As a white woman who holds the source material dear — I’ve read the book a few times and I’ve seen no less than five film adaptations — I entered So Many Beginnings with trepidation. Would Bethany C. Morrow mangle Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women?

There was no need to worry.

So Many Beginnings is probably the most thought-provoking reimagining I’ve ever read.

The book stands as almost a direct comparison between two worlds — black and white. Instead of writing fiction, Jo writes about freed people. Rather than tutor snobby children, Meg teaches former slaves to read. Beth is a talented seamstress, not as a pianist. And Amy gets the chance at a childhood none of the other sisters had.

Morrow’s writing is thoughtful and heartfelt. Her pacing is smooth and her scene setting perfection. Still, it’s not a fast read, especially if you’ve read Little Women. Moments of contemplation are common while reading, and I found myself taking little breaks here and there to help things settle.

When my daughter is old enough to read both Little Women and So Many Beginnings I plan to suggest reading them in succession. They truly feel like companion novels. So Many Beginnings publishes on Sept. 7.

SO MANY BEGINNINGS is an enchanting remixed tale of LITTLE WOMEN. The book transports the reader to the Freedman's Colony of Roanoke Island in the 1860s, where the March family has settled during the war. Each of the family has a job to do to keep things running, and their father is away helping with another colony and then later with the war itself. Their mother aids the soldiers with their correspondence, while Meg teaches in a tent (the white missionary teachers get the actual classrooms), Jo helps with building homes while she composes writing in her head, and Beth works at sewing garments to fit those newly arrived. Amy is still young, but she contributes where she is able and dances as much as she can.

As the book continues, each of the four sisters come into their own, finding their place in the world and who they want to be. The context of the book, the time period and starting location offer a unique perspective into American history, which is not often taught but was well-researched herein. A remix of the original, the personalities of the March girls were preserved, while offering new and deeper insights into their lives and the times of the Civil War.

There are many truly thought-provoking themes that would make this a great pick for a classroom or bookclub, especially when combined with history lessons. Abolitionists may be trying their best, but they often make decisions and give their thoughts as white people rather than asking the Black people around them for the truth of the matter. Jo writes to give voice to herself and those around her, but her writings are not appreciated or accepted by white people enough because of the stereotypes of what they believe she must sound like (ie, her tone and word choices seem educated). These prejudices and racisms are themes of the book, along with those of medical disparities, privilege, the enduring echoes of slavery, and, of course, the love of sisters.

Similar to the original, I loved the ultimate beauty of sisters and their love for each other that shines through the story. The personalities of each of the sisters and some key side characters is captured so well. I appreciated that this story is otherwise wholly its own, with an unpredictable plot and unique settings from the original. I particularly liked the changes around Amy, Lorie, and Beth, without giving details/spoilers. I really enjoyed the way the story all came together and found this to be a well-written historical read.

SO MANY BEGINNINGS is a compelling and well-researched remix of LITTLE WOMEN that I highly recommend. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Please tell me this has already been optioned for a movie! In the 21st century when more of us should be willing to see the US through the eyes of people who have been disenfranchised for generations, this book will make us look closer and think deeper about our history through the lens of fiction.

This is truly a remix of Little Women with Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Each sister comes of age in similar ways to the original story. However, the difference in circumstances allows the reader to see both the North and the South through the eyes of formerly enslaved people.

This book will be on display in my high school library. I will be recommending it heartily. Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm pleased to be able to offer a positive review to combat some of the negative ones :)

This was a solid Little Women retelling, and I was extremely pleased with this! I consider the original to be one of my absolute favorites, and I was pleasantly surprised with how well Morrow kept with the tone of Alcott's. It was very similar to Little Women while also being fresh and original.

I also found it very interesting how there were quite a few plot changes, like (SPOILERS) Jo ending up with Laurie, and Beth surviving. While these were all things I wished had happened in the original, I'm not quite sure whether I liked them or not here.

While the background for this retelling was still the American Civil War, our main characters are not a middle-to-upper class white family, but a black family who has recently escaped slavery. I really enjoyed how this changed the whole view of the story, and it was so interesting to read about the Roanoke Freedman's Colony - something I'd never heard of before.

This was a promising start to a new series, and I can't wait to read more classic retellings!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Macmillan, all opinions are my own.

I have always been a fan of "Little Women" and this novel definitely pays it justice. Similar to the original, you will come to love this family and young women as they explore adulthood and come to age during the civil war. Definitely a clever, fresh, and new adaptation to the original and a must-read for all.

Thank you to#Netgalley for an ARC of this novel to fairly and honestly review. In this thought provoking novel author Bethany C. Morrow tells the story of the March family of Little Women from the perspective of the four black March sisters :Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, and the family Matriarch Mammy who struggle to define themselves and the true meaning of freedom in the midst of the life in the ‘ free persons colony’ of Roanoke during the civil war. This compelling story of family and spirit, challenges readers to question the accuracy of history. Can history truly be accurate without considering the perspective of those who experienced it?
So Many Beginnings is a story that will be enjoyed by those who appreciate the charm of theLittle Women take, and by anyone who with courage to rethink what we have been told about the path from ‘slavery’ to ‘freedom’ . This is an amazing read!

This is an important story that doesn’t sugar coat any of the history around enslavement or the Civil War, with really important messages that are still relevant today. As a white person, some parts really had me examining my own behavior now. The love and joy between the sisters is still the shining star of the story. You don’t need to know the original story to read this one, though.

This book grabbed my heart and won’t let go. I’ve been thinking about it for months and I appreciate so much about it. Bethany C. Morrow has done many things through this remix. She’s told a wonderful story of family and love, but she also uses the text to interrogate Alcott’s original work and the canon in general. Why do Little Women and the many novels like it take up so much space in the literary world of the U.S.? Why is this particular book chosen over and over to be retold in books and on screen? Why do we call the original work historical fiction when myths are there, but very little actual history? I haven’t seen the final version, but in the advance copy, two characters have a discussion about how stories and histories are ranked and decisions are made of which deserve to be read and remembered. Readers are reminded to question what they believe to be true, what narratives are valued, and why these things matter. This questioning may be found throughout the story, but it feels natural and not preachy.

With a remix, I would imagine most readers are curious as to how it compares to the first book. The most obvious similarity to the original is the presence of four sisters and their immense love for each other. For those familiar with Little Women, there are also other noticeable parallels, but it really is a completely new story with a different setting that may be a surprise to many readers. Much of the story takes place in a colony on Roanoke Island. This is a bit of history that was not mentioned in my public school education. During the Civil War there were formerly enslaved people who came to take refuge with the Union troops that were located on the island. The people were referred to as contraband. That naming is immediately something to make a person stop and think about what the Union actually thought about Black people. Roanoke’s existence is just one example of the many ways that people and events have been erased in the U.S. Some readers may even wonder if the author has written an alternative history, but that’s because our mythology is so entrenched in popular culture that many people see the truth as fiction and fiction as truth.

This setting is a key part of the novel. Morrow brings the Roanoke to life with sights, sounds, and even smells. The setting is incredibly detailed and the story revolves around why they are there, what they are accomplishing in the colony, and the future hopes for their community.

Morrow also reveals the racism that is embedded in the cultures of both the north and the south. One is more hidden than the other, but both cause harm. Most northerners seem blind to it though. One scene stood out to me when a white character is revealing their prejudice, and as her realization dawns, this person becomes incredibly uncomfortable. White people being uncomfortable had usually been something to avoid, but in this case, nobody jumps in to smooth everything over. This woman from the north who likely sees herself as an ally, gets to sit in her discomfort. Race is a major factor in the book, but how could it not be given the time in U.S. history? That’s a question to ask of Alcott.

Finally, I adored the young women. Without giving too much away, just know that Jo actually gets to be Jo in this book and doesn’t have to bend herself to fit into the mold of the supposed ideal woman. This made my heart so happy.

Recommendation: Get it as soon as you can especially if you enjoy historical fiction. It’s an amazingly well done story, but also gives readers so much to think about regarding literature, authorship, the canon, race, societal values, and more.

I LOVED the little women movie (the recent one!) and have always said that it would be so cool to see a new take on it. I'm really glad Bethany C. Morrow is giving us this new take with this book. What's really interesting to me is how the author has never read Little Women (and neither have I lmao). It makes this book different and changes everything.

I thought it was interesting and enjoyed reading it, despite not being into historical fiction! I recommend this book!

SO MANY BEGINNINGS maintains the heart and love present in the original LITTLE WOMEN but adds in themes of slavery and life after in colonies and communities. I had a great time reading this but also felt that the themes of slavery were sobering and educational, especially about the Freedpeople's Colonies. There is a lot of discussion about life and labor for Black people in this time period and the South, and I really appreciated those discussions. This is a really important read, especially for fans of LITTLE WOMEN. Like I said, the sisterhood and familial love elements from the original shine through but are adapted to better represent this family in this time period. I love what the Remixes are doing by diversifying the classics and, in this case, bringing forth themes that were missing from the original. The writing style feels warm and homey; you really get to know these sisters and feel love and sorrow when they feel love and sorrow. I honestly just wish this was longer, that we got to spend more time with these characters, but I highly recommend this one to fans of LITTLE WOMEN (and even if you haven't read/watched it, you'll still adore it) and can't wait for it to release!

The changes Morrow made to this story were great, and I thought the setting was particularly interesting (and it's a bummer we don't learn about these colonies in school). But in general the Little Women frame for stories just doesn't connect with me - I think because it is such a story of sisterhood and as an only child the sisterly relationships that center every Little Women story just don't hit for me the way they hit for other people. I would definitely recommend this over the original Little Women though!

Oh man, this book destroyed me emotionally in the best possible way. That last line? Sobs.

I'm a big fan of Little Women, I'm a big fan of Bethany C. Morrow, and I also really enjoyed Clash of Steel, the Treasure Island remix in this same series. So this was kind of perfectly created, in my mind. Folks who are looking for a beat-for-beat retelling are not going to find it here, and Morrow has been explicit about that. (See her Twitter thread here about why here: https://twitter.com/BCMorrow/status/1421860886348697603)

But I'm not one of those people. As a lover of Little Women, this book hit all the right notes for me while presenting an entirely new perspective, of what that same time period was like for Black Americans. It is set in the same time period as the source material, where we encounter the March family at the Roanoke Island Freedpeople's Colony. Which was a very real place! So Many Beginnings thinks about the trauma of the Civil War for Black folks, and the challenges of not only dealing with that trauma but then attempting to establish new lives and families with little resources and even less support. (Basically, imagine the "that's enough activism for today" chat meme as the Union army...) It encounters the struggles of wanting to pursue new possibilities while also clinging so strongly to physical proximity because of past violent separations. It confronts the self-righteousness of white liberalism, and explores the disconnect between the Black experience of former slaves and those who were already free.

Less important than those beats, Morrow also introduced some twists that made my precious little heart very happy.

It packs a big emotional punch while also being incredibly enjoyable to read, is what I'm saying. I'm really looking forward to handselling this one.

I was intrigued by the premise of "reimagining" the classic Little Women with African American women. So Many Beginnings has many similarities to Little Women, but is its own story.

Mammy and her four girls, Amethyst, Bethlehem, Joanna, and Meg, live in a Freedman's Colony on Roanoke Island in the North Carolina Outer Banks. The war isn't over yet, but the March family and many other families have left their enslavers and established their own settlement, with the help of the Union soldiers. Their father, Alcott, is visiting another freedman's colony in Mississippi, to learn more about becoming a self-sustaining colony. The girls (except for young Amy) have their jobs to support the colony and the family - Meg teaches, Jo builds houses, Beth is a seamstress and Mammy is writing letters and preparing documents for the Union soldiers.

I loved reading about this family of strong, intelligent women, and learning about the Roanoke Freedman's colony. It is shameful that I have lived in North Carolina my entire life and knew nothing about this settlement until now. The story illuminates that former slaves were not a monolithic group - while some had no education and spoke in a slave dialect, others knew how to read and write, and were happy to share their knowledge with others. There was a lot of prejudice among the Union soldiers, missionaries who served in the new colonies, and even free black people in the North. Many believed that all former slaves were uneducated, lazy, and in need of their help now that they were free. The March family showed how inaccurate this assumption was, and how the former slaves didn't trust any white people because they understood all too well how precarious this newfound freedom was.

I really enjoyed So Many Beginnings - thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy!

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC of "So Many Beginnings" by Bethany C. Morrow. The American classic "Little Women" reimagined to present a poignant and raw examination of the life and experiences of the recently emancipated during and after the Civil War. The endearing characters are brought to life once again to create a new story and setting with the four beloved black sisters. Meg, a teacher with dreams of marriage and her own family. Independent Jo who's pen is mightier than any sword. Sweet Beth a talented seamstress in search for her own path. And Amy, a talented dancer who shines bright and wants to explore what life outside the Freedpeople's Colony of Roanoke Island can offer. The traditional tale of sisterhood, love, and family returns with a fresh take that will leave readers wanting more of this smart story with a whole lot of heart.
Beyond a retelling, this imaginative remix will stay in the hearts of Little Women fans. Morrow kept the traditional characters with surprising twists that will excite new and continuing fans of this classic. This diverse novel takes a different path than the original, but the novel still hits the key elements with the power of family being continued through each tough sisterly talk and treasured memory. A powerful story and discussion on pain, frustration, and the continued fight for justice that will resonate with youth and adults of all ages. A favourite to be added to any bookshelf or library collection. The book will be treasured in the classroom and at home and become a fast favourite.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of So Many Beginnings!

I'm going to start off by saying that I loved Little Women when I was a kid, but when I reread it again after watching the most recent film adaptation (which I loved!), I found the book to be dreadfully boring, pedantic, and preachy. Many potentially interesting things happen in Little Women, but they are told about in such a boring way that it is very hard to feel moved by them.

Something I absolutely love is retellings of classic stories that manage to perfectly capture the spirit of the original and set it in a new milieu, and I felt like So Many Beginnings does just that. It takes the main elements of Little Women and retells them, casting the March family as freed slaves who are living in the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke during the Civil War and immediately thereafter. The personalities of the four sisters are preserved from the original, and what makes this book truly great is that it tells interesting events in a completely boring way. It may sound strange that I loved this aspect of the book the most, but I think part of Little Women's enduring charm is that it is dreadfully boring. Any author that can take the source material and capture the essence of its voice is totally brilliant in my mind, and I would definitely cast Bethany Morrow's work here as exactly that.

Highly recommend to fans of faithful retellings!

3.75 stars

As a person who has often struggled with the ongoing popularity of _Little Women_, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this remix. I wanted to find a foothold with these characters and some aspects of the plot, and that's exactly what Morrow delivers!

The historical elements of this piece are - for me - the absolute highlight. The setting, cultural elements, and discussion of various aspects of enslavement are fascinating, and I expect many readers will learn a great deal from this book without ever feeling a didactic quality in the writing. In the author's note, Morrow mentions the meticulous research completed in relation to this book, and this really comes through in the best way from start to finish.

For me, Morrow's characters are significantly more compelling than the folks whom they remix. The impacts of their intersectional identities on their obstacles and outcomes add so much more to the text and the overall reading experience. While I do feel like the book slows at times, I never stopped rooting for these characters (which is not something I can say for their predecessors).

Morrow's contribution here marks an entertaining and meaningful contribution to the YA world, and both fans and skeptics of the work on which the remix is based will all find something to appreciate here. I'm looking forward to adding this to my list of recs for students.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you are a fan of Little Women, you will love this re-telling!

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

I love the idea of this book, but ultimately I was not able to finish it as it did not hold my interest. I love the retelling of Little Women and setting this book with a black family in the Antebellum South. It looks like other reviewers who loved Little Women also loved this book - I was more interested to see how the author chose to rework some of the story, and once I figured that out I decided not to finish. Still, this is a fantastic idea and I think many readers will really enjoy this book.

I love how this was a remix! There are many people who will love reading this or have it read to them. The characters are very recognizable. We need more remixes of the other classics!!

I was a little apprehensive about this book, while at the same time desperately wanting to read it, because I've greatly enjoyed Bethany Morrow's other works and Little Women was my absolute favorite book growing up. I can't even count how many times I read it while dealing with middle school and high school stress. And I can now say without hesitation that this retelling knocks it out of the park.

One thing Bethany Morrow does especially well here is remaining true to the heart of the original story while still crafting it around a different family with a vastly different history and set of needs. Their desires, though, are very familiar. Meg wants a husband and family of her own, Jo wants to write and retains her tempestuous nature, Beth is sweet and gentle and loves to sew, and Amy is headstrong, a bit spoiled, and talented at art (dancing, in this case). But above all of those things is their love for one another and their closeness as a family.

I got hints of Jo being asexual here which really resonated with me and I found it very true to both this Jo and the original Jo. I am glad that this Lorie was willing to let Jo love him in her own way and not try to change her.

I think the choice to turn the March family from a poor Northern family with their father fighting in the Civil War to a formerly enslaved black family fighting to gain their freedom was brilliant. Their struggles and disagreements and love -- everything about them really -- were given a much deeper meaning and resonance. Beth's mysterious disease not occurring in white people so of course their doctors were perplexed. The way Amy was spoiled made so much more sense when taken with the fact that the entire March family were trying to give her the childhood none of the rest of them were allowed to have. Jo's book-in-progress being criticized not because she is a woman but because she dares to write intellectually instead of using the broken English and dialect expected of a formerly enslaved Black woman. The struggles are the same. The meaning and depth in every action and conversation are just. So much deeper. I'm in awe.

That last line of the book was utterly perfect and made me cry it hit so hard. Just. Beautifully crafted.

I also learned SO much while reading this book. I grew up in North Carolina and had no idea the Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony even existed. Much as I have recently learned a LOT of things about the history of this country and its treatment of Black people that I never learned growing up.

This is a case where I think the audiobook narrator actually detracts from the story being narrated. This book deserves 5 stars absolutely, but I'm only giving the narrator 3. She spoke too slowly, with a somewhat odd lilt that made me a bit twitchy as I listened. I ended up speeding it up to 1.5x speed which at least made it go faster. Once I gave up on the audio and started reading my enjoyment of the story increased greatly. I wish I'd read it from the start because I think I'd have loved it even more and gotten more out of it.

*Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Children's Publishing Group, and MacMillan Audio for providing an e-arc and audio arc for review.