“Jack & Jill” by Louisa May Alcott

Jack & Jill:
A Village Story

by Louisa May Alcott

Synopsis: 
A tragic accident leaves fun-loving Jill and good-natured Jack cooped up for months. During this time they learn some valuable lessons and are cheered up by their friends. Jill and her two friends begin a missionary society, while Jack helps a troubled youth stay on the straight and narrow. Louisa May Alcott has done an excellent job of showing the real life of children during the 1800s. Originally published in 1880 this timeless tale is just as inspiring and enjoyable today as when it was first written.
(synopsis by Amy Puetz) 

My Review:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

5+ stars & 9/10 hearts. This is my second-favourite Alcott book. It is just so sweet and beautiful and humorous and real. I love, love Jack, and Jill, and so many of the others—Molly, Frank, Ed, Gus... It is a beautiful glimpse into life as it was for children in the late 1800s and it is full of beautiful little lessons. It is perfect for all ages, and really just satisfies and leaves you happy.

A Favourite Quote: “...both were rather the worse for so much idleness, since daily duties and studies are the wholesome bread which feeds the mind better than the dyspeptic plum-cake of sensational reading, or the unsubstantial bon-bons of frivolous amusement.”

A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Merry ... rest[ed] a minute at the gate to look down the street, which was a glorified sort of avenue, with brilliant maples lining the way and carpeting the ground with crimson and gold.”

A Favourite Humorous Quote: “It would have been [a] very successful [tableau] if, all of a sudden, one of the rowers had not ‘caught a crab’ with disastrous consequences. The oars were not moving, but a veteran, who looked very much like Joe, dropped the one he held, and in trying to turn and pummel the black-eyed warrior behind him, he tumbled off his seat, upsetting two other men, and pulling the painted boat upon them as they lay kicking in the cambric deep. Shouts of laughter greeted this mishap, but George Washington never stirred. Grasping the banner, he stood firm when all else went down in the general wreck, and the icy waves engulfed his gallant crew, leaving him erect amid a chaos of wildly tossing boots, entangled oars, and red-faced victims....

“‘Quite exciting, wasn't it? Didn't know Gus had so much presence of mind[.] If we did not know that Washington died in his bed ... I should fear that we'd seen the last of him in that shipwreck[.]’

“Much confusion reigned behind the scenes; Ralph was heard scolding, and Joe set every one off again by explaining, audibly, that Grif tickled him, and he couldn't stand it.”

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