'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy' is a book that can change lives. It can inspire. It can bolster, foster, and blossom hope. It is so darn warm, lovely, raw and teary, yet positive, that it nearly made me cry.
It looks like Greta Gerwig's film wasn't the only great 'Little Women' adaptation to come out in 2019. 'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy' is a modern retelling of the classic children's book, and yeah, I admit it, I like it better than the original. No, that doesn't do it justice: I love it - body, heart and soul.'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women' is one of the best graphic novels I've ever read. Whatever flaws it has do not matter (nothing can be perfect, after all). It is just such a wonderful, all-encompassing experience, like a big pink and purple blanket. It overflows with passion. It is about life, about family, about friends, about love in all its different forms, about obstacles and tragedies...
About growing up.
It is about realising that life isn't fair, but that doesn't mean it's utterly hopeless and cruel, or it doesn't have to be. It is about how change is scary, uncomfortable, and even heartbreaking, but mostly it can be a good thing; no, it's necessary. The worst of challenges, struggles and devastations are sent to try us, to test us.
Above everything else, this beautiful, and diverse and inclusive, gem of a modern adaptation is about sisterhood. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March couldn't be more different from each other: Meg the fashionista and wannabe shallow socialite; Jo the tomboyish bookworm, aspiring writer and social activist (with a nonetheless troubling secret); Beth the quiet and shy sweetheart musician; and Amy the loud, boisterous, self-indulgent artist (and gamer) and baby of the family. Each sister has her own realistic flaws to be self-aware of and overcome, but they love each other dearly. They are caterpillars - growing, developing, shifting, evolving, turning into butterflies. They are stronger together, to be there, and help out however they can. They are a family, and they will learn never to take each sister (and parent, too) for granted.
Change is inevitable, but love is eternal. As is hope.
The March sisters are brill characters individually, but in their beloved sisterhood bond they are so marvellous it hurts. Be they fighting, disagreeing, or dealing with their own lives, as sisters do, they will come through for each other when it matters. It's a testament to the true extent of humanity's capacity for kindness, support and sacrifice, how much they care for one another.
Love, kindness, understanding, and support are key to human progress and survival.
We need more positive sisterhood representation - and positive mother-and-daughter and father-and-daughter representation - like in 'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy'.
The twists on the familiar elements of 'Little Women' are excellent, genius even (I won't dare spoil any of them). The emails (mostly from the girls to their father, who's in the military in the Middle East), letters, and journal entries that are interspersed between chapters are real and heartwarming to read, with each sister's voice very distinct in each one. They struck a chord with me. They are full of love, comfort and memories.
Of course there is lots of POC and LBGTQ rep, and it is socially and politically conscious and responsible. Why wouldn't it be? I was shocked when I found that a lot of negative reviews of 'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy' on Goodreads and Amazon are from homophobes. All I can say to them is: I am so, so sorry, that you had been brought up like that, to believe such things, to have such a narrow and stubborn disregard for reality, and for your fellow people. I am sorry that it had caused you to completely miss the point of the book, and to blatantly ignore its teachings, about love and tolerance and why they are so *&%£*!ing important. I sincerely, profoundly hope that you will do better for your children, if you have any, and there is a 50/50 chance they will be LGBTQ+, after all.
I originally bought 'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy' mainly to spite the homophobes, and the right-wing, fascist-leaning people. Given how much I ended up loving it, I only wish I had been driven to give it a chance under more positive circumstances, through better motivations. But that is the world we are still living in, unfortunately and gravely.
Those final few pages, those images: pure genius. No spoilers, just read it and find out for yourself. It is the ultimate catharsis after a long, harrowing, and beautiful coming-of-age and worldly journey.
'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy' - It is everything. Well, not everything, but it does its own everything so well. It deals with sensitive subjects like poverty, war, cancer (specifically leukaemia), racism, bullying, generational trauma, and all around change, which is a good thing for people and society - all magnificently. Change in ambitions, careers and what, deep in your heart, you want to do in your life are vital to bring to light, too.
Making the world a better, more liveable place: the goal of 'Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Modern Graphic Retelling of Little Women'.
A new favourite. Something I really needed right now. I want to hand it to everyone, including my future children.
'[March girls]. We can do anything.'
'Bring it on, life. March girls can take anything you throw at us.'
'Today I marched with my sisters, both literally and figuratively. And while the world isn't where it should be, it's on its way...'
Final Score: 5/5
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