Jo's Boys: and How They Turned Out (Little Women 5) by Louisa May Alcott

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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 trilogy. In it, Jo's "children," now grown, are caught up in real world troubles.

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The book mostly follows the lives of Plumfield boys who were introduced in Little Men, particularly Tommy, Demi, Nat, Dan, and Emil and Jo's sons Rob and Teddy, although Franz, Nan, Daisy, Dolly, and Stuffy 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.

Sections of Jo's Boys follow the travels of former students who have deep emotional ties to Plumfield and the Bhaers. Professor Bhaer's nephew Emil is now a sailor, and takes off on his first voyage as second mate and shows his true strength when he is shipwrecked and the captain badly injured. Dan seeks his fortune in the West and ends up in jail. He also falls in love with a person far beyond his reach, Jo's niece and Amy's daughter Bess. Nat begins a musical career in Europe that takes him away from Daisy, only to fall in with a frivolous crowd and unintentionally lead a young woman on.

Romance also plays a role in Jo's Boys, as Franz and Emil both marry, and Tommy, Demi, Nat and Daisy are engaged by the end of the book. Nan remains single, dedicated to her medical career.

Dan ends up committing the one sin he and Jo always feared he would, though it was in defence of both self and a younger boy, Blair. Dan kills a man who cheats Blair in gambling. Dan is sentenced to a year in prison with hard labour and only just gets through. Following his release, he saves mine workers from drowning and is brought back home a hero, when he confides in Mother Bhaer about his sin and the punishment that followed. She also discovers his fancy for Bess, though is not entirely surprised. Dan tells her of this fancy and that Bess seemed like the bright northern star which guided him. However, knowing that Amy wouldn't approve, Jo makes sure that the Laurences are away when Dan leaves again. Sadly, Dan dies protecting the Indians but lies in peace as if Aslauga's Knight had done his duty.

Characters/People edit see section history

Mrs. Jo aka Mother Bhaer: Josephine March of Little Women now married to Professor Baer whom she met in New York.
Dan: One of Jo's boys from Little Men, he is the wild one who Jo loves so much and tries to save him from himself.
Josie: Add a description of this character.
Demi: One of Meg March Brooke's twins - the boy.
Tom
Emil
Teddy: Jo and Franz Baer's youngest child.
Nan: One of Jo's girls who wants to become a nurse and patches up anyone she can find.
Roberts
Mrs. Meg: Meg March Brooke the oldest of the March sisters from Little Women.
Mr. Laurie: Lauris was the neighbor and favorite of the March girls in Little Women who grew up wanting to marry Jo, but ended up marrying Amy.
Daisy: The other twin child of Meg March Brooke - the daughter.
Mary
Dora
John
Alice
Franz
Don
Mrs. Amy: Amy March Lawrence, the youngest of the March sisters who wanted to study art and who married Laurie.
George
Dolly
Jack
Marmee: The mother of the March girls in Little Women.
Mason
Blair
Mrs. Brooke
Mrs. Laurence
Ludmilla
Fritz
Sintram
Brenda
Minna
Mrs. Ewing
Mr. Tiber
Plumfield: The house and land left to Jo by her Aunt where Jo and Professor Baer raise their children.
Thomas
Gott
Fletcher
Mrs. Hardy
Mrs. Juno

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

'If anyone had told me what wonderful changes were to take place here in ten years, I wouldn't have believed it', said Mrs Jo to Mrs Meg, as they sat on the piazza at Plumfield one summer day, looking about them with faces full of pride and pleasure.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 5 of 5 in Little Women. (standard series)

Preceded by Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

Louisa May Alcott (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Roberts Brothers
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1886
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 375

Classification edit see section history

Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

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Subjects edit see section history

Books › Literature & Fiction › Authors, A-Z › ( A ) › Alcott, Louisa May
Books › Literature & Fiction › Poetry › Anthologies
Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics
Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics

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Movie Connections edit see section history

Jo's Boys (IMDb): 1959 Mini-Series

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Jo's Boys (1886) (edit title/settings)

and How They Turned Out

by Louisa May Alcott (Author) (edit contributors)