Under the lilacs

A missing cake--that's how it all starts. It's stolen from Bab and Betty's tea party, and they soon discover the culprit: a lovable poodle named Sancho. His owner is a boy called Ben, who's run away from the circus. The girls' mother takes them in, and gives Ben a job helping get an old house ready for its grand re-opening. "Under the Lilacs" follows Betty, Bab, and Ben's innocent adventures around the house and the surrounding idyllic countryside. Just like Alcott's classic "Little Women", it's a coming-of-age tale where kindness and generosity are key. Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) was an American novelist, essayist and poet. A lifelong feminist, Alcott strove to create female characters with rich inner lives--a rarity for the time. She's best known for the classic "Little Women". This story of the four March sisters was partly inspired by her own childhood in New England. After years of financial struggle, the success of "Little Women" let Alcott devout herself to writing full-time. Her subsequent works included three "Little Women" sequels: "Good Wives", "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys". "Little Women" has been adapted countless time, including a 2019 movie starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson and Timothée Chalamet.