📖 Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (1909) ⭐⭐⭐

Hello my fellow bookworms, today I am bringing you my thoughts on the children’s classic novel, Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery, which is the second book, published in 1909, about the feisty and spirited Anne Shirley, who we first meet in Anne of Green Gables (review). Having loved the first book last year, I couldn’t wait to read more.

This new tale opens on a sixteen-year-old Anne, who is all grown up… well almost! There is still that shine in her grey eyes, that peppery temper to match her fiery hair, and that wild, vivid imagination. In the years since she arrived at Green Gables as a skinny, freckle-faced orphan in her ill-fitting wincey dress, she has earned the love of the people of Avonlea and us the readers, even though or perhaps a little bit because she also has rather a reputation for getting into amusing scrapes.

Now we get to she her starting her first job as the new teacher at Avonlea school house and so begins the real test of her character. As along with teaching the three Rs, we see her learning how complicated life can be when you meddle in other people’s romance; helping to raise two new orphans, Dora and Davy, at Green Gables; and wondering at the strange, coy behaviour of her former childhood arch-nemesis, turned study partner and fellow teacher, Gilbert Blythe.

Even with all that new responsibility and maturity, never fear, Anne still manages to have some magical adventures and get into a fair few amusing scrapes as well! From unexpectedly discovering an enchanting garden and house with an equally whimsical owner; to accidentally rubbing red dye on her nose before meeting a famous author; and finally, getting herself stuck in a duck house roof while peeping into a pantry window! 😅

Really, only Anne could manage such things, but it only makes us love her more! And as it was delightful to see her grow as a child in the first book, it was equally delightful to see her enter womanhood in this second book. All of which was again charmingly chronicled by Montgomery in her light, easy, and beautiful writing style.

I couldn’t end this post without also mentioning the other main character of this book series, which is the setting of Prince Edward Island! Anne and the other inhabitants live quiet, steady lives based on the farming calendar and the changing seasons, which as a modern reader in our crazy, busy times, I found a very welcome break to read about. Montgomery is also able to share the beauty of the flowers, trees, streams and woodlands through the eyes of the wild, adventurous Anne. 🌸

Simply put, I thought Anne of Avonlea was an utterly charming coming-of-age tale, that manages to touch the heart and the funny bone! I read this as I was bundled up at home, with my second bout of Covid-19, and it was just what I needed to escape into. A… Great read ⭐⭐⭐

(I also read this off my list for The Classics Club)

Have you read this? Or any of the other Anne Shirley books? Please let me know in the comments below!