Portraits of Little women. Jo's story / Susan Beth Pfeffer.
Record details
- ISBN: 0385325231
- Physical Description: 78, [26] p. : ill. ; 19 cm.
- Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Delacorte Press, 1997.
Content descriptions
General Note: | Based on characters found in Louisa May Alcott's Little women. |
Summary, etc.: | When a wealthy aunt offers to adopt one of the March girls, ten-year-old Jo decides the best thing to do is sacrifice herself. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Sisters > Fiction. Family life > Fiction. Great-aunts > Fiction. |
Available copies
- 3 of 3 copies available at Bibliomation.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 3 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oxford Public Library | J FIC ALC (Text) | 33530109426012 | Juvenile Fiction | Available | - |
Somers Public Library | J FIC PFE (Text) | 34042098596044 | Juvenile Fiction | Available | - |
Tolland Public Library | J PFE (Text) | 34051120478279 | Juvenile Fiction | Available | - |
Jo's Story
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Excerpt
Jo's Story
Josephine! Josephine March! " Jo March sighed and turned to face Aunt March. Only Aunt March called her Josephine, and only Aunt March used that tone of voice with her. "Yes, Aunt March?" she asked. "What is that book in your hand?" Aunt March demanded. It's Oliver Twist, Aunt," Jo replied. "By Charles Dickens." "I know who wrote Oliver Twist, young lady," said Aunt March. "That book came off my shelves, did it not?" "Yes, Aunt March," Jo said. Aunt March's library was the best thing about visiting her great-aunt. Actually, Aunt March's library was the only thing Jo enjoyed about visiting her great-aunt. But visit she must, or so her parents said. "Oliver Twiit is not suitable reading matter for a child," proclaimed Aunt March. "Put it back on the shelves." "But Father reads Dickens to us all the time," Jo said. "He's read us David Copperfield and Little Dorrit and A Christmas Carol. The Pickwkk Papers is my favorite book of all. But I've never read Oliver Twist and I've always wanted to. Please let me borrow it." "Perhaps your father agrees with me that Oliver Twist is unsuitable for such a young girt," said Aunt March. "I'm not so young," Jo said. "I'm ten already. " "And a rude young girl, at that, " Aunt March declared. I sometimes wonder what kind of manners your parents are teaching you." "Father and Marmee are the best parents in the world," said Jo angrily. "Don't you speak against them.' "Oh, thank you, Aunt," said Jo, knowing that was far better than she could have hoped for. And the visit was over. It was all she could do to keep from skipping out of her greataunt's house as she escaped and turned toward home. "And don't you use that tone with me, young lady," Aunt March said. "Have your parents never taught you to respect your elders?" "Of course they have," Jo said. "Then the fault must lie with you and not them," said Aunt March, "for I'm sure you're showing me no respect at all." Jo could have kicked herself. All she wanted was to get this visit over with as fast as she possibly could. That meant not quarreling with Aunt March. Jo had simply become so excited when she'd found the copy of Oliver Tww't, she'd forgotten her mission of getting in and out in a half hour's time. "I'm sorry, Aunt March," said Jo, and she was sorry-sorry she'd aroused Aunt March's wrath, since i meant she'd be there for at least another ten minutes and would probably go home without the precious Dickens volume to read. "I will never understand why you can't be more like your sister Margaret," said Aunt March. "Now, there's a girl your parents can be proud of. She's every inch a lady." "Yes, Aunt March," Jo s id. She tried to hide the copy of Oliver Twidt in the folds of her skirt. "Meg is a lady." "You could learn something from your sister Beth as well," said Aunt March. "Ouiet as a church mouse and never causing any trouble. " "Yes, Aunt March," Jo said. "Even little Amy could teach you a thing or two," said Aunt March. "She such a darling child, so pretty and artistic. Not at all the sort of child who talks back." March had a point. Meg was a lady-always polite, always willing to help others. Beth was a dear, sweet and kind-everyone loved her. Amy was pretty and artistic, and even if she drove Jo to distraction, she was the sort of child Aunt March would favor. And Jo was just the sort of girl that Aunt March would want to improve. Jo was sharptongued, quick-tempered, and boyish. A suppose your parents have done as good a job as they could raising you girls, having so little money and so many ideals," Aunt March declared. "Your sisters, at least, are a credit to them." "I'll try to be better," said Jo. "I want to be a credit to Marmee and Father." Aunt March shook her head. "I've heard you make that promise a hundred times before, Josephine," she said, "but I've rarely seen you live up to it." "It's hard," Jo blurted out. "I'm not Meg and I'm not Beth and I'm not Amy. Goodness comes so easily to them. To Meg and Beth, at least. And people always forgive Amy her mistakes because of her blond curls and pretty ways." "You might not have Amy's blond curls," siad Aunt March, "but couldn't you learn from her pretty ways?" Jo thought about it for a moment. "No," she siad, I don't think I could." Aunt March stared at Jo, and then, much to do Jo's surprise, she laughed out loud. "I suspect you're right," she said. "Very well. You've paid your old aunt her visit. You may go home now." "Thank you, Aunt March," Jo said. She walked over to her aunt and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "But give me back Oliver Twidt," said Aunt March. "When I speak to your parents next, I'll ask them if they approve of it for you. If the answer is yes, you may borrow it the next time you visit me." Excerpted from Jo's Story by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Louisa May Alcott All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.