If You Like Jo March, Then Read…

Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa may Alcott

Once upon at time, Louisa May Alcott wrote thrillers much like her heroine Jo March.  This collection includes four such stories: “Pauline’s Passion and Punishment,” “The Mysterious Key,” “The Abbot’s Ghost,” and “Behind a Mask.”

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

Faith Sunderly knows that her family is clouded by scandal. Why else would they remove to the remote island of Vane?  However, Faith cannot believe that her father’s important scientific discoveries are all frauds, as the newspapers allege.  Driven by her interest in natural science, as well as her conflicted feelings about Darwin’s newest theories, Faith will try to discover the truth behind her father’s work–and mysterious death.  But Faith lives in a man’s world and not everyone appreciates her scientific bent.

The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace

Lovelace’s semi-autobiographical series features the adventures of Betsy Ray, who grows from a girl who loves to tell stories to a flirtatious teen and, finally, a married woman.  Betsy aspires to become a writer.

The Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery

When the Cuthberts ask to adopt an orphan boy to help on the farm, they hardly expect eleven-year-old Anne Shirley to arrive instead.  Dreamy and vivacious, Anne soon captures the hearts of the Cuthberts and all of Avonlea.  The series follows her from a young girl to a woman married with children.  It also features her adventures in publishing her writing.

The Emily of New Moon trilogy by L. M. Montgomery

Perhaps Montgomery’s most autobiographical series, the Emily of New Moon trilogy follows Emily Starr, who dreams of becoming a writer.  As she grows, she first faces the challenge of writing against her guardians’ wishes.  And later she must decide if she is willing to sacrifice romance for her career.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Rebecca Randall arrives to live with her aunts Miranda and Jane in Riverboro, expecting that they will “be the making of her.” Someone, after all, needs to gain an education so that her mother can lift the mortgage from their farm and raise the six other children.  As she struggles to get along with her strict aunt, Rebecca finds herself enjoying school and dreaming of a career as a writer.