Oh, I really like these thoughts! Especially the Mrs. Tifton/Lydia parallel with Mr. Lawrence/Beth. Yes, so much more could have been done with Jane’s writing and her place in the family … I feel like she got pushed to the side a bit in the last two books. On that last note, couldn’t the Penderwicks be made into a movie similar to the new Little Women? I can see it working, if done just right (perhaps even with the same nonlinear timeline)! Thanks for commenting!

Skye pursues a rather masculine career, or at least it would have been in Louisa May Alcott’s time, of being an astrophysicist. Jo being a writer is also rather unusual for the time period.

Both groups of sisters have mostly grown up without a parent. In Little Women, until the middle/end of the story, they don’t have a father. In the Penderwicks, until the middle/end of the series, they don’t have a mother. Also, throughout the Little Women book, their father is reminding them through letters to be his good “little women.” This is slightly similar to when Elizabeth, Mr. Penderwick’s first wife, wrote the letter in the blue envelope for Aunt Clair to give to Mr. Penderwick later in the story.

Mrs. Tifton can’t really be compared to Mr. Lawrence because she is so awful, but at first, they are scared of Mr. Lawrence too. I see a parallel when Lydia says that she doesn’t dislike Mrs. Tifton and when Beth goes to thank Mr. Lawrence for the piano.

Jeffery’s situation of living in a grand house that feels unwelcoming to him is certainly like Laurie’s situation. And, also similarly, all four sisters feel comfortable around Jeffery/Laurie, not just the ones who are better friends with that character (Skye/Jo, Batty/Amy).

At the end of the books, we see the Beth/Jane character not married. In Beth’s case, it’s logical. In Jane’s, it’s not illogical. Ms. Alcott never married, so why should every one of her characters?

I think it would have been a great touch if Ms. Birdsall had had Jane’s great inspiration for her story be her and her sister’s life story like it was for Jo. But that’s okay, I love the story as it is.

I read Little Women between fourth and fifth grade, and I loved it. I read the Penderwicks sometime around there too (I forget exactly when, although it may have been third grade). I didn’t connect them then.

It was only when I recently watched the newest Little Women movie and reread the P. series that I connected the dots!

Thank you for commenting, Louise! I really love finding the places where these two series align. That’s a good point about Laurie probably not being able to fully support Jo’s writing – he never took his music seriously enough, whereas Prof. Bhaer takes things very seriously and therefore is a better match for Jo in that respect. And that’s another reason why Jeffrey and Batty get along so well – they’re the same way. 🙂

Yes, I wish that Beth’s storyline could have been different! The Penderwicks are such a fun series. I really enjoy Alcott’s other books as well!

Now, Jeffrey didn’t have that issue, but all the same, I was equally glad that he and Skye didn’t end up together, and agree that he and Batty were far better matched. I love how you’ve pieced together the parallels between Batty and Beth, and picked up on Alcott’s hint (or red herring) about Beth and Laurie. I think you’ve probably hit on something there! Beth’s character with Amy’s plot thread.

Fantastic thoughts, thanks so much for sharing!

Oh, that’s fun! I’ll have to look that one up. 🙂

I’m glad to hear it!! 🙂