Book Review on Eight Cousins

By Esther

Louisa May Alcott wrote Eight Cousins and had it published in 1875. I will be telling you a little bit about the author. Then I will tell you a little bit about Eight Cousins. I will also tell you the main parts the author is trying to teach. Then I will tell you what I believe.

Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, PA, but she lived in Boston and Concord, MA. Louisa spent most of her childhood poor because her father worked on many projects, but all of them failed. When Louisa was very young she began to support her family by working as a seamstress, household servant, and as a teacher. The first book she ever wrote was called Flower Fables in 1854. When the Civil War was going on she worked as a nurse for over a year. She also wrote books called Hospital Sketches, Moods, Merry’s Museum, Little Women, Little Men, and Eight Cousins.

This book is about a girl named Rose who does not have any parents. She is not healthy, but when her Uncle Alec comes she gets healthier because he has her exercise.

In Eight Cousins, Uncle Alec teaches Rose, “It is necessary to do right; it is not necessary to be happy.” Why Uncle Alec is teaching this to her is because Uncle Alec used to smoke. But he stopped because it was a bad example for the boys. He also taught Rose that if you are doing something bad you should stop what you are doing. Another thing that happens in the book is that Rose sees that she is well treated and that Phebe, the servant, is poor and has to work all day. One day Rose works all day and lets Phebe go and play and have fun.  All she wanted was for Phebe to be happy. Another sacrifice that Rose makes in this book is when one of Rose’s cousins is smoking and he says will only give up smoking if she will give up her earrings. The cousin that said this expected her to say no, but Rose took them off and said she would not wear them and she didn't  You should not ask someone what will they give up if you stop smoking you should just do it because it is right.  The book also talks about education.  Aunt Myra thinks that Rose should not be getting an education like boys do. But Uncle Alec thinks that Rose should be able to do what she wants to do.  Phebe also wants to learn. At first Phebe taught herself,  then Rose taught her and then Uncle Alec said that he would pay for Phebe’s education. She does not care which way she learns, all she cares about is that she learns.

I think that “It is necessary to do right; it is not necessary to be happy." Why I believe this is because if you are doing something wrong you should fix what you are doing. I think that girls should have the right to go to school or  not to. I think that girls should get an education too. I also think you should spend time with your children and not ignore them.  Because this book teaches these lessons I encourage you to read Eight Cousins.