Anne of Green Gables

Montgomery, L.M. (2004). Anne of Green Gables. New York: Sterling.

Summary

Anne Shirley, a spunky, red-headed, headstrong girl of eleven, has never known a real home. Orphaned as a baby, she has been shuttled from one family and orphanage to the next, her role to care for children but not to become part of a family. When aging siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt a boy from an orphanage to help Matthew with their farm, they are in for the shock of their lives when Anne (with an e!) Shirley is waiting at the train station. Although Anne knows little about house-keeping duties, she is an eager learner and tries her hardest to curb her vivid imagination long enough to help Marilla. Try as she might to be sensible, it seems as though Anne's imagination, quick wit, and short temper is constantly getting her—and her friend Diana, a "kindred spirit"—into scrapes at home, at school, and every place in between. As Anne makes her mark on Avonlea and everyone who lives there, Marilla and Matthew discover they need the love of this boisterous child as much as she needs them.

Worth a bookmark?

Although I read this book as a child, I decided to reread it now to see if it held the same attraction for me as it did many years ago. I am thrilled to say Anne-with-an-e Shirley captivated my heart more now than she ever had before! Anne of Green Gables is a hilarious story of an impulsive, red-headed girl trying to find her place in a world that says "Children should be seen and not heard". Because of the hardships of Anne's life before coming to Green Gables, she has little knowledge of "proper behavior" for a young girl, few experiences of being loved, and a simple yet enlightened view of material things, friendship, and God…views that often shock the very solemn citizens of Avonlea. What I love most about this book—besides the hilarious "scrapes" Anne is always getting herself into—is how Anne's coming to Green Gables improves not only her life but also enriches the lives of everyone around her. From the paternal relationships Anne forms with Matthew and Marilla to the various friendships with schoolmates like Diana Berry and Gilbert Blythe, and winning over so many disapproving adults makes this book shine for its message of unconditional love.

In my library…

Because this story was originally published in 1908, the setting (a Canadian island at the turn of the 20^th century) is very different from many books children would read today. Although there are not many significant historical events mentioned in the book, it would be a great example of cultural norms and everyday life in a different time period. A great use of Anne of Green Gables in a library setting would be for a girls' book club for fifth or sixth graders. Great discussions could be started about differences in the time periods, how Anne could keep herself out of trouble, and Anne's dynamic character throughout the story.

Reviews

As soon as Anne Shirley arrives at the snug white farmhouse called Green Gables, she is sure she wants to stay forever...but will the Cuthberts send her back to the orphanage? Anne knows she's not what they expected-a skinny girl with fiery red hair and a temper to match. If only she can convince them to let her stay, she'll try very hard not to keep rushing headlong into scrapes and blurting out the first thing that comes to her mind. Anne is not like anybody else, the Cuthberts agree; she is special-a girl with an enormous imagination. This orphan girl dreams of the day when she can call herself Anne of Green Gables. (From the publisher)