Three sisters go on a road trip through Europe, leaving behind the men in their lives as well as any social limitations and the female behaviour expected of them in the US. Semi-autobiographical in nature, the adventures of Amanda, Matilda and Lavinia are based on Alcott's travels with her own sister. The title of the novel comes from their shawl backpacks which is the only thing they bring with them on their trip. The tale is full of excellent dialogue, character reflection and beautiful description of the places they visit, while constantly drawing parallels between European and American life. This novel really drives home the very different lives women of the period lived, creating a compelling and fascinating book suitable for any reader.-