Q&A with Katie Bernet

 

Photo by Mae Haines

 

 

Katie Bernet is the author of the new young adult novel Beth Is Dead. It's an updated take on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women. Bernet lives in Dallas.

 

Q: What inspired you to write this updated YA murder mystery version of Little Women?

 

A: I’ve always been fascinated by Beth March’s literary death. As the oldest of three sisters, I’m a huge fan of Little Women, but Beth’s passing crushed me, and I never understood how she, herself, could accept it so peacefully.

 

I thought it would be interesting to transform her death into a murder that happens in chapter one, because it would give her sisters time to rage, grieve, and search for meaning. And since Beth’s perspective is included in flashback, she has a chance to find meaning as well. 

 

Q: What did you see as the right balance between Louisa May Alcott’s original March sisters and your own takes on the characters?

 

A: I wanted the heart and soul of each character to remain the same, but I had so much fun imagining who they would be in a modern setting.

 

I’m particularly interested in the way readers, including myself, have stereotyped the characters over time. Meg is romantic, Jo is ambitious, Amy is a brat, and Beth is, um…dead. I wanted to round them out again, to remind people that they’re multifaceted in the original work. 

 

Q: Why do you think Little Women still has such a hold on readers, more than 150 years after its publication?

 

A: I may be a little biased, but I think the story stays in our hearts, because it offers a window into sisterhood—a bond unlike any other. While reading Little Women, you live with the March family. For a time, you have sisters. And if you ask me, there’s nothing better. 

 

Q: Do you have a favorite March sister?

 

A: Before writing Beth Is Dead, I would have chosen Jo without thinking twice. She’s a writer, I share her temper, and I’ve always been inspired by her ambition.

 

But now—I choose Beth. She’s a homebody, she’s thoughtful, and even when she’s facing her own untimely, unfair death, she remains kind. I can’t imagine anything braver. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on turning another literary classic into a YA mystery/thriller. I’m going to leave people guessing, but here’s a hint—I almost share a last name with the original author.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on this book, partly because it’s just so gorgeous. My publisher, Sarah Barley Books (Simon & Schuster), did such an incredible job with the cover, the interior, and every little detail. It’s the kind of book I’d buy for the beauty alone, and I’m so grateful for that.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb