Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables. Laurel Leaf, 1997. 340 pages. ISBN:
978-0553333060Genre/Subject: Fiction, Romance, Friendship
Ages: 9 and up
Plot: A (thirteen-year-old) red-headed orphan girl named Anne Shirley becomes adopted by an elderly brother and sister: Miranda and Matthew. At first they expect a boy, but Anne talks her way into their hearts. Anne is a smart girl who loves to read. She takes on the challenge to be smarter than Gilbert. After he teases her, by calling her "carrots", she pledges to never forgive Gilbert. The budding romance between Anne and Gilbert develops as they both compete to be the smartest in their class. Anne develops a friendship with Diana Berry. They are soul mates, and talk about everything, until Anne mistakenly provides an alcoholic drink which causes Diana to return home drunk. Diana's mother banished Anne from seeing Diana, and their friendship takes a tumble, until Anne saves Diana's baby sister from dying. Their friendship is rekindled. Anne becomes first in her class, tied with Gilbert and considers teaching as a career.
Review: This is a rags to riches story--with an orphan becoming the smartest person in school, making friends with rich people, and starting a romance with a boy. All the elements of tween are in the story--not forgiving a boy for teasing, having a best friend to share ones secrets, dealing with death ( the death of Matthew) and being responsible when adults are not around. Anne learns to make her own decisions about love, and her education. Will she continue to college? This is to be expected in the next book. Tweens will relate to Anne sassy ways, and her big imagination. Anne has such as thirst for life, to explore and connect with kinderd spirits--a positive book for any tween. The romance between Anne and Gilbert also speaks to tweens who are just starting to develop crushes. Anne is a powerful character, although she makes plenty of mistakes--but she learns from her mistakes, and never makes the same mistakes twice.
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