Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect

by Gloria Whelan

In 1843, with all their possessions loaded onto a single wagon, young Louisa May Alcott and her family bravely venture into the wilderness. Louisa's father is determined to realize his vision of a perfect one where people live in peace with each other and with nature, surviving off the land. Louisa keeps a journal in which she vows to try to uphold her father's high ideals. But her family's journey can't erase her own dreams, doubts, frustrations, and fears. With the words "This is to be my secret diary," Louisa begins recording a very different version of events. Unfolding together, the two accounts reveal one remarkable tale of a young writer finding her voice. Based on Louisa May Alcott's own Journals, National Book Award winner Gloria Whelan's novel breathes new life into a forgotten chapter from the youth of the beloved author of Little Women.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Gloria Whelan is the best-selling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect; Angel on the Square and its companion, The Impossible Journey; Once on This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; Farewell to the Island; and Return to the Island. She lives with her husband, Joseph, in the woods of northern Michigan.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So yes, I guess that after reading some of the more negative online reviews for Gloria Whelan's middle grade Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect I do have to realise that there are (and in my opinion most frustratingly so) still some if not even many readers (many people) who simply cannot and do not want to fathom that Louisa May Alcott's father, that transcendentalist Bronson Alcott was actually and in fact not really all that much a to be universally admired and lauded 19th century educational reformer, abolitionist and early vegan but yes indeed that first and foremost, Bronson Alcott was totally and absolutely a self-centred and self-absorbed unempathetic to generally anyone but himself narcissist, full of massive feelings of entitlement and yes, as such also just a terrible, useless, unprepared and lacking husband and father (and to be certain, this is totally and without much if any mercy and explanation, without thankfully any justification of and for Bronson Alcott shown and demonstrated in Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect, which of course does present young Lousia May Alcott's fictional diaries but that these are also and equally based and very much strongly so on bona fide biographical, historical details that author Gloria Whelan has gleaned from non fiction books on the Alcotts and on Bronson Alcott's Fruitlands experiment and which are also listed in the included short but more than adequate bibliography of Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect).

And while I do agree that for some readers, the often massive negativity apparent and present in Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect might feel a bit uncomfortable and something they would rather not read and to even ignore (and especially if they happen to be Bronson Alcott fans), I for one am indeed totally happy with the reading time I have spent with and on Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect and do very much appreciate the negative and critical approach in both the secret and the not so secret fictional diaries of young Louisa May Alcott regarding Fruitlands as a concept and towards Bronson Alcott's lack of decent and necessary parental care and how his own dreams and wants always seem to come first, how he even pretends that poverty and hunger are actually something positive for his daughters and his wife. But yes indeed, reading Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect has most definitely also made me despise Bronson Alcott as a person even more vehemently than I already was doing before I started reading (and which though, I for one also do consider a very much if not even completely good and necessary thing, as no, I do not at all consider Bronson Alcott as in any way a positive role model and as a to be honoured and feted individual and indeed, that Bronson Alcott's educational reforms, even if they were novel and generally good ideas, should in no way mitigate and lessen the criticism of the damage he caused to his family and that well, Bronson Alcott really should never have married and have had children if he was not prepared to and even willing to adequately care for his family).

[Ginny Messina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the spirit of Transcendental Wild Oats, this is an account of the Alcott family's attempt to build a utopian community at Fruitlands, as told through Louisa’s fictional diary entries. The Alcott girls all kept diaries which their parents read. That’s a problem for Louisa, though: “Mother says our diaries ought to be a record of pure thoughts and good actions. She and Father often peek into our diaries to see that it is so. Yet Father tells us that we must be honest in our thoughts. I don’t see how the two fit together.” She solves the problem by keeping two diaries--her usual public one and a hilarious private and more honest one. A very funny book.

[Martha Valasek · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual historical fiction by Gloria Whelan based on the journals of Louisa May Alcott when her family lived in the Utopian commune in Western Massachusetts. They were among the first vegan back in their day.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plan to teach this book in the fall for my "special topics in American Lit: YA dystopian fiction" class in the fall. I think we will likely start out with this one, which is a fictional representation of Louisa May Alcott's family and their attempt to start a real life utopia called Fruitlands. Friends of Emerson and Thoreau, Louisa's father and Mr. Lane spend all their money to establish a perfect, vegetarian, utopian community dedicated to self-improvement, God and Enlightenment ideals. Despite big plans (which Louisa documents in the journal that her parents check), there are differences among the planners, extreme differences in workload allocations and overall a lack of food (which Louisa documents in her secret journal). Once a Massachusetts winter sets in, members begin to desert the collective and the men still refuse to give up their talking, reading and writing hours in favor of weather proofing the house or bringing in the harvest. Finally, Louisa's mother threatens to leave her husband rather than let her four daughters starve to death or freeze. This book is a great representation of many of the utopian ideals that helped found and shape America, and a good reminder of how those dreams often fail due to a focus on values over practicality, like having enough food for the winter. The gender dynamics of the book, specifically the way the men preach equality, yet exclude Louisa's mother from all decision making , including the schedule of chores that they draw up for her, is carefully drawn and not over handed. The character of one man, who believes a true utopia would include doing away with all clothing, is hilarious, especially given the 1840s time period. The voice given to Louisa, chaste, good and attempting to be righteous in her public diary, gives way to an observant, rebellious and quick tempered young woman in private. She rarely misses the injustices against her mother and often feels she just cannot live up to her sister's example or her father's expectations, since she prefers to speak her mind over remaining silent.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by my dear friend a few years ago and it has sat idle on my to read shelf. Since, in the last year, I have been on a Louisa May Alcott kick, I thought I would finally read this one.

Fruitlands, by Gloria Whelan, is an historical based fiction designed for younger readers in the 8-12 range. It features the Alcott family's brief stint living off the land and in the company of like minded individuals. Translation: vegan, hippie commune. Well not hippies, more like the hippies of that time, Transcendentalists. Whelan based her story on 9 journal entries of Lousia's from the 8 months they were able to stay on rural New England farm. What Whelan did was to personalize the time and make it relatable to the young reader, Louisa was 10 at the time. The book is alternated journal entries. Plain print being Louisa's journal that her parents would also read (as a way to gauge her soul) and then her journal printed in italics, where she could be herself. Lousia's secret diary is where she would highlight the injustices viewed in the eyes of a child, where she could voice her questions and opinions with out being impudent.

The takeaway? A great little story, but alas it doesn't do much for my opinion of Bronson Alcott, Louisa's father. By far a progressive radical in his day, he was a hopeless dreamer who usually dragged his family along with him in his scheme du jour, sometimes to their detriment. Those were still the days of the pater familiaras, even to the progressive thinkers. I would recommend this to anyone, I would be interested to see what a young persons take on the blatant sexism in this book. Sometimes I think being a woman is tough, but then think of what we have and women in the Alcott's time didn't and even earlier.

[Lady reading under the Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bronson Alcott and Mr. Lane were a pair of selfish, lazy, narcissistic abusers. It disgusts me the way they oppressed Mrs. Alcott and deprived the girls of basic necessities in the name of spiritual development. Mrs. Alcott's ceaseless work and practicality kept this family from starving and freezing. It's a terrible shame the father of the household cared more about himself and his lofty [impractical, erroneous, idolatrous, and abusive] ideas than he did about the well-being of and provision for his family.

I, for one, am glad the experiment failed, though my heart breaks at what the mother and daughters were put through during that time, as well as later when Louisa and her mother were the sole providers for the household since Mr. Alcott couldn't be troubled to care for them and refused on principle to work for wages. My ire is roused in situations like this and I can't stand these selfish narcissistic people who get everyone to feel sorry for them and make excuses for them. Ugh.

Louisa and her mother Abby were heroines, plain and simple. Beautiful, faithful souls.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a riot! I got it when my Mom & I visited Fruitlands this fall. It's for older kids and captures some of the insanity of the fruitlands project in a fun way.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read based on the journals of young Louisa May Alcott. I really enjoyed reading about the roots of vegan living ; )

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere in my mind, I had pictured Louisa May Alcott's father to be something like the beloved patriarch in her Little Women. That image was dashed to bits by this book. He wanted to create a perfect society where everyone could live their own life--apparently as long as they did it exactly as he directed. He supposedly opposed slavery, yet (quoting from the book) "Father believes that the lighter complected you are, the higher up you are on the spiritual ladder." He established a farm to support his vision, yet did next to no work on it--leaving his family half starved and half frozen in the winter. His wife slaved endlessly--trying to keep everything together and the children fed, yet he would give her no voice in decisions or discussions. Another quote from the book--(Alcott speaking) "If some of the others might take on more of my work, I would have time to bestow upon the world more of my valuable thoughts." I'll say this, for a youth book--this was quite an interesting read!

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really interesting. Will likely have a pretty limited audience but the dual storytelling format of what she will share versus her private thoughts will ring true with young writers and those who appreciate her work and the research is very thorough. It's tough when you do first person historical fiction about an author to get the voice right but I felt like her Louisa was credible. An interesting take on a fascinating story.

[Tim Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting but a bit bleak and pessimistic; I found it hard to distinguish what were the author "extrapolations" and what was basis from Louisa May Alcott's own 19th century journal. I would suggest YA readers also enjoy the Newberry Award-winning: Invicible Louisa.

4* only out of 5

[Maryann · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an eye-opener, wow. A short and well written book.

[Salsabrarian]

A fictional diary account of the Alcott family's vision to start a community where people live in peace with each other and nature, living off the land. Louisa keeps two diaries, one for her parents' eyes and a secret one where she reveals what's really happening between the lines of her first diary. In many ways, her father and Mr. Lane, the financial backer of Fruitlands, are ridiculously idealistic. The community should only eat plants that grow up to the sky rather than those that grow down into the ground. They shouldn't wear cotton because it comes from slave labor but neither should they wear silk because it comes from the labor of worms. When bugs infest the crops, they are to be removed and moved across the river, not killed. Louisa at times is too spirited and outspoken about their life at Fruitlands, which often gets her into trouble.

[Merrikay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although this book is published as recommended for 8-11 year olds, I wouldn't want my 8 year old to read it. If someone walked into a library and picked this up, reading it out of the context of the lives of the Alcott Family, I'm afraid it would be depressing with no hope or mention of the good things that came from this family.  Bronson Alcott just sounds mentally ill and abusive of his family.  It might be ok reading for a completist familiar with the whole story of the Alcotts and the Transcendentalists, which I am not.  I realize it is a children's book but was still disappointed.  It consists of two fictionalized diaries kept by Louisa May Alcott,  one her parents had access to, and the other one secret.  I couldn't resist that premise.  I should have.

[Terrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on actual events in the childhood of Louisa May Alcott. Her family moved to Fruitlands and tried a Thoreau-isque existance, living only on what they could be replenished from the land, mostly grain, vegetables and fruits. The book contains 2 fictional diaries that Louisa kept- one required by her father (the nice version of her thoughts) and the second, in italics, of her actual feelings. I thought this was an interesting peek into the Alcott family, and the personality of one of my favorite authors. I think I need to reread LITTLE WOMEN now.

[Rebecca Carranza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made sense of my lifelong fascination with Louisa May Alcott, who strove to perfect herself for the approval of a distant and stern father, who struggled with his ideas of a utopian lifestlyle. Intended for young adults, it explains the Fruitlands experiment and Alcott's life clearly and in brief. Excellent pre-reading for Susan Cheever's American Bloomsbury.

[Grace Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about Louisa May Alcott's early life as a Quaker! Her, her family, strict Mr. Lane , his son William and some other men live on some farmland they call "Fruitland". They are strict Vegans always trying to better themselves! I highly recommend it for any age.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really amazing I loved it because it was basiclly part of my childhood. It also surprised it was like a perfect book for me.

[Lanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, quick read. Can't wait to visit Fruitlands, and this book will help me (and my daughters) understand more about what LMA went through during her time there.

[Avalon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louisa's father was a "queer" man, since he didn't want any animals working for men.