As the snow falls again (and we saw some great sledding hills among the Mississippi River bluffs!), my mind turns to one of my very favorite books for children/youth: a lesser-known story by Louisa May Alcott (of Little Women fame).
Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott
Don't worry, it's not a cheesy spin-off of a nursery rhyme! Neither does its subtitle of "A Village Story" give a clear idea. But on second thought, I guess this story is much broader in range of characters than, say, Little Women.
Readers of Jack and Jill come to know and love a whole group of friends among the girls and boys of the village, some crossing into the decisions of young adulthood and others still full of pranks. We dig into the lives, joys, and challenges of several different girls while also having whole chapters dedicated to the boys' doings and plenty more where they learn and play side by side.
Life is not all fun and games as the story begins with a sledding catastrophe! Various challenging, yet sweet, lessons are learned through the following year. But the tone never stays too heavy, and you'll laugh at the many jokes and lively personalities, root for your favorite friends, and enjoy the unfolding of a variety of characters - all in Louisa May Alcott's warm-hearted style.
Plus, if you're a Charlotte Mason follower, you'll love the main mother-character of this book and her unconventional way of guiding and schooling Frank, Jack, and their friend Jill.
It's a loose connection, but the opening of this book also brings back memories of my own.
I also had a sledding accident in my senior year of high-school on one of the few hills in our area. Eye-socket made violent contact with cousin's hip-bone, resulting in a trip to the ER, a concussion, and nearly complete double vision that lasted for days (or was it weeks?) and lingers 20 years later if I look far up or left. Many of my senior pictures that winter had a squint, and the left side of my face remains a sort of built-in barometer... aching and getting a dry eye as the result of various triggers.
Amusingly, that was only one of several accidents that year... all involving outdoor, winter activities such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. But I'd do it all again if I had the strength!
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