Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott

Author: Louisa M. Alcott

Published: 1868
Novel. 

Four sisters live with their mother, facing Christmas without their father as the US Civil War is underway. The family is settled in a new neighborhood, living in genteel poverty after the father lost their money. Meg and Jo March, the elder sisters, both work outside the home for money to support the family. Meg teaches four children in a nearby family, while Jo aids her grand-aunt March, a wealthy widow whose strength is failing. 

Beth helps around the house, and Amy attends school. Their nearest neighbor is a wealthy man whose orphaned grandson lives with him. The sisters introduce themselves  to the handsome shy boy, who is the age of Jo.

Meg is the beautiful sister, Jo is the tomboy; Beth is the musician, and Amy is the charming artist with blond curls. 

Jo is impulsive and quick to anger. One of her challenges in growing up  is to control acting out of anger, a challenge that also faced her mother, Marmee. 

Beth contracts scarlet fever after tending to a family where three children died of it. Her poor condition forces her sisters and the Laurences to call Marmee back from Washington, where she has gone to tend her husband, who contracted pneumonia. Beth recovers, but never fully. Jo tends Beth in her illness. Amy, not yet exposed to scarlet fever, is sent to live with Aunt March, replacing Jo after Beth recovers. Jo has success earning money with her writing. Meg spends two weeks with friends, where there are parties for the girls to dance with boys and improve social skills. 

Laurie is invited to one of the dances, as her friends incorrectly think Meg is in love with him; though, Meg is more interested in the young tutor for Laurie, John Brooke. 

Meg and John marry and settle in the house, close to the March home. They learn how to live together, and soon have twins. Meg is a devoted mother that first year, and John begins to feel left out. Marmee advises Meg on how to balance caring for her children and being with her husband. 

Characters: 

Margaret "Meg" March

Josephine "Jo" March

Elizabeth "Beth" March

Amy Curtis March

Professor Friedrich Bhaer

Rob Bhaer

Margaret "Marmee" March

James Laurence

Teddy Bhaer

John Brooke

Theodore "Laurie" Laurence

Uncle Carrol

Aunt Carrol

Flo Carrol

May Chester

Mrs. Chester

Mrs. Crocker

Mr. Dashwood

Mr. Davis

Aunt Josephine March