Meg's Story

Portraits of Little Women

by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Meg March is the perfect young lady. Her gracious manners and sweet personality make her very popular at school. And when she is invited to Mary Howe’s fancy picnic, she badly wants to go. Nothing her tomboy sister, Jo, says against snobby Mary changes Meg’s mind. Meg claims Jo is just jealous that she wasn’t invited too. But on the big day, the March parents are visiting friends, and the housekeeper is called away on an emergency. Meg knows she should stay home to watch over her younger sisters–even if it means not going to the picnic. Still, she doesn’t want to miss the fun. And forgetting her manners, Meg does something that turns the picnic into an unforgettable afternoon.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Juvenile

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Susan Beth Pfeffer was an American author best known for young adult and science fiction. After writing for 35 years, she received wider notice for her series of post-apocalyptic novels, officially titled "The Life as We Knew It Series", but often called "The Last Survivors" or "Moon Crash" series, some of which appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Reviews

[Catherine Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story emphasizes the important life lesson that, “Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred” (Proverbs 15:17). I think the storyline is good and the author carried over the personalities of the four sisters from Louisa May Alcott’s work very well, perhaps a bit too well.

I’m not very impressed with the quality of writing and I was annoyed by the way the girls speak. They are supposed to be little girls of 11, 10, 8 and 6, but they sound like young adults. One of Amy’s speeches: “You can laugh, but I intend to marry great wealth someday, and I’ll be more of a lady than anybody else in this town has ever been.” The older Amy of “Little Women” may have said this, but little girls of 6 years old don’t speak like this. It felt like the author copied the girls as they were in “Little Women,” instead of seeing them as they would have been a few years earlier.

[Aleyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg’s Story is a sweet and gentle read that captures the spirit of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women while focusing more closely on Meg. It’s a short book, easy to get through in one sitting, and has the kind of warm, wholesome messages that leave you in a good mood afterward. I think it even works well as a bedtime story because of its simple pacing and uplifting tone.

One thing that stood out to me was how the girls sometimes speak in ways that feel far too mature for their age. It can seem a little unrealistic, but it makes sense when you think about it since they’re consciously trying to act like “proper young ladies,” and that’s likely what they’ve been taught from their parents considering how the characters (Meg especially) were always seeking seeking their mother’s approval.

Overall, this book is light, charming, and comforting with nice messages scattered throughout the book. Perfect to read to a younger audience, or for yourself if you want to uplift yourself.

[BookNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a really good book and it taught you a good life lesson

[Jalissa Jalissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to my children aloud and it was such a cute story! Definitely for fans of Little Women to share with each generation.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book, I like how it is from Meg’s point of view. I can’t wait to read Jo’s Story!

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Reread #?) It was so much shorter than I remember it being...

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the humor and how much it seemed like Little Women

I kind of thought Beth was a little out of character, not shy enough but maybe piano gives her confidence.
I didn't think Meg did wrong bringing her sisters with or them playing cards. Just my thoughts, it's good for the story!

[Radha Sukhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Meg’s Story” by Susan Beth Pfeffer is one out of the four novels in the Portraits of Little Women series. Meg is the oldest out of the March sisters, whose family is considered to be poor. She was invited to attend a picnic hosted by Mary, a wealthy classmate, but Hannah, Meg’s house servant, is called away and Meg has to attend to her three younger sisters. However, she made the choice to bring her sisters with her to the picnic, not knowing how well they will fit in with Mary’s friends and family. The main aspect of this novel is actually the lesson that it teaches, which is hinted at throughout the novel itself by the actions that are being performed. Although Mary’s family is wealthy, Meg can see that their family bond is not as strong as hers. On page 70 she states, “Her parents did not travel to Europe, but at least she had no need of a mug to assure her of their love.” Mary also stated that her and her brother Willie often fight when they are stuck inside while it’s raining, but Meg realized that when it rains, she finds that the best time because she spends quality time with her family. The overall moral of this novel is “’That the love of my family is the greatest wealth I could have,’” (70) as Meg says. My writing has benefitted from the dialogue in this novel, because of the proper English that the girls use. They refer to slang as “fig” or “fair and square,” and I think it’d be fun to experiment with a novel set in that time period using proper English for the dialogue.

[Sybil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book, it is based on the characters in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It tells a story of Meg March and her role as eldest daughter. Meg's Story allows the reader to get an idea of life in Massachusetts in the 19th century in a way they can relate. Also included in the book is a craft project and a recipe to make strawberry short cake.

There also is a story for every daughter: Jo, Beth and Amy. This book is way to help readers introduced to Little Women.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap I had completely forgotten about these books until I came across one of them online today. Little Women is one of my favorite books and these continuations are just splendid. Meg's Story was probably one of my favorites of the series. It takes you on an in-depth journey into Meg's world outside of the eyes of her sisters and gives you a perspective you would not have otherwise had.

[*(-kristina-)* · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool

[Enikő · Rating 2 out of 5]

It seems I just can't help picking up my daughter's books and reading them when she's not looking! :p

This was an okay story, but I did not like it as much as Jo's and especially Amy's stories.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved these when I was in 4th/5th grade - a story is given for each of the March sisters at age 10. Jo was my favorite, of course :)

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story is given for each of the March sisters at age 10. These are great and go well with Little Women...perfect for LW fans who want more. I wish I had known about these when I was little!

[Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

fine.

[Lauren Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Book. Very well written.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so much smaller than I remember it being....

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not the oldest child so I will never fully relate to meg, but I can relate to wanting the best of both worlds rather than the one Im in

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

BARF

[Sharon Joseph]

Meg is the oldest out of all sisters