Little Men" is the delightful story of an experimental boarding school run by Jo and her husband, Fritz. The Bhaers aspire to have a school where boys can learn more than just what is in books, though that is one important aspect of their education. They teach them honesty, integrity, faith, and a work ethic. They teach them to be kind, to care for all of God's creatures, to respect authority and to love one another.

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Louisa May Alcott The Author

It is an "odd school" where the boys are allowed one pillowfight a week and where a good heart is valued as much as good grades or athletic prowess. "Plumfield" is, in fact, an idea ahead of its time.

The characters in this book are lovingly portrayed. Dreamy, bookish Demi, adventurous Tommy, shy, insecure Nat, and rough, defiant Dan all come to life in the pages of "Little Men." Dan is my favorite, the epitome of a boy who is turning out bad because of the kind of life he has led, but who has great potential. And he is Mrs. Jo's favorite, too, for she has a special place in her heart for the misfits of the world. Many of the boys in the book have physical, mental, or emotional difficulties, but are forced nevertheless to live together and find ways not only to tolerate but to help one another. They are a microcosm of society, and the analogy is still relevant today. Their little community works because they learn to function under the benevolent yet no-nonsense authority of their elders and each give what they can to benefit the others. I've seen this work in my classroom and at summer camps. It's too bad that the real world is not so kind or so insistent that rules are followed, with consequences resulting from mistreatment of others.

The lives of these "little men" are both enlivened and complicated by the presence of three young ladies - Daisy, Nan, and Bess. Nan, a fearless tomboy, is naturally my favorite of the three to this day, but as a grownup I also see the positive side of Daisy and Bess' feminine characteristics. And as these boys and girls begin to find their place within the confines of Plumfield, they are developing the confidence and security they will need to find their places in society at large. The sequel," Jo's Boys," tells how they all turn out, and is just as pleasant a reminder of a gentler time as Alcott's other books. I highly recommend them all.