Review #10: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Title: Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables. Sterling. 2004. 304 pages. Tr. $8.51. ISBN 978-1-40271-451-1
Genre: Fiction/ Historical Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Level: 6.1/ Grades 5-8
Awards: None (In my opinion, this status is a travesty)
Series:
       ·         Book 1: Anne of Green Gables
       ·         Book 2: Anne of Avonlea
       ·         Book 3: Anne of the Island
       ·         Book4: Anne of Windy Poplars (or Windy Willows)
       ·         Book5: Anne’s House of Dreams
       ·         Book6: Anne of Ingleside
       ·         Book 7: Rainbow Valley
      ·         Book 8: Rilla of Ingleside
Similar Titles: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

During the Edwardian era, the town of Avonlea of Prince Albert Island, in Nova Scotia, Canada, is a peaceful, quiet, and predictable community. That is, until the day that orphan, Anne Shirley, arrives at the house of bachelor brother and spinster sister, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.

In a twist of fate, the child they sent for from an orphanage in Halifax to help manage the farm of Green Gables turns out to be the exact opposite of what they thought they needed. Red-headed, skinny and freckled, emotional, stubborn , dramatic, and smart with a habit for finding herself in trouble and exasperating her guardians, Anne Shirley becomes infamous in their small town and the object of unconditional affection as she finds her place in her new home, which is not at all certain in the beginning.

It is through trials and tribulations that Anne’s true character becomes known and her truest friendships form, setting the scene for a string of books, movies, mini-series and animated series. Never a dull moment, but innocent and apologetic, Anne finds her way,  despite the teasing of Gilbert Blythe, the accidental intoxication of Diana Barry, the insults and taunts of nosey neighbor Rachel,  difficult teachers and the one teacher who truly believes in Anne’s talent and potential.

Unexpectedly, Anne worms her way into everyone’s hearts, the reader particularly, as she either wants to be Anne Shirley or one of her friends. The qualities and morals of a bygone era are delightful told in ways that seem relevant even today and make the reader ache to be good, if only to hold themselves up to the example that Anne as set. While definitely oriented for female readers, the strong male characters of Gilbert Blythe and the warm , tender Matthew Cuthbert leave a good example for either gender.

I wish that I had read this series as a child but am delighted that I picked them up in my twenties as Anne Shirley has added so much to my identity. The romance, simplicity and general sense of good presented in Anne of Green Gables and its subsequent novels is refreshing in a modern world where shock value is prized in literature and sex and violence are prevalent. Anne of Green Gables offers life lessons and real world experiences in an entertaining format but it is not sensationalized or dark. It is encouraging and hopeful and simply has to be shared with the next generation. During times when teaching these lessons might seem outdated, these historical books show relevance that we never could. Get these books into hands of young readers and watch their hearts open up.