Through journals that the noted author of Little Women kept from the ages of ten to thirteen, young readers can learn about her inspirations and follow her progress as a writer.
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From Publishers Weekly
Written when Alcott was between the ages of 10 and 13, these lucid diary entries in essence provide a behind-the-scenes look at her classic novel, Little Women . Quotes from that novel, as well as Ryan's insightful annotations, reinforce the parallel between Alcott's fiction and her childhood years. Born in 1832, Alcott and her three sisters had a regimented upbringing on Fruitlands, the experimental Massachusetts farm begun by their father and a friend. After the farm failed, the family moved into the Concord home that became the model for the setting of Little Women . Here, Alcott "at last got the little room I have wanted so long," in which she continued to sharpen her writing skills. According to Ryan, Alcott's father nurtured in her "what she needed to become a writer: a love and mastery of language and a freedom and power of expression." On the basis of this volume--which contains a sampling of her heartfelt, strikingly sophisticated poetry--Alcott achieved these goals at an impressively young age. Polished, period paintings by Graham ( Roommates ; Lottie's Dream ) present affecting portraits of the girl who so eloquently expresses herself on these pages. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Ryan has taken writings from Louisa May Alcott's early diary and combined them with excerpts from Little Women as well as biographical information, resulting in a confusing book that does not give a complete picture of the subject. Samples from her diary, her poetry, and notes she wrote to her mother clearly reflect that Alcott had an unhappy childhood and that, due to her religious upbringing, she was constantly trying to be "good." The book is illustrated with several full-color, full-page paintings, which look like some of the illustrations from the time of Little Women. Readers looking for additional information about Alcott might find this book interesting, especially if they themselves are thinking of becoming writers. However, anyone needing a complete and organized biography will have to look elsewhere.
Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Margaret C. Howell, West Springfield Elementary School, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A Peek into Louisa May Alcott's Childhood
April 14 2005
By Cozy Cat
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
I enjoyed this book. (I'm 13.) It gave the reader enough information to know what kind of girl Louisa was, what she did, how she thought, etc. I thought it was a very good read,(I enjoyed all of her great poetry) however, it left you longing to know MORE about Louisa May Alcott. It lacked ENOUGH information about her, and nearly gave you a small peek into her life. That's why I'm reading another biography on her, which I hope will let me know more about Louisa's life. (P.S...the book is short; I read it in less than a day.)
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Ok...but could have been better
Jun 2 2003
By Jess
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
While this book might do alright for a bedtime story, I found it written in a confusing way and the information was in no specific order. Contrary to what the title suggests, there were only snippets of Louisa's diaries, and those snippets were chock full of the author's puntuation and added words. The rest of the book was the author's narration of Louisa's life. I will give it credit for the nice pictures and the work that must have been put into it, but if you want to read to your young child about Louisa May Alcott's amazing life, I suggest finding another book.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
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