At a glance
Under the Lilacs
Classic children's fiction
Under the Lilacs
320 pages · First published 2023
When runaway circus boy Ben Brown and his clever dog, Sancho, interrupt the lives of sisters Bab and Betty Moss, they find kindness instead of rejection. The girls’ mother helps Ben secure work, while their neighbor Miss Celia offers him a home alongside her younger brother, Thorny. Ben’s circus talents enliven their days, but adjusting to ordinary life brings lessons in friendship, honesty, and trust. Worries about his absent father and trouble involving Sancho test his newfound security. Lilac-shaded gardens, childhood mischief, and a family formed through kindness make this a gentle companion for porch reading on a spring afternoon.
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Jump to the pours ↓Mint Lemonade + Lavender French 75
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
References to mistreatment of a child in the circus; hunger, homelessness, and separation from a parent; grief following a report of parental death; illness and a riding accident; false accusations of theft; a dog is stolen and returns with his tail cut off, with the injury occurring off-page; dated language and stereotypes.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Mint Lemonade
Cool mint lemonade belongs beside the garden games, outdoor tea parties, and small kindnesses that help Ben feel at home.
What you'll need
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 1/2 oz simple syrup ↗
- 6 mint leaves ↗
- 4 oz cold water
- Ice
How to mix it
- Combine the noncarbonated ingredients in a glass or shaker and stir or shake until mixed. Pour over ice, top with any carbonated ingredient, and stir gently.
- Garnish: Use a matching citrus wheel, berry, or herb from the recipe when available.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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Highball glass ↗Cocktail shaker ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Lavender French 75
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
Lavender and sparkling lemon bring a floral garden note to Alcott’s lilac-shaded afternoons and lively childhood gatherings.
What you'll need
- 1 oz gin
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 1/2 oz lavender syrup ↗
- 3 oz brut sparkling wine
- Ice for shaking ↗
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Shake gin, lemon juice, and lavender syrup with ice. Strain into a flute and top with sparkling wine.
- Garnish: Lemon twist or small lavender sprig.
- Glassware: Champagne flute.
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Champagne flute ↗Set up the bar cart
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