In March, Geraldine Brooks takes on an intriguing and perhaps one of the most difficult genres: that of a companion novel to a better-known work. In this case, the original is Alcott’s Little Women.

Mr. March, the male head of the family who is absent for most of LW, here gets his own story as he serves as an army chaplain in Virginia during the Civil War and is ultimately severely injured by rebel outlaws ransacking plantations. In between chapters, the reader also learns a great deal about March’s youth before settling down. March is an interesting story on its own, and made more fascinating when combined with LW. Faithful LW readers will definitely find some surprises.