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Aunt Jane’s Nieces Books in Order

10 Books
1906 – 1915 Published
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How to Read the Aunt Jane’s Nieces Series

The best way to read the Aunt Jane’s Nieces series is in publication order. Because the books follow the same group of characters—cousins Louise Merrick, Beth De Graf, and Patsy Doyle—as they grow from teenage girls into independent adult women, reading the books in sequence is essential to appreciate their personal growth, changing relationships, and historical adventures.

Aunt Jane’s Nieces Books in Order

Originally published between 1906 and 1915 (with a major revised edition of the final book appearing in 1918), the series consists of ten novels. The publication order matches the chronological storyline perfectly:

  1. Aunt Jane's Nieces (1906) – The three cousins meet for the first time when their wealthy, eccentric Aunt Jane summons them to choose an heir.
  2. Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad (1907) – Uncle John takes the cousins on an eventful tour of Europe.
  3. Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville (1908) – The girls spend a rustic summer at a farm in upstate New York.
  4. Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work (1909) – The cousins help run a progressive political campaign, highlighting early women's suffrage themes.
  5. Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society (1910) – The cousins navigate the expectations, romance, and drama of high society.
  6. Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John (1911) – The girls take a cross-country automobile trip to California.
  7. Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation (1912) – A relaxing summer turns into an investigative adventure in a small resort town.
  8. Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch (1913) – The cousins visit a working ranch in California and face a thrilling mystery.
  9. Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West (1914) – The group travels to Hollywood and gets mixed up in the early days of the silent film industry.
  10. Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross (1915 / Revised 1918) – The final book sees the cousins volunteering in Europe during World War I.

Chronological Caveats and Revisions

While the reading order is straightforward, there is a major historical caveat regarding the final installment, Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross. L. Frank Baum originally published the novel in 1915 while the United States remained neutral in World War I, resulting in a story where the characters treated wounded soldiers from both sides and hoped for peace. However, after the U.S. entered the war, Baum heavily revised the novel for a 1918 edition, adopting a much more patriotic and somber tone. Modern readers should note that depending on which reprint they find, they may read either the neutral 1915 original or the darker 1918 revised text.

Spin-offs and Pseudonym Sister Series

If you finish the series and want to read more in the same style, L. Frank Baum wrote several other girls' adventure books under the same Edith Van Dyne pseudonym. You should explore:

  • The Flying Girl Series: Consisting of The Flying Girl (1911) and The Flying Girl and Her Chum (1912), this two-book spin-off features Orissa Kane, a daring young woman who defies gender norms to become a pioneering aviator.
  • The Mary Louise Series (The Bluebird Books): Started by Baum in 1916 with Mary Louise, he wrote the first four books and left a fragment that became the fifth. After Baum's death in 1919, publisher Reilly & Lee hired Emma Speed Sampson to continue the series under the Edith Van Dyne pseudonym, extending it to ten books.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best order to read Aunt Jane's Nieces?

You should read the series in publication order. The books follow the same characters chronologically as they grow up, travel, and navigate early 20th-century life.

QWho actually wrote the Aunt Jane's Nieces series?

The series was written by L. Frank Baum, the famous author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, using the female pseudonym Edith Van Dyne.

QWhy are there two versions of Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross?

The original 1915 version was written while the US was neutral in WWI. Following US entry into the conflict, Baum heavily revised the book for a 1918 edition, giving it a darker and more patriotic tone.

QAre there any spin-offs to Aunt Jane's Nieces?

While there are no direct character spin-offs, Baum wrote the Flying Girl series and the Mary Louise series under the same Edith Van Dyne pen name, featuring similarly independent and spirited heroines.

QDid someone else write the Edith Van Dyne books after Baum died?

Yes. After Baum's death, author Emma Speed Sampson was hired by the publisher to write the later books in the Mary Louise series under the Edith Van Dyne name.

QAre the Aunt Jane's Nieces books suitable for modern readers?

Yes. The series is known for its surprisingly progressive themes for the era, including support for women's suffrage and independent female leads, making it a charming historical snapshot.