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The Civil War was a time of major upheaval in the lives of all Americans, a time of moral and territorial contention and strife. The battle lines between North and South brought to the forefront a need to redefine the foundations upon which this nation could not only stand upon but be brought forth into a future of growth and prosperity. The Alcott family was well known for their adamant views and well-directed efforts on behalf of abolition and genuine equality for all peoples. Louisa May's need, however, to be directly involved in the war despite being a woman and not a man who could fight found her on the battle lines as a nurse to wounded, ill, and dying soldiers.
 Louisa May's Battle by Kathleen Krull is an account of Louisa May Alcott's formative writing years leading to her best-known novel, Little Women, the basics of Alcott's struggles and triumphs in the face of a war-torn nation and personal need to achieve stability for herself and her family. Krull beautifully crafts a short synopsis of the events of Alcott's life centered on her experiences as a nurse during wartime. Alcott's personality, life, and novel were complex, and the significance of this time period in molding her writing style and the ultimate creation of her famous novel remarkable.
Krull does a spectacular job of capturing the essence of this beloved author in this time-specific biography. Readers will walk away from this picture book having learned about Alcott and her efforts on behalf of humanity as well as her creative expertise and expression. Carlyn Beccia contributes to the book's success with illustrations that capture the storyline, people and events with beauty.
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