A review by bookbelle5_17
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Review of Anne of Avonlea

By: LM Montgomery

            Anne is now 16 and with Matthew gone she must set aside her plans and help Marilla.  She becomes a teacher determined to be a good teacher without using the switch when they misbehave but it’s not when one of her children is determined to make things difficult.  The twin children of Marilla’s cousin arrive to stay at Green Gables with one of them Davey bringing mischief and chaos with him.

            In this second story, in the “Anne” series, Anne has matured a lot, but she hasn’t lost ability to see the magic in the world or stay a child at heart.  She is an understanding and compassionate teacher but must find the balance between nurturing and discipling.  She has a soft heart probably stemming from feeling unloved and abandoned at the orphanage.  She still worries about her freckles and her red hair, but she tries to except them.  Anne has a way of winning people over as she charms new neighbor Mr. Harrison.  His parrot is hilarious with his rude and fowl language that he repeats.  I loved Miss Lavender with her sweetness and her ability to get lost in her imagination just as Anne does.  She has a melancholy life that Anne tries, with Diana, to make better.  Anne’s experience as teacher is mostly positive with the exception of Anthony Pye not liking her.  Poor Anne, she cannot handle someone not liking her, and the way he ends up respecting her isn’t ideal.  She learns to revise her theories on teaching, though.  I didn’t know whether to be exasperated or be amused by Davey and his antics.  As a child he doesn’t understand nuances of the world, seeing everything as black and white. He is so mischievous and full of questions about why things are the way they are and doesn’t always listen.  At times, I wanted to jump in the book and explain things to him in a way that he could understand and discipline him, but it’s hard to find that balance too.  Marilla and Anne don’t know what to do with him, but in end he does start to alter his behavior, because he doesn’t want Anne to be disappointed in him. I felt they were unfair to Dora, because she was seen as too good and boring while Davey challenged them.  Dora does what would have been expected of little girls while Davey got into trouble, but he’d give Anne the puppy dog pout and she’d forgive him. Anne’s friendship with Diana continues to endure, but I think they might be going down different paths as adults.  Diana doesn’t always understand Anne’s wild imagination and Anne doesn’t get why Diana is in a rush grow up, but they still make a great team.  We don’t get as much of Gilbert, but we do learn his feelings for Anne, but I’m thinking we will get more of that dynamic in the next book.  Anne still gets into shenanigans, but since she has grown-up, she’s more careful and less impulsive. Once again Anne’s story continues to delight and charm me.