Visiting Orchard House

 Last Weekend, we visited the Orchard House as a day trip and it was lovely. I had been previously when I was 17, so a very long time ago.

Orchard House was the home of Louisa May Alcott, who wrote Little Women. You're not allowed to take pictures inside, which makes sense but also is a shame. Louisa May Aclott's sister May was a talented artist. She drew all through the family home - on windowsills, doors, and fireplace covers. It's really neat to see the drawings.

You can also see the desk in Louisa May Alcott's room where the wrote Little Women, part one. Once that was published, readers begged for a second book to see if the sisters got married. She was forced to make them marry, but she knew that Jo couldn't end up with Laurie. Louisa May Alcott made up a man, similar to her father, for Jo. During the time of publication of the first book, her address was printed. Many fans showed up at the house, forcing her to find a place in Boston where she could write. 

The sign outside

The House

Me in front of the house

Her father's school. Mr. Alcott was a Transcendentalist. He believed that Everyone should have an education, just not white men. 

 

The back side of the house. The house was made up of several buildings on the property cobbled together.

A recreation of a photo from the first time I was there.

The sisters' garden

Making a wish

A lovely tree

Me on the steps 

Other facts about the house:

Beth never lived in it. She died before it was ready

Louisa paid for May to travel to Europe to study art

May had a picture in the Salon, you can see that picture in the house

Besides the portraits in the house, most of the artwork is May's work

Anna (Meg in the books) was married in the house

The floors in the house slope something fierce. And the doorways are very crooked. It's a charming old house.

So many items in the house belonged to the Alcott's. It's very impressive.

There is a shocking lack of books except for in Mr. Alcott's study and Louisa May Alcott's room.

The Alcotts are buried in the local cemetery. 

Because we were in Concord, we stopped by the Old North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired. It's the place where 'American' soldiers were ordered to fire upon the Redcoats. 

Here's the bridge

 

Views from the bridge.

The bridge is NOT the original bridge. It's the seventh bridge since it was built. 

The Minuteman Statue is by Daniel Chester French who had ties to the Alcott's and who created the Lincoln memorial statue.

All in all, it was a gorgeous day, just perfect for an adventure. 

Booklist: Happy Birthday Louisa May Alcott

 

* picture source * Louisa May Alcott

I've been a fan of Little Women since Middle School. I remember reading the books and then reading Little Men and Jo's Boys

It was just around the time that this movie came out:

And I loved it.

I then discovered her other books:

Years later, I loved reading adaptations of her works.

Here's a booklist about Little Women:

Books Mentioned:

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy

Jo

The Penderwicks: I loved this book and am embarrassed that I didn't make the connection (that I remember. It's been a long time since I've read this book): No Review

So Many Beginnings: No review

Little Women and Me

Littlest Women: Not read

More to the Story

Jo & Laurie: Not read

The Mother Daughter Book Club: No review, but review of some of the series

Beth is Dead

Little Monsters: Not ready but in my TBR pile

Are you a fan of Little Women? Have you read any good adaptations?

Review: Beth is Dead

 

The March sisters are semi-famous after their father writes a novel based on their lives. Nothing is ever the same after that. In the novel, Beth dies. Everyone's shocked when Beth's body is found in the woods after a party. 

All three of her sisters have motive and opportunity. And they all have secrets. What really happened that night?

My Thoughts: I confess I was skeptical at first. Did I really want to read about Beth's murder. Yes, Yes I did. I loved this book. I didn't want it to end, but I also couldn't read the pages fast enough. In true sisterly fashion, the March sisters turned on each other. Everyone had secrets; no one wanted to be the sister their father immortalized. Each dealt with the fame in their own way. To be honest, they were all horrible people - but that's what makes them so entertaining. 

Cover Thoughts: Interesting

Source: ARC sent for review

Publication Date: January 2026

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your YA thriller collection.

Hand this one to: People who love thrillers or Little Women

Put this book on your Radar now, you won't regret it! 

Blog Tour: Sisters of Luna Island

Welcome to The Sisters of Luna Island Blog Tour!

To celebrate the release of The Sisters of Luna Island by Stacy Hackney on April 12th, 5 blogs will be featuring exclusive guest posts from Stacy throughout the week, as well as 5 chances to win!

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Shelfie
by Stacy Hackney

I live in an old farmhouse built in 1899. When we bought it, the house was in a state of disrepair with sagging floors, a leaking roof, rotted joists, and outdated plumbing. We spent months fixing and repairing, but my favorite part of the renovation is the new bookshelves in the living room. 

I love how bookshelves complete a house, lending it gravitas, distinction, and beauty. Here is a snippet of some of my shelves with recent children’s books I’ve loved (When You Trap a Tiger, Coo, Lawless Spaces), a few antiques I’ve inherited (The Last of the Mohicans, Pinocchio), and some favorite adult novels (Fates and Furies, Special Topics in Calamity Physics). The floors in my house still sag a little and the water still takes too long to heat up, but I have a bookshelf filled with wonderful books and that goes a long way into making this house a home.

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Buy | Add on Goodreads | Reading Guide

Little Women gets a Nevermoor twist in this bewitching novel about a young girl tasked to break a centuries-old curse or risk losing her beloved sisters.

Twelve-year-old Marigold Lafleur is the last of a long line of aromages: witches who blend scents into practical charms using aromagic. But ever since a terrible accident injured her father and damaged Luna Island, Marigold and her sisters, Birdie and Lou, have vowed to abandon their family legacy and mama’s way of life. Shunned by their neighbors and overlooked by their parents, Marigold relies on her big sisters above all else.

But when Marigold discovers a secret curse that threatens her family, her sisters can't stop the impending danger. It’s up to Marigold and her best friend, Sam, to uncover the origins of the curse and break the spell. To do so, she must learn to trust her instincts and believe in her own unique magic or risk losing her beloved sisters forever.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram

Stacy Hackney grew up in Virginia where she spent her early years forcing the neighborhood kids into performing plays she wrote, reading everything she could get her hands on, and singing in the school choir. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a BA in English literature and received a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, four sons, and their rescue dog named Albert. Stacy is the author of Forever Glimmer Creek and Sisters of Luna Island.
 

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• One (1) winner will receive a hardcover of The Sisters of Luna Island by Stacy Hackney!
• US/Can only
• Ends 4/24 at 11:59pm ET
• Check out the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!

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Blog Tour Schedule:
April 11th - Imagination Soup
April 12th - Bookhounds
April 13th - Book Briefs
April 14th - YA Book Nerd
April 15th - YA Books Central

Book Lists: Little Women

I'm a HUGE fan of Little Women.

This is the movie from my childhood:

I enjoyed this mini series

But this is the Little Women perfection

Read why here

And I'm SO Happy we are getting more book adaptions!

Here's the Book List:

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy:

This is a great graphic novel. There are some sad parts here.

Read my review here.

Jo:

Another graphic novel - where Jo writes for the school newspaper. Not the usual sad parts...

Review here.

More to the Story:

This is a middle grade novel with a Muslim American family. There are sad parts and amazing parts.

Review here

So Many Beginnings:

I'm excited to read this one.

See it on Goodreads

Little Witches:

I'm waiting for this one to come into the library.

Another graphic novel.

See it on Goodreads.

Similar Reads:

YA Book: The Mother-Daughter Book Club

Adult Book:

Meg and Jo

Graphic Novel Review: Jo

 

 A modern adaptation of Little Women with Jo in middle school. She writes a blog about her life in 8th grade and is on the school newspaper team.

My Thoughts: I'm really excited about all these Little Women adaptations. I love this story. It's fun seeing the March family in modern times. I love how the sister remain the same and still have their interests. Jo is still writing, Meg tutors, Beth loves music, and Amy's passionate about art. I liked Laurie and how he and Jo became friends. I enjoyed the slight romance in this book. A great adaptation!

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great purchase for school and public libraries - yes it's an adaptation, but it's also a fun read about the drama of middle school. 

Review: More to the Story

Jameela's excited when the newspaper advisor picks up as the new feature editor for the school newspaper. More than anything, Jameela wants to be an award winning journalist just like her grandfather.

But seventh grade is proving to be difficult. First her father's job takes him away from the family for six months. Then a draft of her article is printed instead of the real article - causing a new friend embarrassment.  The last straw is the news of her sister's illness.

Suddenly nothing matters and everything worries Jameela. She longs for life to return to normal.

My Thoughts: I love Little Women, so I was more than happy when this ARC came in the mail. And I loved this book; it perfectly captures the feel of Little Women - from the family dynamics, to the friendship with the boy, to Jameela's writing. Jameela's family is Muslim American. Ali, a family friend, arrives from England. I love their conversations about the differences between the two countries. I loved the bits about the newspaper. I loved Bisma's storytime and how that turned out. Of course, I cried at the ending. This book is such a heartwarming read.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendation: Strongly recommended for your school and public libraries.

Movie Review: Little Women

Little Women

I went into this movie with very high expectations - after all the buzz I'd been hearing but also because I love the story. And this movie did not disappoint.

It's a near PERFECT movie.

It's emotional, feminist, and real.

I have to admit that Amy *almost* won me over. She really is the worst sister.

I cried many times over the long movie.

I loved the timelines and how they came together.

Jo March was one of my first heroines and Saoirse Ronan did her justice. 

I loved seeing the book come together and I loved Jo's talks with the editor. He was funny.

I loved seeing Beth's relationship develop more with Mr. Lawrence. 

While I haven't read this book in years, I found it very faithful to the story. 

If you haven't seen it yet, do your self a favor and go. Immediately.  

Also I'm excited to read both of these books to have MORE Little Women!

Graphic Novel Review: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

A modernized version of Little Women where four sisters in a blended biracial family must work together to overcome life's challenges.

My Thoughts: I love the story of Little Women, so I grabbed this as soon as I saw it on the shelf. And I devoured it. It was SO GOOD. Of course I cried my way through the sad parts. It remains true to the original storyline but modernized. For example: Mr. March is in Afghanistan and the girls send him emails instead of letters. It did only cover the first novel of Little Women. I'm hoping that the second volume is in the works and will cover Good Wives (although I realize that might be too hard to do in the modern YA world). Perfect for handing out to readers who enjoy either graphic novels or for readers who love Little Women.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A must have graphic novel for school and public libraries. 

Movie Review: Little Women

While technically not a movie, I was so happy to hear about the remaking of Little Women. I loved the book, enjoyed the 1994 movie, and have visited Orchard House with my parents when I was in high school.

My Thoughts:

I loved it - and it was so sad. I cried through the last 45 minutes of it. So much emotion.

I thought they did an excellent job with:

* The costumes

* The set design

* The sisterly bond

* The cast was excellent, I had a hard time choosing my favorite.

I wish they included the time in the garret with the four sisters - either with the Pickwick Papers or the plays they used to act out.

There were some differences between the book and the mini series.
It seems like Amy was older in the mini series. She's the worst sister, but the actress played her beautifully.

PBS had a wonderful site for additional information.

I enjoyed looking at the On Set Secrets

I didn't realize the actress who plays Jo March was Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter. And that this is her first movie role. She was wonderful and I look forward to seeing her in more roles.

Did you watch the mini series? What did you think?
It said Season 1 on my DVR, could it be possible they will create Little Men and Jo's Boys too?

Review: Little Women and Me

When Emily's assigned to change one thing about a classic novel, she decides upon Little Women. Except she can't think of just one thing to change.

She'd save Beth (who wouldn't?). She'd make sure that Jo and Laurie end up together (that's where they belong). Before Emily can decide which major change to make, she's sucked into the novel.

She appears in the attic with the March sisters. Emily's the 5th March sister, and of course, still the middle sister. At first she's desperately unhappy, but she realizes that she can change the book from the inside.

She wouldn't mind kissing Laurie. She wants to keep Beth away from the Hummel family. She begins to desperately want to fit into the march family. Will Emily change the outcome too much? And how will she return to her own time?

My Thoughts: Loved the idea of this book. I'm a huge fan of Little Women and those two parts to the story always bugged me too. I like how closely it followed the book, but how things slightly changed with Emily's appearance. I LOVED the twist at the end. While I liked the book, there were times when I didn't like Emily. I think I just didn't connect with her. While I don't think you have to have read Little Women, it's much more enjoyable with knowledge of the story.

Cover Thoughts: I like how she's breaking out of the book.

Source: My Library