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Anne of Avonlea

© Kathy Kehrli

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

Picking up where Anne of Green Gables left off, Anne Shirley is now a full-fledged teacher in her dearly loved hometown. This allows her the fortunate convenience to live at home with Marilla, whose eyesight is failing and whose heart is still mending after the loss of her brother. Having her precious Anne nearby comes as a great blessing to Marilla, especially when she takes on the burden of adopting two young orphans. Dora and especially the mischievous Davy add a bit of comic relief to Anne of Avonlea, allowing Anne’s nurturing and maturing side to come out, for indeed she is no longer the little girl we left behind in Anne of Green Gables.

Now sixteen years old, Anne has blossomed into an upright young lady. And, while she still enjoys the occasional jaunt and spinning of yarns with her former schoolmates (most enjoyably with her best friend, Diana), her attentions have now turned to neighborhood improvement and befriending Avonlea’s lonely spinsters and crotchety neighbors. Still known to find herself in the occasional scrape, Anne Shirley is now more likely to be mothering her newest step-siblings, nurturing a needy student, playing matchmaker to long-lost lovers or fanning the flames of a budding relationship with her former rival, Gilbert Blythe. While romance is not yet itself in store for Anne, Anne of Avonlea sets the stage for future novels in the Anne of Green Gables’ series. Will she and Gilbert fall in love? What will Anne do now that her best friend is engaged? And, what does college hold in store for the determined and spunky redheaded lass? The answers will surely unfold in Anne of the Island and future volumes.

If you are an avid Anne Shirley fan, be sure to check out the following website devoted to the discussion of L.M. Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables & Avonlea with other kindred spirits. The Avonlea Forum.

Best places to buy this book online (from Best Book Buys) Note: Prices include S&H and are subject to change

1. Paperback (Used) Half.com $3.05
2. Paperback (Used) Amazon.com $4.49
3. Paperback (NEW) Barnes and Noble.com Click on the “Buy” button at the top of this article to go there now!

Be sure to check out the online auctions, too. Name your price! Also, try your local library, where every book is free!

Coming April 16: A Separate Peace

The copyright of the article Anne of Avonlea in Book Picks is owned by Kathy Kehrli. Permission to republish Anne of Avonlea in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.