A reimagining of Little Women set in 1942, when the United States is suddenly embroiled in the second World War, this story, told from each March sister's point of view, is one of grief, love, and self-discovery.In the fall of 1942, the United States is still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. While the US starts sending troops to the front, the March family of Concord, Massachusetts grieves their own enormous loss: the death of their daughter, Beth.
Under the strain of their grief, Beth's remaining sisters fracture, each going their own way with Jo nursing her wounds and building planes in Connecticut, Meg holding down the home front with Marmee, and Amy living a secret life as a Red Cross volunteer in London--the same city where one Mr. Theodore Laurence is stationed as an army pilot.
Each March sister's point of view is written by a separate author, three in prose and Beth's in verse, still holding the family together from beyond the grave. Woven together, these threads tell a story of finding one's way in a world undergoing catastrophic change.
On sale: March 8, 2022
Age: 12 and up
Grade: Grade 7 & Up
Page count: 400 Pages
ISBN: 9780593372593
Reading level: Lexile: 800L
Tess Sharpe lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs. She is the author of many books for children, teens and adults, including the critically acclaimed YA novel
Far From You and the Jurassic World prequel,
The Evolution of Claire. She is also the co-editor of
Toil & Trouble, a feminist anthology about witches.
Jessica Spotswood is the author of the fantasy trilogy The Cahill Witch Chronicles and the contemporary novels
Wild Swans and
The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls. She is the editor of
A Tyranny of Petticoats and
The Radical Element and co-editor of
Toil & Trouble. Jess lives in Washington, DC, where she works for the DC Public Library.
Caroline Tung Richmond is the award-winning author of
The Only Thing to Fear, The Darkest Hour, and
Hungry Hearts. She is also the program director of We Need Diverse Books. A self-proclaimed history nerd and cookie connoisseur, Caroline lives in Maryland with her family.
Joy McCullough's debut YA novel
Blood Water Paint won honors such as the National Book Award longlist and finalist for the ALA Morris Award. Her debut MG novel,
A Field Guide to Getting Lost is a JLG Selection. She writes books from her home in the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband and two children.
Praise for
Great or Nothing:
"
Poignant, clever, and heartfelt, this story pulls at the complicated tapestry that is family, and finds certain bonds are unbreakable."-- Stacey Lee,
NYT bestselling author of Reese's Book Club pick,
The Downstairs Girl "Fans of
Little Women--and of WWII narratives--will
devour this inventive and touching exploration of possibilities for the
world's most beloved siblings."--L.M. Elliott, author of
Under a War-torn Sky and
Hamilton and
Peggy! A Revolutionary Friendship "The WWII
Little Women retelling that
made me cry the whole way through . . . I will be shoving
Great or Nothing in everyone’s face when it comes out . . .
I am obsessed."--
Books Before Boys "
A must-read for Louisa May Alcott fans and anyone who believes in the power of sisterhood."--
Booklist "Gives these much-loved sisters
new energy and a
satisfying sense of agency."--
PW
"Readers will feel
unique connections to each sister and their motivations, heartbreaks and joys. This is a
compelling and
tender historical coming-of-age novel with
wide appeal.
"--BookPage
"
Refreshingly acerbic."--
Kirkus Reviews
