Louisa May Alcott 
Eight Cousins (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) 
Or the Aunt Hill

Published in 1875, this novel tells the story of a sickly orphan girl, Rose Campbell, who is sent to live with her wealthy maiden aunts in Boston.  There, under the tutelage of her guardian, Uncle Alec, she regains her health and happiness by strict regimen of fresh air and a connection with her populous new family.

About the author

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was an American writer best known for her classic novel Little Women (1868-69), drawn from her own childhood. Personally educated by writers such as Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau, she first gained literary success with Hospital Sketches (1863), based on her experiences as a nurse during the Civil War.  Her writing often deals with women’s issues in an honest, insightful manner.