This month Dobama Theatre is bringing Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women to life on stage through December. If you’re planning on attending the play or simply interested in revisiting the story or later works celebrating sisterhood, there are plenty of middle grade adaptations to explore. Whether biological or based on chosen family, stories of sisterhood and friendship are inspiring and empowering. Here are four Little Women-ish titles to explore.
Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort Of)* by Kathleen Gros
This modern-day graphic novel adaptation explores identity and friendships through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Jo. Readers meet an eighth grade Jo trying to get serious about her writing. While the family is getting used to a new normal, Jo realizes something about herself that she never shared with anyone.
More to the Story by Hena Khan
Features editor of her school newspaper, thirteen-year-old Jameela wants to impress her father, but a misunderstanding and family illness complicate matters. Life at home with her sisters is turned upside down, and Jameela wonders if she has what it takes to be a journalist after all in this modern day adaptation.
Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez
Four very different girls form an alternative Scout troop that shakes up their sleepy Florida town. Their quest for justice and independence makes for an unforgettable summer and leads them to unexpected and important feelings of sisterhood.
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Graphic Novel by Rey Terciero
Four sisters from a blended family experience the challenges and triumphs of life in NYC in this graphic novel retelling of Little Women. Each young woman faces a unique struggle during a tough year. They find strength in each other as they discover who they are as individuals and as a family.
