The Other Alcott

How do you know when you become an artist?, ponders May Alcott, younger sister of author Louisa May. May painted for years, furnishing illustrations for the first edition of Little Women (1868). Reviews that praise Louisa's novel while criticizing May's drawings, saying they "lack realistic proportion and look stiff," devastate the 28-year-old artist. Disappointment pushes her to seek artistic instruction, first in Boston, then in Europe. Other female artists offer support, with one telling her, "Don't wait for anyone else to call you an artist. If you wait around for other people to define you, you'll be saddled with their expectations." Newcomer Hooper (American history and literature, Bush Sch., Seattle) interlaces May's story with the struggle women of the time faced in becoming something other than merely wives and mothers. With the sesquicentennial of Little Women set to be celebrated in 2018, this title is not to be missed by the classic's many fans who will want to get an insider's look at the real people who inspired the March family.