'This stunning 600-page novel is true gold to read'
Budge Wilson's Before Green Gables is a prequel to the celebrated Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, now celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Anne Shirley did not have the best start in life. Orphaned at only a few months, nobody wants the pale, freckly red head. But then Mrs. Thomas (Mrs. Shirley's old housekeeper) takes her in.
Anne faces a new family: Bert, Joanna's husband, an unemployed drunkard; Eliza, a fifteen year-old girl longing for her own life; and Trudy and Margaret, two girls who torment Anne. Suddenly, Anne's life turns frantic as four more boys join the family. When Eliza declares that she has agreed to marry a man, Anne is ecstatic – until she finds out she isn't wanted. Soon Anne must cook for and clean up after the family of boys to earn her keep.
As Anne has no friends, she makes up an imaginary friend, Katie Maurice, "the girl in the cabinet". After Bert loses his job, the family moves to Marysville, where Anne meets Mr. Jonson, Miss Henderson and Sadie, who are kind people. She also befriends little Noah and the orange cat, Lochinvar.
After two fateful events, though, only one word looms: ORPHANAGE.
This stunning 600-page novel is true gold to read. You can really feel what Anne is feeling, all of her emotions are cleverly woven into the story. I especially loved the description of Prince Edward Island. I recommend this to readers aged 10+.
Want to tell the world about a book you've read? Join the site and send us your review!
0 comments:
Post a Comment