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Jack y Jill
Dos inseparables amigos, Jack y Jill, tienen un serio accidente, pero con la ayuda y el estímulo de sus amigos y de la familia resuelven el problema y no permiten que la ruina y la desgracia lleguen a la época de las fiestas.
A pesar de que la novela comienza con una tragedia, las lecciones de vida aprendidas por los personajes permiten un final feliz, en el que reflexionaremos sobre nuestras propias vidas y las dificultades y pruebas que afrontamos.
Aunque el libro fue en principio escrito para niños, los adultos también pueden aprender lecciones importantes como enfrentar los problemas y obstáculos que aparecen en el camino de la vida.
Louisa May Alcott es sencillamente extraordinaria en temas que implican valores como la paciencia, prudencia, obediencia, amor, bondad y hasta la dura realidad de la muerte. Como niños soñamos que cambiaremos el mundo, pero debemos comprender que ese cambio puede realizarse con eficacia primero en nuestros propios hogares. Alcott ha descrito bellamente esto a través de sus encantadores personajes: Jill, Merry y Molly.
La novela no es un cuento de hadas pero sí un esfuerzo brillante que nos muestra que hasta para las pruebas más difíciles y tentaciones, cada uno de nosotros tiene el poder dentro de sí, para emerger victorioso junto al cariño y apoyo de aquellos que ama.
Se recomienda este libro no solamente para cada niño o niña que quiera ser un ángel bueno, sino para aquellos que echan en falta la inocencia y la pureza de sus felices infancias.
La sinopsis corresponde a otra edición del libro)
A pesar de que la novela comienza con una tragedia, las lecciones de vida aprendidas por los personajes permiten un final feliz, en el que reflexionaremos sobre nuestras propias vidas y las dificultades y pruebas que afrontamos.
Aunque el libro fue en principio escrito para niños, los adultos también pueden aprender lecciones importantes como enfrentar los problemas y obstáculos que aparecen en el camino de la vida.
Louisa May Alcott es sencillamente extraordinaria en temas que implican valores como la paciencia, prudencia, obediencia, amor, bondad y hasta la dura realidad de la muerte. Como niños soñamos que cambiaremos el mundo, pero debemos comprender que ese cambio puede realizarse con eficacia primero en nuestros propios hogares. Alcott ha descrito bellamente esto a través de sus encantadores personajes: Jill, Merry y Molly.
La novela no es un cuento de hadas pero sí un esfuerzo brillante que nos muestra que hasta para las pruebas más difíciles y tentaciones, cada uno de nosotros tiene el poder dentro de sí, para emerger victorioso junto al cariño y apoyo de aquellos que ama.
Se recomienda este libro no solamente para cada niño o niña que quiera ser un ángel bueno, sino para aquellos que echan en falta la inocencia y la pureza de sus felices infancias.
La sinopsis corresponde a otra edición del libro)
220 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1880
274 people are currently reading
4374 people want to read
About the author
Louisa May Alcott
4,102 books10.6k followersLouisa May Alcott was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known for writing the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Good Wives (1869), Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886). Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May Alcott and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up among many well-known intellectuals of the day, including Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
June 15, 2018
Old-fashioned? Sure. Out of date? Not at all. Despite being written more than a century ago, this charming and sweet book has some very important themes and messages for today. In classic LMA fashion, this book is meant to be morally inspiring for Tweens and teens who already accept the moral premise of classic conservative Christian values. To evaluate a LMA book outside of that bent is to essentially judge a fish's ability to climb a tree. In my opinion, this book is highly entertaining and inspiring. As a life long LMA fan and a young mom, I enjoyed many of the characters and their story arcs. Admittedly, this book is not without sermons and it is difficult to follow the conversations in places where the speaker changes but the formatting seems to hide that fact. There is no question that I enjoyed this book as a young mom and look forward to sharing it with my children.
November 26, 2025
5+ stars & 9/10 hearts. What a simply beautiful book. Why don’t we talk of and read this more?? Every time I finally get around to rereading I am blown away by how sweet and lovely and humorous and real it is.
Set in a New England village in the late 1800s, this heartwarming story chronicles the coming-of-age of several children—the time that they must leave childhood behind and step into growing up. Cheerful, thoughtless Janey, aka Jill; loving, thoughtful Jack; sweet, romantic Merry; strong, wild Molly; reliable, kindhearted Frank, long-legged Gus, and sulky Joe. The characters are all so delightful—even the minor ones like little Boo, Miss Bat, and Molly’s absent-minded father; Merry’s hearty but kind family; dear Mrs. Minot and Mrs. Pecq; the gaggle of schoolgirls and schoolboys; a host of really quite minor but amusing characters—and sweet Ed, so good and true.
The plot is wonderful and reminds me of What Katy Did. One bad choice confines Jack to bed with a broken leg, but Jill to a couch with a severely injured back that may never heal. Over a year of pain and happiness, hope and despair, the children live happy normal life and little adventures—games, parties, school, vacation—and learn to become better and stronger men and women. It is a lovely glimpse into life in the late 1800s, but more than that, it is full of beautiful little lessons—managing temper, avoiding temptations, dealing with grief, showing love, having discretion… The tiny thread of romance is sweet, the humour is just as delightful as Alcott’s always is, and the writing style is distinctly Alcott and very enjoyable.
Overall, this is perhaps my favourite Alcott book… even more lovely than Rose in Bloom. It is perfect for all ages, really just satisfying and leaving you so happy and peaceful and encouraged.
A Favourite Quote: “I know I ought not to say it, but I don't see why God let him die,” said Jack, with a quiver in his voice, for his loving heart could not help aching still.
“No, dear, we cannot see or know many things that grieve us very much, but we can trust that it is right, and try to believe that all is meant for our good. That is what faith means, and without it we are miserable. When you were little, you were afraid of the dark, but if I spoke or touched you, then you were sure all was well, and fell asleep holding my hand. God is wiser and stronger than any father or mother, so hold fast to Him, and you will have no doubt or fear, however dark it seems.”
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.”
Set in a New England village in the late 1800s, this heartwarming story chronicles the coming-of-age of several children—the time that they must leave childhood behind and step into growing up. Cheerful, thoughtless Janey, aka Jill; loving, thoughtful Jack; sweet, romantic Merry; strong, wild Molly; reliable, kindhearted Frank, long-legged Gus, and sulky Joe. The characters are all so delightful—even the minor ones like little Boo, Miss Bat, and Molly’s absent-minded father; Merry’s hearty but kind family; dear Mrs. Minot and Mrs. Pecq; the gaggle of schoolgirls and schoolboys; a host of really quite minor but amusing characters—and sweet Ed, so good and true.
The plot is wonderful and reminds me of What Katy Did. One bad choice confines Jack to bed with a broken leg, but Jill to a couch with a severely injured back that may never heal. Over a year of pain and happiness, hope and despair, the children live happy normal life and little adventures—games, parties, school, vacation—and learn to become better and stronger men and women. It is a lovely glimpse into life in the late 1800s, but more than that, it is full of beautiful little lessons—managing temper, avoiding temptations, dealing with grief, showing love, having discretion… The tiny thread of romance is sweet, the humour is just as delightful as Alcott’s always is, and the writing style is distinctly Alcott and very enjoyable.
Overall, this is perhaps my favourite Alcott book… even more lovely than Rose in Bloom. It is perfect for all ages, really just satisfying and leaving you so happy and peaceful and encouraged.
A Favourite Quote: “I know I ought not to say it, but I don't see why God let him die,” said Jack, with a quiver in his voice, for his loving heart could not help aching still.
“No, dear, we cannot see or know many things that grieve us very much, but we can trust that it is right, and try to believe that all is meant for our good. That is what faith means, and without it we are miserable. When you were little, you were afraid of the dark, but if I spoke or touched you, then you were sure all was well, and fell asleep holding my hand. God is wiser and stronger than any father or mother, so hold fast to Him, and you will have no doubt or fear, however dark it seems.”
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.”
June 16, 2019
Although this here Louisa May Alcott novel, although Jack and Jill is in many ways incredibly preachy and moralising, and definitely much more so than her Little Women, and although I always do tend to cry my eyes out at one particular part (even more so than when Beth dies in Little Women), I keep rereading and enjoying Jack and Jill.
Now I am indeed more than well aware and appreciative of the fact that many of the messages presented and promoted by Louisa May Alcott in Jack and Jill are rather massively outdated, that there are gender inequality and obvious social stratification and often rather overtly presented, but that has also not stopped me from calling Jack and Jill one of my personal favourites, and a novel that I do and continuously savour and cherish (over and over and over again). And sometimes, that is really all one can and should expect of reading material to be considered a classic and perennial favourite, namely that it has personal reread potential and reread appeal (as for me, any book, any novel, that I enjoy rereading and often, any tome that has that special and magical appeal, is to and for my feelings great literature, potential issues, potential problems even with outdated content and/or possible stylistic issues always quite notwithstanding and even at least personally above my own criticism). And while Jack and Jill certainly exhibits many instances of especially moralising preachiness and is thus by no means a "perfect" novel by any stretch of the imagination, it has equally had, and from the very first time I read Jack and Jill as a young adult, that very and oh so special rereading magic which make certain books personal favourites, and thus, at least to and for me, enduring and much loved literary classics.
Now I am indeed more than well aware and appreciative of the fact that many of the messages presented and promoted by Louisa May Alcott in Jack and Jill are rather massively outdated, that there are gender inequality and obvious social stratification and often rather overtly presented, but that has also not stopped me from calling Jack and Jill one of my personal favourites, and a novel that I do and continuously savour and cherish (over and over and over again). And sometimes, that is really all one can and should expect of reading material to be considered a classic and perennial favourite, namely that it has personal reread potential and reread appeal (as for me, any book, any novel, that I enjoy rereading and often, any tome that has that special and magical appeal, is to and for my feelings great literature, potential issues, potential problems even with outdated content and/or possible stylistic issues always quite notwithstanding and even at least personally above my own criticism). And while Jack and Jill certainly exhibits many instances of especially moralising preachiness and is thus by no means a "perfect" novel by any stretch of the imagination, it has equally had, and from the very first time I read Jack and Jill as a young adult, that very and oh so special rereading magic which make certain books personal favourites, and thus, at least to and for me, enduring and much loved literary classics.
March 2, 2012
Rereading books you loved as a child can make you see both; all of the wonderful things in them, and all of the flaws. I think the parts about Temperance passed me by as a kid, maybe I didn't realize the secret society was about forbearing to drink.
And no one ever accused Louisa of being light handed with the morals. But the strange thing is, her sense of right and wrong is not far off the mark. We would be better people if we learned to protect and care for those around us, if our mother's pride in us was justly earned, if we thought to ourselves, how can I be useful? how can I set a good example without judging others?
And I don't think it is wrong to write a book, whose goal is to set a good example for people, while entertaining them at the same time. I hope that no one tells me years from now, "The Hunger Games was a good book, but so preachy with the morals."
And no one ever accused Louisa of being light handed with the morals. But the strange thing is, her sense of right and wrong is not far off the mark. We would be better people if we learned to protect and care for those around us, if our mother's pride in us was justly earned, if we thought to ourselves, how can I be useful? how can I set a good example without judging others?
And I don't think it is wrong to write a book, whose goal is to set a good example for people, while entertaining them at the same time. I hope that no one tells me years from now, "The Hunger Games was a good book, but so preachy with the morals."
Want to read
August 6, 2011What is up with people criticizing the morals that Louisa May Alcott had in her books, saying it's a good story "except" for the moral talk? Louisa May Alcott was a Christian! Morals are a GOOD thing (gasp) for humans to learn, whatever religion or creed, and I wish there were more authors like her today.
I read books by women like Louisa May Alcott because I wish the world were more like the way she painted it, not this depraved rock we currently live on. I'm putting this one on my to-read list because I love her books and I hope she was as "heavy-handed" with the moral talk in this one as she was in her others!
I read books by women like Louisa May Alcott because I wish the world were more like the way she painted it, not this depraved rock we currently live on. I'm putting this one on my to-read list because I love her books and I hope she was as "heavy-handed" with the moral talk in this one as she was in her others!
June 23, 2015
I loved this. I read Louisa May Alcott when I was very young but didn't remember much of her books. This was so lively and whimsical with its great cast of characters. People are just not that gracious and loving towards each other anymore so it was nice to visit that time. I loved the ending and how it wrapped up all of the young people's futures.
August 3, 2025
When reading the books of Louisa May Alcott, one must remember that her career was at its zenith a fair while ago. Her creative merits should be viewed in the context of contemporary literature for young readers as it stood when she was active, and that puts a different slant on how her works are to be regarded nowadays. Viewed through that prism, Jack and Jill is a remarkably progressive novel, one that likely stood head and shoulders over nearly any other juvenile story of the time. If the Newbery Medal had existed in 1881 to give to the Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature for Children, I would not have been surprised to see it go to Jack and Jill...and it probably would have been the third or fourth career Newbery Medal won by Louisa May Alcott (as of 2025, no author had won it more than twice).
If you're expecting a nice, old-fashioned story of 1800s village life in Jack and Jill, then you will be surprised. Louisa May Alcott takes on a number of difficult issues in the book, including severe, lasting health problems in children, the realities of death when it hits close to home, and the bittersweet poignancy of that imperceptible shift that occurs when children begin to morph into adolescents, whether they're ready or not. If I were to compare this book to a much later one, it would have to be Susan Patron's The Higher Power of Lucky and its sequels, which took a similar tone in giving free range to the expression of its characters about the wan uncertainty of letting go of childhood and moving forward from there. Like Susan Patron's acclaimed novels, Jack and Jill is about much more than just that one issue, of course; there are ample characters and stories for a couple of full-length books at least, a tribute to the richness of thought that Louisa May Alcott put into this book. Interesting people never exist in a vacuum; neither do good, nuanced characters in a book face their troubles and moments of triumph without their friends and family going through similar situations around them.
Jack and his friend Jill (which is just a nickname for her, by the way, a playfully trite reference to her close friendship with Jack) may be the main focus of the book, but not at all by a huge measure. In the first chapter catastrophe strikes as the two friends injure themselves pretty seriously in a sled crash during the heart of winter. Jack and Jill are confined to bed for a long time; Jack has suffered a broken leg and a gash on his head, but Jill's malady appears to be far worse. Her back has sustained much damage, and she can't even walk anymore. Until the swelling goes down (if it even does), it's impossible to predict the long-term effects of Jill's injuries. Her mother manages to evade directly addressing the subject of the dubious prognosis with Jill for some time, but there certainly is a real chance that Jill may never walk again. How distressing it would be to lose the gift of physical mobility because of an ill-considered ride on a sled.
While laid up in bed, Jill begins to think that she really has nothing at all to offer to her friends or to her mother any more, and her signature spunk noticeably fades. She determines that the only way for her to do something tangibly positive for the ones she cares about is to become as well-behaved and good as possible. It's not easy to affect such a change on an immediate basis, but striving to do so gives Jill a goal that she can work toward minute by minute as she bears with her interminable time abed; and sure enough, her character does see improvement even as she lies there helplessly in her room.
Jill's changes to herself do not go unnoticed by her friends. Perhaps the second-most emphasized story in the book is that of Molly Loo and her toddler brother, Boo (again, just a playful nickname), living without a mother with their father and a maid hired to keep house. Without any outside urging, Molly Loo decides that it's time to claim responsibility and start taking care of their house; she also begins tending to Boo, learning at a very young age what it means to be in charge of the domestic share of a family's daily labor. Molly adapts her methods when what she's doing doesn't work, and keeps on trying when it would be much easier to give in and go back to the way things used to be. Her eventual reward is that the household runs much, much better as a direct result of her sustained efforts, though it takes her father a long while to notice the change since he works all the time. Through nothing but the force of her own will, Molly has changed the fortunes of her family and given herself a foothold for the future.
Jack, Jill, Molly and all of their other friends, each of whom we are given the opportunity of getting to know in this book, are speeding toward adolescence, and they know that major changes are up ahead even as their personal problems, big and small, find degrees of resolution. Nothing in their past has prepared them completely for what becoming a teenager and then an adult is like, but they do have the smaller issues that they have worked through all of their lives from which to learn. What's up ahead are, mostly, just more complex versions of the same problems that they've known previously, and if they can face those days in the future with the same determination and willingness to adapt that they have carried with them to this point, then they at least have the tools to create success in any situation they encounter, however life may twist and turn and surprise them as they, themselves, grow and change. They can hold on to each other and to the families that love them, and they will be all right no matter how dark the nights become.
Louisa May Alcott was far ahead of her time in the writing of Jack and Jill. More than a hundred years later writers were just beginning to consistently touch on the kind of deep wisdom found in this book and how it applies to new young teenagers, and unpacking the sort of experiential advice that Louisa May Alcott expertly wove into her writing many decades before any of the new guard of authors were born. It's impressive to see how out-of-the-box Louisa May Alcott was in her writing, and how evergreen a book like Jack and Jill is for kids going through the exact same sorts of physical and emotional changes that affected their forefathers. Jack and Jill will never lose its power to inspire and teach; its rendering of theme stays powerful even as the specifics of characters' daily lives becomes old-fashioned. I hope kids never stop reading Jack and Jill and learning about themselves through its realistic characters and memorable stories. I give the book three and a half stars.
If you're expecting a nice, old-fashioned story of 1800s village life in Jack and Jill, then you will be surprised. Louisa May Alcott takes on a number of difficult issues in the book, including severe, lasting health problems in children, the realities of death when it hits close to home, and the bittersweet poignancy of that imperceptible shift that occurs when children begin to morph into adolescents, whether they're ready or not. If I were to compare this book to a much later one, it would have to be Susan Patron's The Higher Power of Lucky and its sequels, which took a similar tone in giving free range to the expression of its characters about the wan uncertainty of letting go of childhood and moving forward from there. Like Susan Patron's acclaimed novels, Jack and Jill is about much more than just that one issue, of course; there are ample characters and stories for a couple of full-length books at least, a tribute to the richness of thought that Louisa May Alcott put into this book. Interesting people never exist in a vacuum; neither do good, nuanced characters in a book face their troubles and moments of triumph without their friends and family going through similar situations around them.
Jack and his friend Jill (which is just a nickname for her, by the way, a playfully trite reference to her close friendship with Jack) may be the main focus of the book, but not at all by a huge measure. In the first chapter catastrophe strikes as the two friends injure themselves pretty seriously in a sled crash during the heart of winter. Jack and Jill are confined to bed for a long time; Jack has suffered a broken leg and a gash on his head, but Jill's malady appears to be far worse. Her back has sustained much damage, and she can't even walk anymore. Until the swelling goes down (if it even does), it's impossible to predict the long-term effects of Jill's injuries. Her mother manages to evade directly addressing the subject of the dubious prognosis with Jill for some time, but there certainly is a real chance that Jill may never walk again. How distressing it would be to lose the gift of physical mobility because of an ill-considered ride on a sled.
While laid up in bed, Jill begins to think that she really has nothing at all to offer to her friends or to her mother any more, and her signature spunk noticeably fades. She determines that the only way for her to do something tangibly positive for the ones she cares about is to become as well-behaved and good as possible. It's not easy to affect such a change on an immediate basis, but striving to do so gives Jill a goal that she can work toward minute by minute as she bears with her interminable time abed; and sure enough, her character does see improvement even as she lies there helplessly in her room.
Jill's changes to herself do not go unnoticed by her friends. Perhaps the second-most emphasized story in the book is that of Molly Loo and her toddler brother, Boo (again, just a playful nickname), living without a mother with their father and a maid hired to keep house. Without any outside urging, Molly Loo decides that it's time to claim responsibility and start taking care of their house; she also begins tending to Boo, learning at a very young age what it means to be in charge of the domestic share of a family's daily labor. Molly adapts her methods when what she's doing doesn't work, and keeps on trying when it would be much easier to give in and go back to the way things used to be. Her eventual reward is that the household runs much, much better as a direct result of her sustained efforts, though it takes her father a long while to notice the change since he works all the time. Through nothing but the force of her own will, Molly has changed the fortunes of her family and given herself a foothold for the future.
Jack, Jill, Molly and all of their other friends, each of whom we are given the opportunity of getting to know in this book, are speeding toward adolescence, and they know that major changes are up ahead even as their personal problems, big and small, find degrees of resolution. Nothing in their past has prepared them completely for what becoming a teenager and then an adult is like, but they do have the smaller issues that they have worked through all of their lives from which to learn. What's up ahead are, mostly, just more complex versions of the same problems that they've known previously, and if they can face those days in the future with the same determination and willingness to adapt that they have carried with them to this point, then they at least have the tools to create success in any situation they encounter, however life may twist and turn and surprise them as they, themselves, grow and change. They can hold on to each other and to the families that love them, and they will be all right no matter how dark the nights become.
Louisa May Alcott was far ahead of her time in the writing of Jack and Jill. More than a hundred years later writers were just beginning to consistently touch on the kind of deep wisdom found in this book and how it applies to new young teenagers, and unpacking the sort of experiential advice that Louisa May Alcott expertly wove into her writing many decades before any of the new guard of authors were born. It's impressive to see how out-of-the-box Louisa May Alcott was in her writing, and how evergreen a book like Jack and Jill is for kids going through the exact same sorts of physical and emotional changes that affected their forefathers. Jack and Jill will never lose its power to inspire and teach; its rendering of theme stays powerful even as the specifics of characters' daily lives becomes old-fashioned. I hope kids never stop reading Jack and Jill and learning about themselves through its realistic characters and memorable stories. I give the book three and a half stars.
November 29, 2016
Seguramente sea un acto ridículo, no debe haber duda de eso, que escriba esto a las casi 5 de la mañana con una jornada laboral de martes por delante. Pero esto es Alcott para mi: si me siento mal y tengo dolor, la segunda medicina luego de la tradicional es un libro de Alcott.
Hace unos días me tenía que operar una muela de juicio. Fue un día de calor y a poco de empezar el proceso se corto la luz. Con anestesia y procesos en curso ¿qué hacer? Rezar, esperar, llorar, asustarte, toda una seguidilla de cuestiones en donde lo único que uno puede pensar es "morire?" y sabe que no, pero teme, misteriosamente, que si. Las cosas se resolvieron fácil. Se llego a donde se tenía que llegar y se sigue esta semana. ¿Dónde entra entonces Alcott en todo este párrafo medico-confesional e innecesario? En la compañía, el consuelo, la ternura y la dispersión.
Hace un poco más de media hora cuando me levanté para tomar una combinación de ibuprofeno con dicoflenac, me hice un te y mientras me ponía la taza en la cara, retomé este libro de Alcott y a medida que avanzaban las páginas olvidaba el dolor.
Sin duda la literatura no sana y escribir como "catarsis" es un lugar común y casi pornográfico en el cual no se va a ningún lado porque solo se vuelve al dolor. Alcott funciona como una contención frente a eso, cuenta el mundo con la misma calidad con lo que lo aborda Dickens pero con ambiciones, falsamente, menores. Donde la gente es buena, pero no es buena a niveles inverosímiles. es buena de una manera creíble, esperanzadora. El mundo es mejor con Alcott. Y el dolor de muela también.
Hace unos días me tenía que operar una muela de juicio. Fue un día de calor y a poco de empezar el proceso se corto la luz. Con anestesia y procesos en curso ¿qué hacer? Rezar, esperar, llorar, asustarte, toda una seguidilla de cuestiones en donde lo único que uno puede pensar es "morire?" y sabe que no, pero teme, misteriosamente, que si. Las cosas se resolvieron fácil. Se llego a donde se tenía que llegar y se sigue esta semana. ¿Dónde entra entonces Alcott en todo este párrafo medico-confesional e innecesario? En la compañía, el consuelo, la ternura y la dispersión.
Hace un poco más de media hora cuando me levanté para tomar una combinación de ibuprofeno con dicoflenac, me hice un te y mientras me ponía la taza en la cara, retomé este libro de Alcott y a medida que avanzaban las páginas olvidaba el dolor.
Sin duda la literatura no sana y escribir como "catarsis" es un lugar común y casi pornográfico en el cual no se va a ningún lado porque solo se vuelve al dolor. Alcott funciona como una contención frente a eso, cuenta el mundo con la misma calidad con lo que lo aborda Dickens pero con ambiciones, falsamente, menores. Donde la gente es buena, pero no es buena a niveles inverosímiles. es buena de una manera creíble, esperanzadora. El mundo es mejor con Alcott. Y el dolor de muela también.
August 10, 2020
I read this back in February. Here’s my thoughts! :)
I loved this little book so much! It was the most perfect and cozy winter evening read. Louisa May Alcott’s books just bring me so much joy, encouragement, and comfort. With every book I pick up by her, it reminds me all over again why I love her books so much.
First off, every single character became so real to me. I loved them all: Jack, Jill, Frank, Gus, Ed, Merry, Molly Loo, Ralph— all of them.
I admire Jill’s cheerful spirit, Jack’s courage and good heart, Frank’s sense of doing what’s right, Gus for his kindness, Merry for her perseverance, Molly for making the best of things, Ralph for his kind heart and ambition, and Ed— for being everything he was. *tears*
One particular chapter was so beautifully written, so lovely and heartbreaking I can’t tell you. I wasn’t expecting it at all but alas! Louisa May Alcott knows how to surprise me and break my heart... then piece it back together with her beautiful words. It brought a lot of things into perspective, what’s really important in life. So with many tears, I was left with a smile and so encouraged.
I love L.M.A.’s writing and this story so very much! She will forever be my favorite author.
•
•
Quotes I loved:
“for faithfulness in little things fits one for heroism when the great trails come.”
“Our actions are in our own hands, but the consequences of them are not. Remember that, my dear, and think twice before you do anything.”
I loved this little book so much! It was the most perfect and cozy winter evening read. Louisa May Alcott’s books just bring me so much joy, encouragement, and comfort. With every book I pick up by her, it reminds me all over again why I love her books so much.
First off, every single character became so real to me. I loved them all: Jack, Jill, Frank, Gus, Ed, Merry, Molly Loo, Ralph— all of them.
I admire Jill’s cheerful spirit, Jack’s courage and good heart, Frank’s sense of doing what’s right, Gus for his kindness, Merry for her perseverance, Molly for making the best of things, Ralph for his kind heart and ambition, and Ed— for being everything he was. *tears*
One particular chapter was so beautifully written, so lovely and heartbreaking I can’t tell you. I wasn’t expecting it at all but alas! Louisa May Alcott knows how to surprise me and break my heart... then piece it back together with her beautiful words. It brought a lot of things into perspective, what’s really important in life. So with many tears, I was left with a smile and so encouraged.
I love L.M.A.’s writing and this story so very much! She will forever be my favorite author.
•
•
Quotes I loved:
“for faithfulness in little things fits one for heroism when the great trails come.”
“Our actions are in our own hands, but the consequences of them are not. Remember that, my dear, and think twice before you do anything.”
April 2, 2025
For some reason, I LOVED this book as a child. I don't even know what it is about it, but I read it several times, and was always sad when it ended.
ETA April 2025:
I just really love the sweet relationship between Jack and Jill. ❤️ I love the fairy tale-esque part of the story where Jill is cared for so lovingly. I love the sweet pathos of her injury and healing process, and how it changes her. I love the friendships between all the young people and the late nineteenth century hijinks they get up to. It was a community I wanted to be part of as a child and it still evokes a proper but of that longing.
As an adult, part of the charm gets rubbed off by virtue of Alcott's persistent insistence that every scene and thematic element in the story be treated as a moral or fable with a vital lesson to be learned... And characters who are always thrilled to receive these continually and timely instructions. I never met a child in real life who was so consistently receptive to the hard lessons in life as these children are! It takes away a bit from the charm of the story.
ETA April 2025:
I just really love the sweet relationship between Jack and Jill. ❤️ I love the fairy tale-esque part of the story where Jill is cared for so lovingly. I love the sweet pathos of her injury and healing process, and how it changes her. I love the friendships between all the young people and the late nineteenth century hijinks they get up to. It was a community I wanted to be part of as a child and it still evokes a proper but of that longing.
As an adult, part of the charm gets rubbed off by virtue of Alcott's persistent insistence that every scene and thematic element in the story be treated as a moral or fable with a vital lesson to be learned... And characters who are always thrilled to receive these continually and timely instructions. I never met a child in real life who was so consistently receptive to the hard lessons in life as these children are! It takes away a bit from the charm of the story.
May 29, 2019
Love this tale of 19th century American children by the author of Little Women. Didactic but warm and sweet. Missionary work begins with taking yourself in hand.
March 4, 2019
What a pleasant surprise and a delightful relief to re-read this darling book which is deemed by many as old-fashioned. I say, balderdash and humbugs!! for it is as wholesome as homemade butter scraped over homebaked bread. The friendship, the industriousness, the cheerfulness, the love and sesibility and sense! If there is something altogether moral, uplifting written with care, love with genuine knowledge of children's minds and souls, with traditional views on education, house-keeping, friendship, love , good sense, good taste, exquisite sense of fashion and of life in general it is this. It is always considered outdated, for Alcott fought with a pen, good morals and love. And I consider it GREAT!
August 2, 2015
I get the sense Alcott felt compelled to write several books 'in the style of' Little Women for reasons other than actually having more stories to tell. The March sisters are so alive and complicated and flawed, and don't tend to learn their morals patly at the end of each chapter. Whereas I find the characters of her other childrens' novels -- even in Little Men, and to an extent in Jo's Boys -- to be flat and uninspired, simultaneously precocious and gentle-hearted, sweetly tamed by the ever-wise, ever-forgiving Mother figure. And the worst of it is, they're pretty boring, really.
January 25, 2014
When I was thirteen years old, and read and reread this book a hundred times, I'd have given it five stars. The fact that it remains a three star book into adulthood is no small accomplishment for an author from another age.
Louisa May Alcott's style is very openly didactic and so grates a little on modern ears. We're used to having our literary sermons served up in more sneaky ways.
The story presented characters that quickly became real and multifaceted to me. I sympathized with their plights and their motivations. (Of course, I first met them all 32 years ago.) I felt that the hours I spent reading the book were spent among old friends, and the book made a pleasant reunion.
The thing I found difficult to believe is how easily the mothers were able to guide the pliant and compliant children. This seemed very unreal. But then again, Louisa May Alcott was never a mother.
And, it wasn't only the mothers and children, full-grown characters who were behaving badly could be brought to repentance and present a change in behavior by chance overheard comments or small nudges in conversation. Again, can this be real?
I reread the book as part of a immersion in the decades following the Civil War for a project. It served that purpose well. I was able to see the world (even if it was idealized) through the eyes of an 1880 woman, and it made a very pretty picture.
Louisa May Alcott's style is very openly didactic and so grates a little on modern ears. We're used to having our literary sermons served up in more sneaky ways.
The story presented characters that quickly became real and multifaceted to me. I sympathized with their plights and their motivations. (Of course, I first met them all 32 years ago.) I felt that the hours I spent reading the book were spent among old friends, and the book made a pleasant reunion.
The thing I found difficult to believe is how easily the mothers were able to guide the pliant and compliant children. This seemed very unreal. But then again, Louisa May Alcott was never a mother.
And, it wasn't only the mothers and children, full-grown characters who were behaving badly could be brought to repentance and present a change in behavior by chance overheard comments or small nudges in conversation. Again, can this be real?
I reread the book as part of a immersion in the decades following the Civil War for a project. It served that purpose well. I was able to see the world (even if it was idealized) through the eyes of an 1880 woman, and it made a very pretty picture.
November 10, 2020
So Jack and Jill go sledding and an accident causes them to be bedridden for months. In those months, they meet with their friends, they talk, they play, they are merry, and go through several "adventures" (well they can't move much because the sled accident left them pretty busted, but hey I couldn't find a better word). It's very sweet. Unrealistically so. Borderline nauseatingly so. Everyone is very one dimensional, everyone is a good Christian and a perfect soul, and they will let you know exactly why.
It's a very preachy book, in which the author seeks to pass on good morals and values, from a Christian point of a view. Some of those morals are quite questionable* but overall it's not a bad kid's book. Were I a 12 year old Christian boy and I would probably love it. As a 26 year old, however it is kind of grating - I confess I couldn't finish it. So I guess what I'm saying is preach to the choir sister, just not to me.
* He obeyed orders, and that is what we all must do, without always seeing why, or daring to use our own judgment.
Wow she really said screw critical thinking huh?
It's a very preachy book, in which the author seeks to pass on good morals and values, from a Christian point of a view. Some of those morals are quite questionable* but overall it's not a bad kid's book. Were I a 12 year old Christian boy and I would probably love it. As a 26 year old, however it is kind of grating - I confess I couldn't finish it. So I guess what I'm saying is preach to the choir sister, just not to me.
* He obeyed orders, and that is what we all must do, without always seeing why, or daring to use our own judgment.
Wow she really said screw critical thinking huh?
May 12, 2020
Read this with a view towards what age would listen to a read-aloud version. I think it needs to be at least 10-12 years old, as the characters are in their middle teens. The language is somewhat advanced and archaic for today's children (unless they are properly homeschooled ;) ) and the moralistic tone may turn some of them off. Really, Alcott had some advanced ideas for her day and age, probably because her parents were leaders in alternative education. In Jack & Jill, the children are allowed a year off of regular school to rest their brains and learn in a non-traditional manner. So if you are homeschooling, you will find an ally here.
May 29, 2019
Excellent story about self-improvement and friendship in the face of trials and illness. But it manages to be so bright and cheery throughout!
April 27, 2018
I was interested in Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott because the only book I’ve read by her is Little Women, so I wanted to see what her other works contained. It’s fairly similar in style and content; it’s a realistic fiction narrative about growing up and always striving to be a better person. I love the characters she follows in this series, especially the titular characters: Jack and Jill. They are two friends who become seriously injured during a sledding accident. Through their families’ and friends’ help, they’re able to recover and learn how to be more careful.
The main themes in this are learning how to be kind to others and put their happiness before your own, as well as learning how to take responsibility for yourself. While it’s not a thrilling book, I found it to be enjoyable, since the characters are so likeable and relatable. Their friendships with each other and how they take care of each other is incredibly heartwarming, and it’s a pleasant, happy, feel-good read. However, it is also a product of its time and does have some antiquated ideals; it is also a quite a bit more preachy than Little Women was, but it at the very least mostly preaches kindness and doing right by others, which are certainly great qualities for anyone to learn. On the whole, Jack and Jill is a nice middle grade coming of age story.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
The main themes in this are learning how to be kind to others and put their happiness before your own, as well as learning how to take responsibility for yourself. While it’s not a thrilling book, I found it to be enjoyable, since the characters are so likeable and relatable. Their friendships with each other and how they take care of each other is incredibly heartwarming, and it’s a pleasant, happy, feel-good read. However, it is also a product of its time and does have some antiquated ideals; it is also a quite a bit more preachy than Little Women was, but it at the very least mostly preaches kindness and doing right by others, which are certainly great qualities for anyone to learn. On the whole, Jack and Jill is a nice middle grade coming of age story.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
October 8, 2020
I don't think I ever come away from an Alcott without a happy sigh. Her books (at least the ones that I like to read) are sweet good, let full or real sorrows and trails. Yes, many items are dated, but the lessons, the courage of the characters, and the sweetness of the stories is enduring.
February 23, 2020
This was a beautiful book about growing children, their fun adventures, painful misadventures, and learning to love and serve God. It was filled with Alcott's characteristic lessons about patience, goodness, and godliness. As usual, the children had supportive adults in their lives who taught them with much patience, love, and care, and most importantly, by setting examples with their own actions. The book was quite engaging and drew me in completely. I laughed along with the characters when joyous things happened, and cried right with them when sadness took hold. Ed Devlin's death was especially grievous, and even now, the story of his short but sweet life lingers in the air.
October 15, 2020
A sweet and comforting read, just what one can expect from Louisa May Alcott. I don't enjoy the moralizing like I used to in Alcott's works, but in another sense, it's refreshing to read a children's novel that consciously imparts lessons. I found it a little difficult to keep some of Jack and Jill's friends straight as they were not completely fleshed out, but I enjoyed their side plots in addition to the main story about Jack and Jill's convalescence. I think Merry was my favorite of their friends. And, of course, I loved how effortlessly Alcott's well-crafted prose and storytelling flows across the pages. All in all it's a wholesome story well worth reading, especially for the young.
September 4, 2025
First Review
I read this for school, so I may as well share my book review that I had to write for school! XD
Without further ado, here it is...
***
Book Review - Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott
Story Summary
Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott is about two best friends, Jack (John Minot) and Jill (Jane Pecq), and their friends. When the winter is ruined for them during a sledding accident, both Jack and Jill are bedridden for the rest of the season. They learn to put up with their troubles, and be joyful and merry despite the struggles; and blessings come about for them as the year goes on, and healing and new life begins to bud.
What I Liked
The characters are my most favorite thing about this book. Alcott wrote them in such a way that made them feel so real, like they popped right out of the page and danced around in my head. I felt like I was in the story, watching as both Jack and Jill slowly and steadily healed, and enjoying the way their friends cheered them up and made them happy.
The emotions in this book are strong and clear. Louisa crafted a wonderful tale, and I could feel every emotion very strongly. When the characters were happy and joyful, I couldn’t help laughing and grinning as I read; and when sad parts happened, I’m not lying when I say that I shed a few tears.
The simplicity in this book gives it a comforting, genuine charm. It’s hard to find books nowadays with that “genuine” feel to them — but this one is full of it. I loved the way my heart moved with this story, and multiple times had to pause and think about how simple this story is, yet it somehow makes me feel all sorts of emotions. It’s not simple in the way of a children’s picture book, but the storyline isn’t complex at all — two characters are hurt in a sledding accident, and they have to learn to overcome their struggles while learning to grow and spread their wings. That’s it.
But there’s so much more to the story than that.
The morals Alcott puts into this story are beautiful. They aren’t preachy, or over-the-top, or cheesy — they’re woven together with the innocent perspectives of young men and women, and simple storyline, to make a beautiful masterpiece fit for any reader. Yes, sometimes Alcott would state the lesson at the end of some chapters outright, so to some it might feel a little plastic or preachy — but, in my opinion, it didn’t degrade the book in any way, and honestly, it fit the book and made it perfect. This is great for young readers too, because sometimes it is difficult to understand what lesson authors are trying to teach.
What I Disliked
Louisa May Alcott’s writing style is flowery and uses a lot of large words. It’s very beautiful, though sometimes difficult to understand — I do think there’s a learning chance there, a chance to look up definitions of new words and old phrases!
Final Thoughts//Recommendation//Rating
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if I could read it over and over again until I got sick of it, I would! (Though I doubt I would get sick of it.) In my personal opinion, it was a very cute read, and I love the hope and honesty that emanated off of each page. I would recommend this book to fans of Louisa’s writing, and to readers young and old who enjoy a simple yet beautiful read. 10/10.
Tags for the first read:
2025, absolute-favorites, e-book, favorite-authors, school, want-to-get-physical-book, want-to-reread
***
Second Review
*to be written when I finish it*
Tags added for the second read:
2025, classics, physical-book
I read this for school, so I may as well share my book review that I had to write for school! XD
Without further ado, here it is...
***
Book Review - Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott
Story Summary
Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott is about two best friends, Jack (John Minot) and Jill (Jane Pecq), and their friends. When the winter is ruined for them during a sledding accident, both Jack and Jill are bedridden for the rest of the season. They learn to put up with their troubles, and be joyful and merry despite the struggles; and blessings come about for them as the year goes on, and healing and new life begins to bud.
What I Liked
The characters are my most favorite thing about this book. Alcott wrote them in such a way that made them feel so real, like they popped right out of the page and danced around in my head. I felt like I was in the story, watching as both Jack and Jill slowly and steadily healed, and enjoying the way their friends cheered them up and made them happy.
The emotions in this book are strong and clear. Louisa crafted a wonderful tale, and I could feel every emotion very strongly. When the characters were happy and joyful, I couldn’t help laughing and grinning as I read; and when sad parts happened, I’m not lying when I say that I shed a few tears.
The simplicity in this book gives it a comforting, genuine charm. It’s hard to find books nowadays with that “genuine” feel to them — but this one is full of it. I loved the way my heart moved with this story, and multiple times had to pause and think about how simple this story is, yet it somehow makes me feel all sorts of emotions. It’s not simple in the way of a children’s picture book, but the storyline isn’t complex at all — two characters are hurt in a sledding accident, and they have to learn to overcome their struggles while learning to grow and spread their wings. That’s it.
But there’s so much more to the story than that.
The morals Alcott puts into this story are beautiful. They aren’t preachy, or over-the-top, or cheesy — they’re woven together with the innocent perspectives of young men and women, and simple storyline, to make a beautiful masterpiece fit for any reader. Yes, sometimes Alcott would state the lesson at the end of some chapters outright, so to some it might feel a little plastic or preachy — but, in my opinion, it didn’t degrade the book in any way, and honestly, it fit the book and made it perfect. This is great for young readers too, because sometimes it is difficult to understand what lesson authors are trying to teach.
What I Disliked
Louisa May Alcott’s writing style is flowery and uses a lot of large words. It’s very beautiful, though sometimes difficult to understand — I do think there’s a learning chance there, a chance to look up definitions of new words and old phrases!
Final Thoughts//Recommendation//Rating
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if I could read it over and over again until I got sick of it, I would! (Though I doubt I would get sick of it.) In my personal opinion, it was a very cute read, and I love the hope and honesty that emanated off of each page. I would recommend this book to fans of Louisa’s writing, and to readers young and old who enjoy a simple yet beautiful read. 10/10.
Tags for the first read:
2025, absolute-favorites, e-book, favorite-authors, school, want-to-get-physical-book, want-to-reread
***
Second Review
*to be written when I finish it*
Tags added for the second read:
2025, classics, physical-book
dnf
December 11, 2017Dnf. I reached chapter 6 and decided that the book was depressing me too much to continue. Any Goodreaders who stumble across my review need to keep in mind that my opinion of this book is biased by my personal circumstances. Essentially I'm having a rant, rather than recommending readers against it.
A common theme in Victorian children's books is stoicism in pain and suffering. That's understandable in an era without anaesthetic and when childhood death was sadly common. I guess parents wanted their kiddies to be prepared for the inevitable suffering they would experience. So poor bedridden Jack and Jill are typically depicted as being brave and stoic in their pain as a broken leg is set, a serious back injury examined, and weeks of confinement in bed are endured. However Jack and Jill aren't angels and their discontent is occasionally expressed in sadness, rudeness and general pettiness. But Jack and Jill determine that they will be good. Goodbye bad behaviour, they are going to be well behaved patients from now on.
You know what, this sucks. It's dishonest. And it's painful to read. Crying when you are hurt isn't something to be ashamed of. Struggling with being unwell isn't something to be hidden. I'm not advocating that we all throw tantrums when we're sick. What I'm really saying is that society hadn't quite loosened its grip on Victorian stoicism. We still celebrate sufferers of chronic illness, disability or injury who overcome, who are unflinchingly positive, or soldier on. We celebrate the brave moments and ignore the sobs in the night, the trauma of pain and sickness, and the all too familiar sense of loneliness and loss. In its rawest expression, we rob patients of the simple right to be honest about their experiences and struggles, and instead place on them the expectation of an indefatigable smile and spirit.
I'm sure eventually Jack and Jill recover and get on with their lives. I know things will be better for them in later chapters. But right now, in my position of being chronically ill, I don't want to read about their stoic suffering.
A common theme in Victorian children's books is stoicism in pain and suffering. That's understandable in an era without anaesthetic and when childhood death was sadly common. I guess parents wanted their kiddies to be prepared for the inevitable suffering they would experience. So poor bedridden Jack and Jill are typically depicted as being brave and stoic in their pain as a broken leg is set, a serious back injury examined, and weeks of confinement in bed are endured. However Jack and Jill aren't angels and their discontent is occasionally expressed in sadness, rudeness and general pettiness. But Jack and Jill determine that they will be good. Goodbye bad behaviour, they are going to be well behaved patients from now on.
You know what, this sucks. It's dishonest. And it's painful to read. Crying when you are hurt isn't something to be ashamed of. Struggling with being unwell isn't something to be hidden. I'm not advocating that we all throw tantrums when we're sick. What I'm really saying is that society hadn't quite loosened its grip on Victorian stoicism. We still celebrate sufferers of chronic illness, disability or injury who overcome, who are unflinchingly positive, or soldier on. We celebrate the brave moments and ignore the sobs in the night, the trauma of pain and sickness, and the all too familiar sense of loneliness and loss. In its rawest expression, we rob patients of the simple right to be honest about their experiences and struggles, and instead place on them the expectation of an indefatigable smile and spirit.
I'm sure eventually Jack and Jill recover and get on with their lives. I know things will be better for them in later chapters. But right now, in my position of being chronically ill, I don't want to read about their stoic suffering.
March 10, 2015
Just finished something that demanded maximum concentration, hadn't been to the library yet, had this in the Complete Works on kindle...
Gets only two stars because I know I read this as a child and I didn't remember it at all. Reading it as an adult, I mainly notice how Alcott recycles people or incidents from her own past as characters or situations in the books. So here we have the invalid girl (combined here with the tomboy girl), the invalid boy, the too studious boy, the would-be artist, the wealthy rescuer, the family spinster, the missing father, the saintly mother. And the kids put on a show, the family goes to the shore, people have idealistic ideas about how to raise children, etc. Ah, well, write what you know.
Gets only two stars because I know I read this as a child and I didn't remember it at all. Reading it as an adult, I mainly notice how Alcott recycles people or incidents from her own past as characters or situations in the books. So here we have the invalid girl (combined here with the tomboy girl), the invalid boy, the too studious boy, the would-be artist, the wealthy rescuer, the family spinster, the missing father, the saintly mother. And the kids put on a show, the family goes to the shore, people have idealistic ideas about how to raise children, etc. Ah, well, write what you know.
January 10, 2025
2.5⭐️
I have to be honest—this book just didn’t hold my interest. The story had an exciting start with the accident that drew me in, but then it shifted focus to other kids in the village, leaving Jack and Jill sidelined. I was really hoping to dive deeper into their relationship and see how it developed in the aftermath of the accident, so that shift felt like a letdown.
I’m not typically a classics enthusiast, but I’ve found middle-grade stories I’ve read in the past to be really charming. Unfortunately, this one struck me as more cringey than comforting.
It felt like it was written in another time, lacking the relatability I often enjoy in other books. I struggled to push through, especially since I was listening to the audiobook, which had a not-so-great narrator. Overall, it was a challenging experience for me!
I have to be honest—this book just didn’t hold my interest. The story had an exciting start with the accident that drew me in, but then it shifted focus to other kids in the village, leaving Jack and Jill sidelined. I was really hoping to dive deeper into their relationship and see how it developed in the aftermath of the accident, so that shift felt like a letdown.
I’m not typically a classics enthusiast, but I’ve found middle-grade stories I’ve read in the past to be really charming. Unfortunately, this one struck me as more cringey than comforting.
It felt like it was written in another time, lacking the relatability I often enjoy in other books. I struggled to push through, especially since I was listening to the audiobook, which had a not-so-great narrator. Overall, it was a challenging experience for me!
June 20, 2022
At long last, I can say that I've read this book all the way through! It is one of my favorite Alcott's, full of inspiration and goodwill among a lovely group of friends.
February 6, 2017
1880 YA. I read this long ago when I was a youngster. Borrowed it from the library.
So this story is about a couple of teenagers who have a bad sledding accident. Jack breaks his leg & suffers a concussion & "Jill" (really Jane) hurts her back. We actually don't really know the extent of Jill's back injury, since there were no MRIs back then. The rest of the book is about her long recovery, their lives afterwards & those of their friends. There is a death of a character.
Jill does end up able to walk again.
I remember liking this book back in the day. When I reread it all these years later, it just doesn't do it for me. The sledding accident & Jill getting trapped on the boat were the best parts. The rest was just filler. Dull filler. Preachy & dull. The views on women & how they were treated won't go over well nowadays.
Interesting only if you want to read all the author's books.
So this story is about a couple of teenagers who have a bad sledding accident. Jack breaks his leg & suffers a concussion & "Jill" (really Jane) hurts her back. We actually don't really know the extent of Jill's back injury, since there were no MRIs back then. The rest of the book is about her long recovery, their lives afterwards & those of their friends. There is a death of a character.
Jill does end up able to walk again.
I remember liking this book back in the day. When I reread it all these years later, it just doesn't do it for me. The sledding accident & Jill getting trapped on the boat were the best parts. The rest was just filler. Dull filler. Preachy & dull. The views on women & how they were treated won't go over well nowadays.
Interesting only if you want to read all the author's books.
October 9, 2007
I just read an article about this novel ("Missionary Positions: Taming the Savage Girl in Louisa May Alcott's Jack and Jill" by M. Hines), so I wanted to reread the book.
It was definitely more full of those glurgey Victorianisms (wholesome and pure!) than I remember, but when I was younger I just read these books pretty much at face value and didn't really think about the imperialist subtext and what have you.
I still can't quite tell if she's being serious with some of the moralizing. I want to think she wrote books like this to pay the rent and actually preferred the "sensational" stories that were supposedly shameful. However, I can't really be bothered to read a bunch of scholarship on the subject.
It was definitely more full of those glurgey Victorianisms (wholesome and pure!) than I remember, but when I was younger I just read these books pretty much at face value and didn't really think about the imperialist subtext and what have you.
I still can't quite tell if she's being serious with some of the moralizing. I want to think she wrote books like this to pay the rent and actually preferred the "sensational" stories that were supposedly shameful. However, I can't really be bothered to read a bunch of scholarship on the subject.
April 27, 2016
I've always really liked this book, but haven't read it in decades. Still I found I enjoyed it a lot upon rereading. It's not a didactic as some of Alcott's work, but full of fun and sentiment. The plot revolves around two young neighbors and good friends who get seriously injured in a sledding accident. It follows them and their families and friends through the winter and spring while they recover. There's fun and laughs and also some trouble and sadness. I think what I like best about this book is the two MCs. Jack and Jill are lively, likable, and not perfect, so I could identify with them when I was young and I enjoyed revisiting them, too.
December 19, 2015
I read an abridged version of this when I was little, which, if I recall, ended with Chapter 18--May Baskets, with the bit about Ed from Chapter 20 being moved to an earlier chapter. So this was the first time that I heard about Frank and Jack Minot's temperance activities, or Pebbly Beach, or the kids taking a break from school for years on the insistence of Mrs. Minot (!), or the ultimate fates of Jill Pecq, Merry Grant, and Molly Loo. Those last six chapters were completely new to me, and they let me enjoy the book in a way that I hadn't before.
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