Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The classic story of the four March girls: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The March family is poor and Mr. March is away fighting in the Civil War, but they are charitable and value family above material goods. Meg is under a lot of pressure to marry (as she is the oldest) and with the March family's money troubles it is hard for them to ensure her a proper debut. Jo is a gifted writer, while Beth is a talented pianist. Amy, who is partial to dramatics in her demeanor, finds that she is a gifted artist later in life and even studies abroad when she is grown.

Laurie lives next door and is the girls' near constant companion. He even proposes to Jo, who turns him down, and eventually marries Amy after running into during her time abroad.

The March sisters enjoy their fair share of adventures both good and bad, funny and sad from Amy's lime dilemma to ice skating to Meg's attendance of Annie Moffat's debut to Jo's manuscript to Beth's gift from Mr. Laurence to the Pickwick Club.

Meg eventually marries Mr. Brooke, Laurie's tutor, much to Jo's dismay.

Beth contracts scarlet fever from the baby of a family she offered her assistance to, which leaves her weakened. She passes away before novel's end.

Jo moves to New York where she pursues her writing and meets Prof. Bhaer, who encourages her to write what she knows. She rejects Laurie's proposal and eventually marries Prof. Bhaer. She inherits Plumfield, rich Aunt March's estate, and she turns it into a boarding school for boys.

Amy studies art abroad with rich Aunt March and runs into Laurie, which begins their love affair. They marry and have a daughter, whom they name Beth.

Genre: Fiction/Classic

Alcott, L. M. (1962). Little women. New York: Macmillan.