Bethany C. Morrow
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix

This sophisticated “remixed” classic keeps the familial love of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and sheds the rest to tell a new story of four Black sisters starting over in 1863 North Carolina. Don’t expect a retelling, per se. In her fresh and nuanced version, Morrow keeps the Civil War setting while moving the March family south to the Freedpeople Colony on Roanoke Island, where they’re recovering from the trauma of enslavement (which Morrow offers glimpses of) and struggling to build new lives. The irrepressible March sisters—teacher Meg, writer Jo, seamstress Beth, and dancer Amy—are vividly characterized. Morrow retains many of the young women’s personality traits from the original, while plunging them into new situations and challenges in the colony. The sisters’ love anchors the story throughout, giving the book a gentle feel though Morrow’s update deftly tackles painful topics as she sheds light on lesser-known experiences of the Civil War era. Don’t miss the author’s note. For those familiar with or curious about Little Women and fans of Mitali Perkins’s You Bring the Distant Near.

More info →
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Audible.com
Buy from Bookshop
A Song Below Water

A Song Below Water

From the publisher: "In a society determined to keep her under lock and key, Tavia must hide her siren powers. Meanwhile, Effie is fighting her own family struggles, pitted against literal demons from her past. Together, these best friends must navigate through the perils of high school's junior year. But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice at the worst possible moment. Soon, nothing in Portland, Oregon, seems safe. To save themselves from drowning, it's only Tavia and Effie's unbreakable sisterhood that proves to be the strongest magic of all." Jason Reynolds calls this "beautiful and brilliant."

More info →
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Audible.com