For those unfamiliar with Alcott's background, Eight Cousins is probably the most obvious "propaganda" for the Transcendentalist movement's thoughts on raising children, particularly young women. It is incredibly unsubtle in hammering home its message.

As a child in a large family, I enjoyed watching Rose adjust to life with her boisterous boy cousins.

As an adult, I cheer as she is given license to embrace childhood, but I squirm a bit as she's put a position of moral superiority and trained on how to be the perfect housewife.