Tag: Little Women

I couldn’t put this down!

If I could only write one sentence about “Beth is Dead” by Katie Bernet, it would be – Get a copy of this book and clear your schedule so you can read. I could not put this book down. Seriously. I read this book over 25 hours, and it only took me that long because adult responsibilities kept me from reading it in one sitting.

“Beth is Dead” follows the March sisters (yes, the “Little Women” March sisters). The story begins with Beth dying or rather being murdered. Who would kill Beth March? While it is told in modern times, Beth March is still very much the sweet sister you cared about in the original story. Why would someone kill her? It seems everyone might have a motive. I love a good retelling of a classic story with a fun new twist, so I was sold from page one.

Amy wants to go to an expensive art program in Europe but the only way her aunt will pay for it is if Beth doesn’t attend a prestigious music program she was recently accepted in. Could she have killed her own sister? Jo was previously accused of faking a break-in to the family home to sell her stories and garner a larger following. Could she have killed her own sister? Beth discovered a complicated situation between Meg and her roommate. Could one of them have killed Beth? The list of suspects extends beyond the family. Beth’s music teacher was upset she might not attend the music program. Could he have killed her? Jo’s best friend, Laurie, snuck out the night of her death and doesn’t have an alibi. Could he have killed her? Mr. March wrote a book that put his daughters in the spotlight in a way none of them asked for. Could one of his fans have killed her?

I loved the way this story was told going back and forth between the past and now (simply “then” and “now” chapters). This gave readers more the backstory needed to understand why someone might be a suspect. The story was not predictable, and I was honestly shocked when I discovered who the murderer was. I wish I could tell give you more details, but you need to read this book and go through all the twists and turns it will take you on in the quest to find Beth’s murderer.

This YA novel is Katie Bernet’s debut novel. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. I highly recommend this book for teens and older readers. Trust me, clear your schedule, get comfortable and start reading. You will not be able to put this book down.

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A Little Women Adaptation in a Graphic Novel

I’ve picked up and put down a lot of books lately. Not that I didn’t want to read those books, I just didn’t want to read them right now. I didn’t have any books I had to read right now, so I gave myself this opportunity to enjoy summer reading and try a lot of different books.

I sat on my sofa surrounded by looks picking up different ones from each pile. I was surprised a graphic novel pulled me in to keep reading but as I started flipping through “Jo An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort of)” by Kathleen Gros I needed to revisit the March sisters.

I love a good retelling of a classic story because I feel like with Classics, we tend to focus on the differences rather than the similarities. Retellings often show us how relevant that story still is today. Once we adapt the characters to modern times, we realize how similar our emotions and experiences are to those characters.

In this adaptation, Jo is in 8th grade, writing for her school paper, while keep an anonymous blog. Obviously different from the Jo March we know from the original story but still very much the same girl. Meg, Amy, and Beth are all present in this retelling as well as Marme, even Laurie. Modern day versions but still very similar to those characters we all know and love.

In this graphic novel, we follow the March girls through 1 year of their life told through Jo’s perspective. Jo joins her school newspaper and learns how to bring a personal perspective to her writing. We see her character grow through the story, discover who she really is and how the people she cares about most are with her every step of the way. Jo comes out to her family and friends, but this isn’t just a coming out story. It’s a small part of her story, not the focus of the book. I liked how Gros told this part of Jo’s story as one part of what makes up the whole character, not the entire focus of the story.

This book is an enjoyable retelling of a classic with a modern spin. I do now wonder if Alcott wrote today, if she would have Jo write a blog. I feel like she would have.

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