Little Women By: Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is a story about four sisters. Their names are Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March. Meg (the oldest) acts very motherly and ladylike. Jo (who's real name is Josephine) is very boyish and fun. Beth (who's real name is Elizabeth) is quiet, friendly, and loving. Amy (the youngest) loves to draw and is not afraid to "state the facts." In the first part of the story, the girls' father is at war. Their mother raises them. At a party, the girls meet Theodore Laurence, otherwise known as Laurie. He becomes a great family friend. The second part of the story, is about all of the girls growing up. It also shows them getting married. This book is a great novel for young people to read. If you think that you are like one of the characters, you should definetly read this book.


Find out more about Louisa May Alcott, an independent woman author.

By: Hannah F.
E.S. Rhodes
Grade Six

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Mia Thermopolis is a fourteen year old freshman attending classes at Albert Eienstein High School in Manhattan, where she resides with her mother, and her beloved cat, Fat Louie. Let's just say, Mia does not have the best of luck. Mia is five foot nine, flat chested, and she is as clumsy as it gets. And rather than being one of the most popular girls in school, she's one of the least. Mia is also flunking algebra when her mother, Helen, an aspiring artist, comes home from a parent, teacher conference and reveals to Mia that she is dating her teacher Mr. Gianini. Mia's life is about to change, 100%, and it's just a phone call away.

One day, the phone rings. Mia is surprised when she hears her father Philipe's voice; he never calls her, or her mother. You see, Mia's mother and father separated before she was born due, to...complications. Mia is surprised when her father announces that due to his recent string of testicular cancer...he is no longer able to have children. Mia doesn't seem to understand why this is such a big deal. He already has her, right? However, Mia could tell in her mother's eyes, and her father's voice that this was a VERY big problem. Mia's father informed her to meet him at a very fancy hotel, called the Plaza the next day.

At the Plaza, over tea, Mia's father declares something, big...very, very big. Mia Thermopolis is a PRINCESS! Because Philipe can no longer have children, Mia is the heir to the throne of a small country called Genovia, She could not believe this. Mia...a princess...NO WAY!! To top this all off, Mia is informed by her parents that her Grandmere Clarisse is in town, and Mia must attend Princess Lessons. Mia hates her grandmother, and she has a feeling her grandmother, hates her as well. This is going to be a disaster. Mia cannot become a princess. Just thinking about a whole country relying on her made Mia's head spin in twenty different directions.

Can Mia successfully complete horrid princess lessons with her grandmother Clarisse? Is she going to be able to take on the pressure of leading a whole country? Does Mia have what is takes to become Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia.

Sound interesting? Check out other books by Meg Cabot.
Sydney F.
Grade 6
E.S. Rhodes Elem