Little Women – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Little Women

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2023

72%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Alcott's beloved tale of the March sisters is wholesome and timeless—if your kid can handle the 19th-century pacing.

Little Women

book

2023

72%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Alcott's beloved tale of the March sisters is wholesome and timeless—if your kid can handle the 19th-century pacing.

4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Little Women is a literary treasure—wholesome, emotionally rich, and full of characters you'll remember forever. Jo March alone is worth the price of admission: ambitious, creative, stubborn, and utterly herself in a world that wanted her to be smaller.

But let's be real: this book is slow. Like, 19th-century-novel slow. Modern kids raised on Percy Jackson and Diary of a Wimpy Kid may struggle with the pacing and old-fashioned language. Parent reviews confirm it: 'best loved by a mature-minded child' and 'may be too slowly unraveled for modern kids.' If your kid loves reading and can handle a slower burn, this is a gem. If they need constant action, they'll DNF by chapter three.

The 2023 Rifle Paper Co. edition is stunning—worth it for the illustrations alone. And the themes (family, identity, ambition, sacrifice) are timeless. Just know what you're getting into: this is a book that rewards patience, not one that grabs you by the throat on page one.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-14, though some mature 8- or 9-year-olds may enjoy it as a read-aloud. The slow pacing and 19th-century prose are the real gatekeepers here—kids who love character-driven stories and don't need constant action will be swept up. Teens and adults still revisit it, but it skews younger middle-grade in appeal.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Alcott's classic centers on sisterhood, family bonds, sacrifice, and personal growth. The March sisters model kindness, cooperation, and resilience during hardship (father at war, poverty). Themes of selflessness, forgiveness, and supporting one another through illness and loss are woven throughout. Pacing is slow and deliberate—very much 19th-century literary style—which modern kids may find challenging, but the emotional core is deeply wholesome.

Imaginative

The sisters put on plays, form secret societies, write stories, and dream big—Jo's ambition to become a writer is a central thread. The book celebrates creativity and self-expression, particularly through Jo's character. However, it's largely a domestic, character-driven narrative rather than a fantastical or world-building adventure. The 2023 Rifle Paper Co. edition adds beautiful illustrations that enhance the visual imagination, but the story itself is grounded in realism.

Safe

Almost entirely safe—no violence, no inappropriate content, no surprises that would shock a young reader. The most emotionally intense moment is Beth's illness and eventual death (in the sequel, but foreshadowed here), which is handled gently and age-appropriately. Some sadness around poverty, war separation, and loss, but nothing graphic or traumatic. The slow pacing and old-fashioned language might be the bigger barrier than any content concern.

Enriching

A literary classic that explores identity, ambition, gender roles, sacrifice, and family loyalty. Jo's struggle between independence and societal expectations remains relevant. The book builds empathy, patience, and an appreciation for character-driven storytelling. Vocabulary and sentence structure are more complex than modern middle-grade fiction, offering linguistic enrichment. That said, the moralizing tone (very Victorian) and slow plot may feel preachy or dated to contemporary readers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Celebrates sisterhood, creativity, and resilience in the face of hardship—Jo March is an iconic character who dreams big and writes her own story
Models kindness, sacrifice, and family loyalty without being preachy (well, mostly)
Rich vocabulary and literary style offer a step up from modern middle-grade fiction
The 2023 Rifle Paper Co. edition is gorgeous—beautiful illustrations make it a keepsake
A cultural touchstone that's been beloved for 150+ years, sparking conversations about gender, ambition, and identity

⚠

What to Watch For

Slow, deliberate pacing and old-fashioned language—modern kids used to fast hooks may bounce off this hard
Beth's illness and eventual death (in the sequel, but foreshadowed) can be sad, though it's handled gently
Victorian moralizing tone may feel dated or overly sentimental to some readers
Best for kids who already love reading and can handle longer, character-driven narratives

Conversation Starters

"Which March sister do you relate to most—ambitious Jo, responsible Meg, shy Beth, or artistic Amy?"
"Jo wants to be a writer even though it's not 'proper' for girls back then. What would you do if people told you your dreams weren't allowed?"
"The sisters make sacrifices for each other all the time. When have you done something hard for someone you love?"
"How is growing up in the 1860s different from today? What's better now, and what might have been nice back then?"

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