What child has not read one of the most famous children's books of all time—Little Women—the beloved story of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Here is the story of the author of this wonderful book, Louisa May Alcott, who was herself the tomboy Jo.

As a little girl in the nineteenth-century New England Louy was gay and adventurous, in contrast to her quieter sisters. She was always thinking of new games to play and she especially loved to write plays, in which she and her sisters and friends took part.

The Alcott family never had much money, and it was always a struggle to keep going. As Louy grew up, she felt more and more she must do something to help support them. She taught school and wrote a few stories and poems for children that helped a little. Finally her editor said that what people wanted was a story for girls, and Louy settled down to write about the girls she knew best -- her sisters and herself. The book was Little Women and brought its author worldwide fame. Joan Howard has written the warm and human story of Louisa May Alcott which will be loved by boys as well as girls.

From the dust jacket