"Then I read Little Women, and of course, like a lot of really young girls, I was very taken with Jo - Jo being the writer and the misfit"

Patti Smith's quote talks to the power of literature and how it can have an extensive influence on young readers. In this case, Smith was deeply moved by the character of Jo in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Jo is an author and a misfit, which resonated with Smith as a young girl. Jo's story of getting rid of difficulty and discovering her location worldwide was motivating to Smith and likely lots of other young readers. Smith's quote speaks to the power of literature to connect with readers on an individual level and to provide convenience and hope in hard times. It also speaks to the importance of representation in literature, as Jo's story of being a misfit and discovering her place worldwide is likely to have actually provided convenience and inspiration to lots of young readers.