My daughter and I were deciding which book was next for bedtime read-alouds, and she settled on Little Women.

“Natalia loved it,” she said. “Beth is her favourite.”

What?? Back up the bus. Beth was her favourite? What kind of person picks Beth? I mean, she’s nice and all. Sweet. In a pathetic sort of way. Whereas Jo… well, Jo takes over the world.

I have agreed to read Little Women, but if my daughter decides Beth is best, I’m having genetic testing done immediately.

All of this got me thinking… There’s little Little Women. Emily of New Moon. What other portraits of the writer as a young woman exist out there? Suggestions welcome!