Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: Eight Cousins, Jo's Boys, little men, little women, Louisa May Alcott

This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 5 months ago by Angelina.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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November 26, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Angelina
Participant
Hello!   Can anyone comment as to whether Jo’s Boys and Little Men might be too mature for DS9 and DS10.5 ?
Another point to consider. They have not yet read Little Women.  Does this matter a great deal in terms of plot and relating to the characters?
Thanks for any comments or suggestions!
Blessings, Angie
November 26, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Rachel White
Participant
According to my dd – mega-LMA lover – Little Men yes for 10.5, if he is an advanced and cultivated reader. If he’s not ready, it’s better to wait till he’s ready. Don’t rush the good stuff.
As per your second question, yes you really should read (or at least listen on audio) Little Women. Jo’s Boys and Little Men are sequels (with LM coming before JB), with the characters having been introduced and developed within Little Women.
One could probably enjoy them as stand alones, but there would be a deeper, missing element. Kind of like walking into a movie half-way through: you may still enjoy the remainder of the movie, but you’ll have missed important info. about characters and background that’s important for a fuller experience.
HTH
November 26, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Angelina
Participant
Thanks Rachel, that is exactly what I was looking to find out! Blessings, Angie
November 26, 2013 at 4:34 pm
LindseyD
Participant
What about her other books Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom? I have a charming vintage hardback set of LMA books that includes these two titles, but I know nothing about them. I plan to read Little Women, Little Men, and Jo’s Boys next year, when my children will be 10 and 9.
November 26, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Linabean
Participant
Lindsey,
It is my understanding that these two books are independent of the Little Women books. They are their own stories, completely.
I have a vintage, hardback copy of Eight Cousins. I LOVE vintage books! I have more than a few now that I am looking forward to using. I am planning on reaing Eight Cousins as a family read aloud next year sometime, as my youngest will then be eight and better able to understand and appreciate. Not sure if I will be reading Little Women before or after, though.
-Miranda
November 26, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Angelina
Participant
Thanks for the idea, Lindsey, and thanks Miranda for the comments. I’m going to search the library database for those titles.   I am eager to dig into some LMA literature, but just feeling that I need to hold off on Little Women for another year or two (I look back and realize I personally read it when I was too young – I did not appreciate it as I should have). Perhaps Eight Cousins will be a perfect fit for us for right now 🙂
Thanks again!
November 26, 2013 at 8:17 pm
sheraz
Participant
Eight Cousins is shorter then Little Women and has lots of boys in it. Your sons might appreciate it better anyway, just for that. 😉
If you want to introduce your children to LMA in smaller bits, there is a collection of her Christmas stories in a book called Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Treasury. You can find it on Amazon. I started it last night and they seem to be delightful stories.

November 26, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Angelina
Participant
Ooohh, now I am getting very excited – thank you sheraz!! Will look for that one right away!
November 27, 2013 at 1:07 am
ServingwithJoy
Participant
We read Jo’s Boys and the other LM Alcott books at the 4th-5th grade level. LOVE THEM! Great writing, great morality. We were so sorry when we were done :(.
I think when they are read depends more on reading level – there is absolutely nothing morally that would be advanced or objectionable. Maybe some romance in Rose in Bloom that would be unappealing to boys, but otherwise they are all about clean living.
November 27, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Angelina
Participant
Thanks Heather!  That’s encouraging and exactly what I was looking to find out about LW and the series.   Thanks for posting!
Blessings, Angie