Jo's Boys vs Under the Lilacs

Both "Jo's Boys" by Louisa May Alcott and "Under the Lilacs" by Louisa May Alcott are popular choices for readers interested in Fiction and Family life. This comparison helps you decide which to read first — or whether both belong on your list.

Shared Themes

FictionJuvenile literatureFamilyChildren's fictionNew england, fiction
Cover of Jo's Boys

Jo's Boys

Louisa May Alcott

1886

How is this book unique? Font adjustments & biography included Unabridged (100% Original content) Illustrated About Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott Jo's Boys, and How They Turned Out: A Sequel to "Little Men" is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott, first published in 1886. The novel is the final book in the unofficial Little Women series. In it, Jo's "children," now grown, are caught up in real world troubles.The book mostly follows the lives of Plumfield boys who were introduced in Little Men, particularly Tommy, Emil, Demi, Nat, Dan, and Professor Bhaer and Jo's sons Rob and Teddy, although the others make frequent appearances as well. The book takes place ten years after Little Men. Dolly and George are college students dealing with the temptations of snobbery, arrogance, self-indulgence and vanity. Tommy becomes a medical student to impress childhood sweetheart Nan, but after "accidentally" falling in love with and proposing to Dora, he joins his family business.

Published 1886
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Cover of Under the Lilacs

Under the Lilacs

Louisa May Alcott

1878

From the gate to the porch went a wide walk, paved with smooth slabs of dark stone, and bordered with the tall bushes which met overhead, making a green roof. All sorts of neglected flowers and wild weeds grew between their stems, covering the walls of this summer parlor with the prettiest tapestry. A board, propped on two blocks of wood, stood in the middle of the walk, covered with a little plaid shawl much the worse for wear, and on it a miniature tea-service was set forth with great elegance. To be sure, the tea-pot had lost its spout, the cream-jug its handle, the sugar-bowl its cover, and the cups and plates were all more or less cracked or nicked; but polite persons would not take notice of these trifling deficiencies, and none but polite persons were invited to this party.

Published 1878
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier to read: Jo's Boys or Under the Lilacs?
Reading difficulty depends on your familiarity with the genre. Check each book's page count and subject matter above, and start with whichever aligns better with books you've enjoyed before.
Can I read Jo's Boys and Under the Lilacs in any order?
Yes — these are standalone works. You don't need to read one before the other unless they're part of the same series.
Which book is better for beginners?
If you're new to this genre, look at the shorter book with broader appeal and start there. You can always come back for the other.

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