When considering the plot changes that are made to these graphic novel adaptations, largely only deal with the material that comes from part one of Little Women. In MJBA this also leads to a cool moment involving Aunt March which humanizes her as a character. I appreciated this change for many reasons given that Jo can be read as queer in Little Women, Alcott didn’t want Jo to end up with anyone, and biographical details point to the fact that Alcott herself may have been queer. The biggest character change that is made involves Jo, as she is queer in both novels and experiences a coming out storyline in each. * slight spoiler ahead, read at your own risk* Jo contains additional narration in Jo’s blog, while in Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, Jo writes a journal and additional information is shared in emails from the various March sisters to their father. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy is set in New York City while Jo adopts a more suburban setting.

Part of this includes changing the setting. Because both of these graphic novels are modern adaptations of Little Women, it seems almost necessary to compare them and look at the work they’re doing compared to Alcott’s original 1868 Little Women.īoth books are modern adaptations of Little Women, placing Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy along with the various characters who join them along the way in current times and updating the scenarios they face with more modern ones (say goodbye to pickled limes). I’d already read another modern graphic novel adaptation of Little Women by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo called Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy that was published in 2019 (My dogs also ate my copy of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy this summer). So when I saw, Jo: An adaptation of Little Women (sort of) by Kathleen Gros on the graphic novel shelves in the Tween Room at the Brookline Public Library, I had to check it out.

I’ve published poetry written in response to some of her works, reviewed a spinoff young adult novel, and visited her home of Orchard House multiple times. It’s not a big secret that I’m a pretty big fan of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

Meg jo beth amy book graphic novel