Louisa M. Alcott's Little Women is a masterpiece. No one has ever been able to write anything so fresh, so natural, and so wholesome. Her later books, especially Little Men and Old-Fashioned Girl, are rather in the same vein, though not the equal of Little Women. Read any favorite chapter.
Mary Mapes Dodge's greatest literary success was a book for boys, Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, a fascinating story of Holland. It has been translated into five languages. Read the "race" from it.
Frances H. Burnett had written excellent books for grown people, like That Lass o' Lowries, and others, before her Little Lord Fauntleroy appeared and had instant popularity. Her other children's books were mostly fairy-tales and simple stories. Read from Fauntleroy.
Laura E. Richards has many books for girls, written with humor and much sensible suggestion, the latter well hidden. The Three Margarets, Margaret Montfort, and the Hildegarde stories are all attractive, but Captain January is most original; read from this.
Josephine Daskam Bacon writes amusingly of both children and parents. Her Memoirs of a Baby and When Caroline Was Growing are both worth reading.
Elizabeth Jordan has struck a new note in her stories of convent life. May Iverson, Her Book and its sequel are full of the absurdities of growing girls. Read any of the amusing chapters.
Clubs should make a special study of some of the older writers for girls, especially Sophie May, Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney, and Susan Coolidge. Notice also the excellent work of Annie Fellows Johnston, Kate Bosher, and Inez Haynes Gilmore, and read from their books.
VIII—STORIES OF LOCAL TYPES
Some of our women writers have used the people of one locality only, or at least principally; this group may be divided into two programs.
Helen Hunt Jackson, known best as a poet, or as the author of little essays, has one strong book, Ramona. It is notable not only for its plea for justice to the Indians, but also for its description of life in Southern California on remote ranches.