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alannah_rose's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paige_georgia_reads's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fun, fluffy, and a fun “what if” for the March sisters. I’ve always loved the idea of Jo March being queer (even if my own personal headcanon for her is that she’s aromantic), so it was nice to see that. A few of Beth’s sections made me cry a little.
plandocalrisian's review
3.0
Thank you, NetGalley and Delacorte, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Although I didn't realize it was a middle grade story, I really did enjoy this heartwarming read. This Little Women retelling is set during WWII after Beth's death. A grief-fueled argument between the March sisters catapults them off in separate directions, as they seek to do their part in the war, while also finding themselves through journeys outside their comfortability. As a retelling, don't expect the same story, but that's what makes this novel worthwhile. It really explored the characters in exciting new ways, while keeping true to the essence of each of the March sisters. I loved that one of the storylines included a sapphic love story, it was raw and thoughtfully explored for a young reader's book. The four different authors were able to effortlessly dive into each of the sisters' stories, and the POVs flowed perfectly. If you like historical fiction and want more of the March sisters, I definitely recommend.
~Little Women retelling
~Multiple POVs (e/sister taken on individually by each of the four authors)
~Historical Fiction - World War II setting
~Middle Grade Level
~Focuses on bonds of sisterhood, being a woman in WWII, love and grief
~Sapphic Representation
~Beth’s chapters in prose
Although I didn't realize it was a middle grade story, I really did enjoy this heartwarming read. This Little Women retelling is set during WWII after Beth's death. A grief-fueled argument between the March sisters catapults them off in separate directions, as they seek to do their part in the war, while also finding themselves through journeys outside their comfortability. As a retelling, don't expect the same story, but that's what makes this novel worthwhile. It really explored the characters in exciting new ways, while keeping true to the essence of each of the March sisters. I loved that one of the storylines included a sapphic love story, it was raw and thoughtfully explored for a young reader's book. The four different authors were able to effortlessly dive into each of the sisters' stories, and the POVs flowed perfectly. If you like historical fiction and want more of the March sisters, I definitely recommend.
~Little Women retelling
~Multiple POVs (e/sister taken on individually by each of the four authors)
~Historical Fiction - World War II setting
~Middle Grade Level
~Focuses on bonds of sisterhood, being a woman in WWII, love and grief
~Sapphic Representation
~Beth’s chapters in prose
ebeubanks8's review against another edition
3.0
I thought it was gonna be better, so I’m just disappointed.
elizabethgmoore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookswithmaddi's review
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Great or Nothing has been on my TBR since the moment I saw it on Goodreads. A book with Joy McCullough about some of my favorite literary characters is an immediate win for me and it certainly didn’t disappoint!
Great or Nothing is a retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women but reimagined during World War II. We are privy to the narrative of each of the four March sisters each of whom is written by a different author. The characters held true to the outline of Alcott’s characters while exploring the opportunities that a new time period and setting provides.
This book had so many strengths it’s difficult to know where to begin. The choice to utilize different authors for each of the different sisters added an element to this book that could not be recreated by a single writer. Each author had a distinct enough voice that the narratives didn’t blend together or get too confusing. Joy McCullough’s verse as Beth was particularly powerful and really encapsulated the strengths of her writing.
Another strength of this book was the clear research and work that had been done to make it historically accurate. The addition of pop culture references from the time period and significant events and mindsets worked to ground the reader in the time period. The way that these authors handled issues of racism and sexism of the time period was both graceful and powerful. The dissatisfaction of the women who were underappreciated was clear without being overbearing as they emphasized the importance of both leaving home to work and staying home to comfort. The commentary on the racial prejudices against Black soldiers and Japanese Americans was handled very well. It demonstrated imperfect white characters who needed to grow and change, and did, without creating a white savior complex.
I think the biggest flaw of this book is its pacing. The beginning moves slowly sometimes including details that seem unnecessary. Because of this, it feels like the end of the book ran out of space and had to end rather abruptly without a full resolve. I can totally understand the literary strategy of the way this book ended, but for me, I would’ve preferred slightly more resolve.
Overall, I absolutely adore this book and it will be one that I think about long after I have finished it. The end of it had me nearly in tears. It is a beautiful and powerful novel that revives and reimagines Alcott’s characters in powerful new positions.
Great or Nothing has been on my TBR since the moment I saw it on Goodreads. A book with Joy McCullough about some of my favorite literary characters is an immediate win for me and it certainly didn’t disappoint!
Great or Nothing is a retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women but reimagined during World War II. We are privy to the narrative of each of the four March sisters each of whom is written by a different author. The characters held true to the outline of Alcott’s characters while exploring the opportunities that a new time period and setting provides.
This book had so many strengths it’s difficult to know where to begin. The choice to utilize different authors for each of the different sisters added an element to this book that could not be recreated by a single writer. Each author had a distinct enough voice that the narratives didn’t blend together or get too confusing. Joy McCullough’s verse as Beth was particularly powerful and really encapsulated the strengths of her writing.
Another strength of this book was the clear research and work that had been done to make it historically accurate. The addition of pop culture references from the time period and significant events and mindsets worked to ground the reader in the time period. The way that these authors handled issues of racism and sexism of the time period was both graceful and powerful. The dissatisfaction of the women who were underappreciated was clear without being overbearing as they emphasized the importance of both leaving home to work and staying home to comfort. The commentary on the racial prejudices against Black soldiers and Japanese Americans was handled very well. It demonstrated imperfect white characters who needed to grow and change, and did, without creating a white savior complex.
I think the biggest flaw of this book is its pacing. The beginning moves slowly sometimes including details that seem unnecessary. Because of this, it feels like the end of the book ran out of space and had to end rather abruptly without a full resolve. I can totally understand the literary strategy of the way this book ended, but for me, I would’ve preferred slightly more resolve.
Overall, I absolutely adore this book and it will be one that I think about long after I have finished it. The end of it had me nearly in tears. It is a beautiful and powerful novel that revives and reimagines Alcott’s characters in powerful new positions.
beffynicole's review against another edition
3.75
Originally rated this a 4 but more of a 3.75. A lot of the voices/POVs felt flat for me. Amy's was definitely the strongest and most engaging. Took me way too long to figure out Beth was narrating/observing from beyond the grave.
Also you all know I love sapphic romances and Jo being queer makes sense, but the way this was written just felt off. I also wish that they had done more of a gender bending of the professor instead of getting rid of him all together
Also you all know I love sapphic romances and Jo being queer makes sense, but the way this was written just felt off. I also wish that they had done more of a gender bending of the professor instead of getting rid of him all together
jbduran's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kyra_deane's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
fin881's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book! I am not the biggest fan of little women itself but this retelling is one of my favourite reads of the year thus far. Always knew Jo was a queer, it’s as if I can sniff them out