raised by Louisa May Alcott, and I re-read this book once a year. Amusing, touching and historically honest.
reviewed Little Women on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A classic enjoyed as a child and adult.
reviewed Little Women on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed this book, but it was a little too preachy for me and I wouldn't re-read it. I will probably read the rest of the books from the series just to see where it goes from here.
LittleLadies avatar reviewed Little Women on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
My second favorite book!(Black Beauty is 1st) Full of lovable and memorable characters, and living morals. An assortment of personalities all with their faults and adorning traits. My favorite books work like a good sermon to me. They leave me leaping inside to trample my own faults while loving to cultivate the good things in myself.
reviewed Little Women on + 51 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
One of my all time favorite books and one of the books I have read and reread and re read. The characters are genuine and Alcott's ability to portray early American life in the North through the retelling of her life is wonderful. I have never felt as though I am reading an autobiography, yet when the book is finished, you will think about the fact the story is true. Realistic and a read you will not forget.
reviewed Little Women on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The classic that never gets old!!
reviewed Little Women on + 63 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful book. I love this edition. Great book to read with your daughters or classroom. I just finished a book club with 6 5th grade girls and they LOVED it.
ontedge avatar reviewed Little Women on + 42 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A condensed version of a classic.
"Little Women" is a book I read numerous times as I grew up, and thoroughly enjoyed.
This smaller, "condensed" version of this wonderful book was the perfect way to introduce the book to my daughter, before she was old enough to tackle the full version.

It creates an interest in the characters and story - just enough to whet their appetite
for more "grown up literature".
reviewed Little Women on + 1452 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Returning to the world of the Marches through this childhood book was fun. I realized that the book reflected the values of the time. Of course, the first time I read it I was very young - a gift under the tree from my parents. At that time it seemed very grown up and fascinating. When I asked a 12-year-old member of the family what she thought she said she really liked it so I guess tastes haven't changed all that much. Guess that is why this one has become a children's classic.
reviewed Little Women on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A warm, readable family story.
WAL avatar reviewed Little Women on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
One of the most popular books ever written about childhood charmingly recounts the homelife of four sisters: literary-minded Jo March; Meg, the older sister who marries a young tutor; fashionable and artistic Amy; and gentle, musically inclined Beth. An unforgettable depiction of mid-19th century New England life.
10th Printing 542pgs
Paperback
Sabriel avatar reviewed Little Women on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I personally liked to movie better, but once you get used to the style, it is entertaining
reviewed Little Women on + 620 more book reviews
A timeless classic and favorite book!
reviewed Little Women on
A classic! I enjoyed reading this to both my "little women" when they were younger. : 0 )
reviewed Little Women on + 7 more book reviews
One of the best!
undeaddoll avatar reviewed Little Women on + 25 more book reviews
i don't know what to say. this is just a really good book. it may take place in a time that is far from here but the family dynamic is the important part and this book will always have a place in my heart, it was that touching.
janet982 avatar reviewed Little Women on + 6 more book reviews
The well read, famous classic. It is all that you have heard.
reviewed Little Women on + 186 more book reviews
A great introduction to classic literature for young or reluctant readers. Great illustrations!
reviewed Little Women on + 257 more book reviews
Meet the March sisters: the talented and tomboyish Jo, the beautiful Meg, the frail Beth, and the spoiled Amy, as they pass through the years between girlhood and womanhood. A lively portrait of growing up in the 19th century with lasting vitality and enduring charm.
reviewed Little Women on + 153 more book reviews
Little Women is the classic book four March sisters. It's a book I think every woman should read at least once in her lifetime. I thought about being greedy and just keeping it for myself, but I just don't have time to read it again (513 pages, not including the Reader's Companion at the end). It's my hope that someone will pass it on to a daughter or niece or any young girl that can learn how a simple life can sometimes be one of the best!
reviewed Little Women on + 350 more book reviews
This was such a very well written book. The words throughout it were so captivating. I loved how well described the characters and their feelings were. It made me feel as though I was living in their time period. I really enjoyed learning a bit of what life was like in that time. The bonds of family were very strong in this book. I really loved the speeches that Mrs. March gave from time to time. Although she didn't say very much, she said everything so wonderfully. I truly admired her. It was great to see how Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy each lived. They all had their own story and held me in to understanding what their feelings were or why they acted in different ways. Although I feel the ending was a bit unrealistic, it was interesting! I especially loved the first half of the book and the romantic tales throughout the book.
AimeeM avatar reviewed Little Women on + 124 more book reviews
THIS IS A GOOD BOOK!

Perhaps the real reason it is SO good, is Louisa May Alcott experienced many of the things she wrote about. The March sister's adventures and distasters were largely based off of her own life.
The result is a truely inspiring story, with lessons for any young girl about to enter the "adult" world.
reviewed Little Women on + 212 more book reviews
The classic coming of age book for young girls and young women.
reviewed Little Women on
A classic autobiographical novel of Louisa May Alcott's own childhood.
reviewed Little Women on + 81 more book reviews
Great book. I loved it.
reviewed Little Women on + 10 more book reviews
Very intriguing
reviewed Little Women on + 11 more book reviews
Imagine a house full of sisters....Meg, the oldest is a litlle bit serious, but always ready to join the fun. Beth is quiet and sweet, and happy to have so many sisters. Amy, with her golden curls, is the youngest and wants everything her way. And then there's Jo. Jo, who writes stories and makes up games...who loves to laugh and make everybody laugh with her. Jo, who makes up her own mind-- no matter what!
reviewed Little Women on + 82 more book reviews
Awesome!
Ariadnae avatar reviewed Little Women on + 356 more book reviews
The endearing classic about the March sisters and the trials and tribulations of their lives, a sweet story.
reviewed Little Women on + 3 more book reviews
A great book for girls 7-13
trw21680 avatar reviewed Little Women on
Great book. One of the best!
reviewed Little Women on + 43 more book reviews
A classic every girl should read. My daughters loved it.
reviewed Little Women on + 36 more book reviews
from back of book:
Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth are four "little women" growing up in New England during the Civil War. The March sisters share everything--their joys and pain, their loves and secrets. But the four girls couldn't be more different. Meg, the oldest, is the sensible one. Jo is funny and mischevious. Beth is the shy, dreamy one, and Amy is pretty and artistic.
Follow the March girls as they grow into wonderful young women and share the events of their lives: Meg's first dance, Amy's punishment in school, the return of thier father from the war, Jo's fury with her sisters when her precious diary is burned, the family wedding, Beth's tragic illness, and more. Their story has become one of the most popular books ever written!
reviewed Little Women on + 56 more book reviews
Read as a backup to MARCH, by Geraldine Brooks. a novel about the father who is away at war.
reviewed Little Women on + 13 more book reviews
Classic. What more can I say? Great book, highly recommended.
abbykt avatar reviewed Little Women on + 113 more book reviews
I have not read this book in a long time and I just remember that the first time I read it, I did not like Amy at all because I wanted Jo and Laurie to be together. Even this time through it took me a little bit to get over my prejudice for Amy. But this time through I am a little bit older and wiser and I see the true characters that Alcott created and I am happy with the way they are matched. I loved the wisdom that Mrs. March shared with her girls as they grew into women and I found their trials and lessons amusing and true to this day. It is a wonderful book.
bfhenderson88 avatar reviewed Little Women on + 26 more book reviews
This is an Illustrated Classic Edition
reviewed Little Women on + 6 more book reviews
Adapted - not original text
reviewed Little Women on + 6 more book reviews
This is an abridged version and is a nice overview of the story.
cmtdrt avatar reviewed Little Women on + 46 more book reviews
A sanitized, WASP-y, civil war tale from the womenfolk's POV. I found it overly sentimental and sugary. In short, it was bland, boring, and barely worth the time it took to read.
reviewed Little Women on + 404 more book reviews
Little Women is an American classic...
reviewed Little Women on + 128 more book reviews
fun story for girls of all ages!
reviewed Little Women on + 552 more book reviews
This is a Movie Tie-In book with 8 pages of photographs from the movie starring Winona Ryder. This is a novel based on the motion picture screenplay.
reviewed Little Women on + 94 more book reviews
This is a classic. I wanted to read this because I feel like everyone has read it except me. Dumb reason. The story is about the March family who live in New England in the late 1800s. The book is based on the Alcott family. The book is actually a combination of 2 parts. It is almost 500 pages long. The writing is very good. The story is very lame. I had to force myself to read it. There were some Chapters I enjoyed. But for the most part, it was a struggle for me to get through. I am glad I read it because now I can say I have. It did portray the era in an interesting light. These people had nothing to do. Their life was boring. Especially if you are poor (and they are). The sisters are interesting. Jo is the focus of the story (really Louisashould be an autobiography classification).Everyone loves her character. I think she is OK. The older daughter, (Meg) marries the neighbors professor (Brooks). She is an OK character. Beth is the weak one. Very family oriented. Sad that she dies. Amy is the youngest. I dont like her. I find it very hard to swallow that she marries Laurie and Jo (Lauries real love) handles it so well. That story line is pretty hard to believe. I am glad I read this but it is definitely not one of my favorites
reviewed Little Women on + 34 more book reviews
One of my all-time favorite stories!
reviewed Little Women on + 11 more book reviews
This is a hardcover copy.
reviewed Little Women on + 9 more book reviews
Product Description:

"Little Women is one of the best-loved books of all time. Lovely Meg, talented Jo, frail Beth, spoiled Amy: these are the four March sisters, who learn the hard lessons of poverty and of growing up in New England during the Civil War. Through their dreams, plays, pranks, letters, illnesses, and courtships, women of all ages have become a part of this remarkable family. Based on Louisa May Alcott's childhood, this lively portrait of nineteenth-century family life possesses a lasting vitality that has endeared it from generation to generation."
aspengrovehomeschool avatar reviewed Little Women on + 31 more book reviews
This is a littel pocket book, great for taking anywhere.