Anne of Avonlea

About the book

Anne Shirley begins teaching in Avonlea with ambitious ideas about the kind of influence a teacher should have. Her pupils, neighbours, and the twins Davy and Dora give those ideals plenty of practical resistance. The village remains a place of gossip, natural beauty, friendship, and mishaps, but Anne now participates in it with responsibilities beyond her own education. Montgomery lets the contrast between intention and outcome produce both comedy and growing self-knowledge. New friendships broaden Anne's understanding of the lives hidden behind familiar houses and reputations. The story preserves her capacity for delight while asking how enthusiasm might become patience. Its pleasures come from watching a recognisable community change slightly as a young woman learns that helping to shape it also requires listening.

• Teaching and growth
• Community
• Imagination

Why read it

For a warm continuation of Anne's story in which youthful ideals encounter the unpredictable needs of pupils and neighbours.

English text