
“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
When I was thirteen, my parents gave me the Anne of Green Gables series for Christmas. I had not heard of the books, but I loved to read and was intrigued by the book cover so it didn’t take me long to start reading. Once I started, I was hooked. Anne is a red-headed, fiesty, orphan who comes to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert–older siblings who never married. They wanted a boy from the orphanage, but a miscommunication resulted in Anne coming to stay. Anne is devasted to find out they wanted a boy and she waits on pins and needles while they decide her fate. Anne constantly gets into scrapes and her fiery temper causes all kinds of trouble but you can’t keep her down. She is a girl with hopes, dreams, and determination and it is a delight sharing in her adventures as she comes into her own.
I absolutely adore this book and series. I don’t even know how many times I’ve read it, but it’s a lot–including several times as an adult. This book has had a lasting influence on me as I learned to look for “kindred spirits” and “to not make the same mistake twice.” Near the end of the book is a chapter title, “The Bend in the Road.” That title and chapter have also been very meaningful for me and I even referenced it when speaking at my mom’s funeral. In short, if you have somehow not read this book, don’t waste another minute–get a copy and start reading!
Content Advisory: Death, corporal punishment