Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott

It's 1860, and it's been ten years since Jo's father died. Now she's a widow with three boys of her own, all of whom are struggling to make ends meet. But Jo's got a plan. With the help of her neighbor, Mrs. March, she starts a school for boys. With its first year off to a promising start, Jo's Boys becomes the talk of the town. When the townspeople start to grumble about Jo's Boys, Jo's stubborn spirit refuses to be cowed. And so she does what she knows best: she takes on the bullies with her own tough brand of love.