I loved this book so much, oh my goodness. I have a strong connection to the original book, but probably my favorite aspect of this book is how loosely tied it is to the original. The character's nicknames are the same and it is set in the same time period and there are a few nods to some moments in the original, but this is a totally new story. And what a story! I was drawn in from beginning to end and learned *so much*. I had never heard of the freedpeople colonies until starting this book, and have added the book that the author referenced in the Author's Note (Time Full of Trial) to my TBR so that I can learn more. I love the way this author struck the balance of "this is a YA book whose target audience is younger readers" and yet there was so much in this book for adult readers who treasure Little Women to dig into and think about. If you're looking for a book that is both educational and uplifting, challenging and joyful, a fairly quick read since it is YA but will stick with you, give this one a shot. It's very good.