Emily March was the middle sister, and she was sick of it. Her older sister Charlotte always got to pick first because she was the oldest. Then, her younger sister Anne got to pick next because she was the youngest, and she shouldn’t always get the left overs. But that meant that Emily the middle March always had to take what was left.
As English homework, Emily has to find a classic book that is nearly perfect, give three things she loves about the book and one thing she would change about the book. Which book to choose? After rejecting several of the favorites on her bookshelves, Emily settles on Little Women. She has no trouble coming up with three things she loves about the book. But what to change? The thing with Beth? How things end for Jo? Amy winding up with Laurie, the boy next door instead of Jo? With a V-ROOM! and a WHOOSH!, Emily finds herself in front of the fireplace in the March house, surrounded by Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—Emily is still the middle March sister with Meg and Jo older and Beth and Amy younger. It’s 1861, and the March girls are trying to figure out what to get for Marmee, sewing their clothes, making do, taking Christmas breakfast to the Hummels, meeting Laurie, and dealing with Aunt March. Emily has no idea how she came to be with the March sisters, but since she was there, she figured she might as well do what she could to make a happier ending for the March sisters.
Reviewed Kathy Thornhill, Zauel Memorial Library
Recommended for grades 6 and up
