
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix: Remixed Classics
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This program includes an author's note read by the author.
Four young Black sisters come of age during the American Civil War in So Many Beginnings, a warm and powerful YA remix of the classic novel Little Women, by national bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow.
North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedpeople's Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the "old life." It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:
Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own.
Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained.
Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose.
Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family's home.
As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together.
A Macmillan Young Listeners Production from Feiwel & Friends
Praise for So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix
"Morrow’s ability to take the lingering stain of slavery on American history and use it as a catalyst for unbreakable love and resilience is flawless. That she has remixed a canonical text to do so only further illuminates the need to critically question who holds the pen in telling our nation’s story." —Booklist, starred review
"Bethany C. Morrow's prose is a sharpened blade in a practiced hand, cutting to the core of our nation's history. ... A devastatingly precise reimagining and a joyful celebration of sisterhood. A narrative about four young women who unreservedly deserve the world, and a balm for wounds to Black lives and liberty." —Tracy Deonn, New York Times-bestselling author of Legendborn
"A tender and beautiful retelling that will make you fall in love with the foursome all over again." —Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times-bestselling author of White Smoke and Grown
- Listening Length8 hours and 16 minutes
- Audible release dateSept. 7 2021
- LanguageEnglish
- ASINB08PW7FZBF
- VersionUnabridged
- Program TypeAudiobook
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Product details
Listening Length | 8 hours and 16 minutes |
---|---|
Author | Bethany C. Morrow |
Narrator | Bethany C. Morrow, Adenrele Ojo |
Audible.ca Release Date | September 07 2021 |
Publisher | Macmillan Audio |
Program Type | Audiobook |
Version | Unabridged |
Language | English |
ASIN | B08PW7FZBF |
Best Sellers Rank | #142,967 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #271 in Historical Fiction for Teens #450 in Fiction on Family for Teens #5,683 in Fiction About Social & Family Issues for Young Adults |
Customer reviews
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This book isn't a re-telling of Little Women from a Black perspective, and to think of it that way does it a real disservice.
It's a lovely story that stands on its own, and doesn't reference LW except for the first names of the characters.
Gives real insight into a period I wasn't familiar with and areas that I had very little knowledge about (as concerns Black people). The novel was well written, enjoyable and gave me some historical insight.
Highly recommend!
CW: depiction of slavery and white supremacy
{Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gift of an ALC in exchange for an honest review.}
This is a retelling (or remix, as the subtitle calls it) of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. The four March sisters are similar to those we know, and at the same time very different because they are young Black women who were born slaves. Set during and after the Civil War, in the freed people colony of Roanoke island, where the Marches have finally been able to settle after they escaped slavery. Meg is a teacher, passing on her literacy to other freed people, Jo is a great communicator, now able to put her thoughts to paper rather than writing them in her head and sharing them orally, Beth is gentle and ailing, and adopted daughter Amy is the first of the March family who has the luxury of a childhood, unlike her sisters who all remember the brutality of their former lives as slaves.
First of all, I have to admit I was never a big fan of Little Women, which probably makes it easier for me to enjoy this remix of the story. Whenever something occurs differently from what I remember, I’m able to think of the reasons behind the change, and how it develops the world and the characters rather than regret the difference. I was able here to identify that my main annoyance with the Marches used to be that I questioned their life choices, found them too traditional and limited. Here, probably because they were born slaves and never had choices before, I was better able to empathize with them and be happy for them no matter which path they chose.
The historical setting is detailed and rich, affording a glimpse into the freed people’s hopes and their disappointments caused by the ways that white people failed them by appeasing former slave owners and generally being patronizing or racist, or both. The writing style felt very 19th century, an effect that’s accentuated by the narrator, Adenrele Ojo, whose voice, speech rhythm, and intonation, almost gave the impression of eavesdropping on a 19th century woman’s personal correspondance.
The novel is hopeful, but it also very sad, especially in light of how depressingly little has changed since then. A lot of it is bittersweet, and I find it has stayed with me after I finished listening to the audiobook, as if it isn’t quite done with me yet. It is very rare that a book has that effect on me, so I have to highly recommend reading it.
I like the idea of these remixed classics, seeing how different perspectives have an effect on the old familiar stories. I loved the surprises, the ways in which So Many Beginnings departed from Little Women, even though I admit that, once again, the character of Beth was a little less distinct than her sisters.
I wanted to read this book because I am a big fan of the original novel Little woman. I also love the cover it really drew me and it's so pretty and fits the story so well. I really enjoyed this version, it was so different yet so the same. I think the author did a really good job on the story, I think her writing is so beautiful. The details really made you feel the story. I enjoyed the book and I'm very happy I got to read it.
Top reviews from other countries


I was not disappointed. Morrow captures the spirits and personalities of the March women, little and big, perfectly while adapting to the circumstances of newly free Black women in 1863-67.
All the large story arcs are here as in the original, but the details are not slavishly followed so they don't necessarily have the same resolution as in Alcott's. (By the way, I liked the nod she gave to the original in having their father's given name be Alcott.) I have to say, I like Morrow's resolutions better.
The secondary characters did not map exactly to the original: there is no Aunt March, I would guess because it would be unlikely for people who had been slaves to have also had a wealthy. But the emotions stirred by the secondary characters are still valid, and some of the events the same. Jo (Johanna here rather than Josephine) still meets Lorie (Laurie) at a social event. Beth (short for Bethlehem) still is fragile and falls terribly ill.
Speaking of names, I liked the variants here. Bethlehem makes perfect sense as the full name of mild, loving Beth. Amy shines like a jewel, so she is Amethyst.
The author's afterword is also valuable. I had never heard of the free colonies before. As one snooty character is taken back for the assumption that Jo learned to speak perfect English after she was free, I also had assumed that there would not be former slaves who had always spoken well.
Whether you are a fan of the original or not, I think this book has something for all readers.

