- Who is it for?
- Ages 10–14
- How long is it?
- 32 min
- What does it include?
- Synced read-along and a quiz
- What does it cost?
- Premium access in Emma's Library
About this audiobook
Jo Bhaer (née March) and her husband, Professor Fritz Bhaer, run Plumfield, an unconventional boarding school for boys based on love, trust, and practical learning. The story begins with the arrival of Nat Blake, a timid, orphaned street musician who slowly blossoms under the school's nurturing environment. The peace is challenged when Nat's rough-around-the-edges friend, Dan Kean, arrives; Dan's rebellious nature, smoking, and fighting lead to his temporary exile after he accidentally starts a fire. However, Dan returns, deeply repentant, and Jo commits to helping him reform through patience and responsibility, assigning him the care of the school's natural history museum. Tensions peak when a theft occurs and Nat is falsely accused, testing the boys' trust in one another until the true culprit, a boy named Jack, confesses and flees. Through seasonal adventures, pillow fights, pet funerals, and personal trials, the children learn valuable lessons about honesty, empathy, and self-regulation. The novel concludes with a grand Thanksgiving pageant, celebrating the growth of the Plumfield community and the enduring power of Jo's compassionate, progressive educational vision.
Why it's worth a listen
Step into Plumfield, a revolutionary boarding school where Jo Bhaer and her husband Fritz foster growth through trust, gardening, and mutual respect rather than rigid discipline. When Nat, a street-musician orphan, and Dan, a hardened, rebellious runaway, arrive, the school's unconventional methods are put to the ultimate test. Discover a heartwarming yet honest exploration of how empathy and second chances can heal the deepest emotional wounds.
What listeners will learn
Subjects: literature, storytelling, historical imagination.
- character
- setting
- conflict
- choice
- consequence
- theme
- retelling
- little
- classic
- fiction
Questions for after listening
- Retell the central conflict in order.
- Name one important choice and what happened because of it.
- How did the setting or tradition shape the story?
A question to keep
How do we balance freedom and discipline when guiding young people toward moral independence?
Chapters
- A Stranger at the Gate
- The Republic of Plumfield
- The Wild Boy and the Fire
- The Runaway's Return
- The Lost Dollar and the Trial of Trust
- A Question to Keep
Editorial review
Quality reviewed · 98/100 on . Certificate EL-55E4-8C80 is bound to the exact narrated script.
The review checks factual care, audience fit, teaching quality, structure, tone and source honesty. Read the editorial standards.
Published 2026-07-13 · Updated
