The eight-book collection by author L.M. Montgomery has captured the hearts of readers for over a century with its whimsical setting and lovable characters.
The books are set in the fictional town of Avonlea. The books include Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne’s House of Dreams, and Rainbow Valley.
These books follow the life and adventures of Anne Shirley from childhood.
Montgomery’s literary gifts were rooted in her own life experiences, and her works often portray strong female protagonists and a deep appreciation for nature.
Montgomery’s other works include Emily of New Moon, The Blue Castle, and Jane of Lantern Hill.
The Anne of Green Gables novel was an instant success and has been adapted into numerous films, television series, and stage plays.
Perhaps the most popular adaptation was the film made in 1985 watched by millions worldwide.
In recent years, the story has been cleverly crafted into a series with a modern twist “Anne With An E ” as shown on Netflix.
About Anne Of Green Gables
The Anne of Green Gables series follows young orphan Anne Shirley as she navigates life on Prince Edward Island in Canada during the late 19th century.
Along her journey, she meets a host of delightful characters like her adoptive parents Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, bosom friend Diana Barry, mischievous Gilbert Blythe, and many more!
Through her adventures, she quickly becomes a beloved member of the community and learns many lessons about friendship, family, and growing up.
Anne Of Green Gables Books In Order
The series consists of eight books in total: Anne of Green Gables (1908), Anne of Avonlea (1909), Anne of the Island (1915), Anne’s House of Dreams (1917), Rainbow Valley (1919), Rilla of Ingleside (1920–21), Chronicles of Avonlea (1920–22) and Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920–22).
Each book follows Anne as she matures and experiences new challenges, friendships, romances, and joys.
In the first installment of the Anne of Green Gables series, readers are introduced to Anne’s world as she adjusts to living with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, two siblings who had planned to adopt a boy but got Anne instead.
Readers follow along as she navigates life in Avonlea, making friends and learning valuable lessons along the way.
Anne’s adventures often involve her best friend Diana Barry and her rival Gilbert Blythe, both of whom are important characters throughout the series.
The book provides readers with insight into Anne’s character, as well as a glimpse into life in rural Prince Edward Island during that time period.
Through reading this book, readers can better understand how Anne adapted to her new home and how she developed relationships with those around her.
It also gives them an appreciation for how different life was like more than 100 years ago in Canada’s smallest province.
The second book in the Anne of Green Gables series is Anne of Avonlea. This novel follows Anne Shirley as she begins her teaching career at Avonlea school.
As she navigates these newfound responsibilities, Anne continues to grow and develop her relationships and sense of self.
Throughout this book, readers will witness Anne’s transformation from an awkward adolescent into a mature young woman.
From dealing with the gossip that spreads throughout Avonlea to finding love, Anne experiences many life-changing moments that shape her character.
In addition to helping her find herself, these events also bring out different sides of other characters, like Diana Barry and Gilbert Blythe.
Pros
Anne’s adventure continues in book 2.
Rich source of inspiration for writing and literature.
Engaging plot and character development.
Cons
Not as accessible for younger readers.
Longer, more complex storyline than book 1.
Hard to follow if readers have missed out on some details from book 1.
This book, Anne of the Island, is where Anne Shirley-Cuthbert moves to continue her education at Redmond College. It follows the third part of her story, as she starts a new chapter in her life.
She has grown up over the course of the previous books, and now she’s ready to take on college life.
Anne gets a job as a teacher after graduation and becomes close with many other characters along the way.
This book explores how these relationships shape her into adulthood and how she learns to navigate through them.
She finds love in an unexpected place, which leads to some difficult decisions that she must make.
Overall, this book is an important piece in Anne’s journey through life and provides readers with insight into what it means to grow up.
It offers a unique look into adulthood and all the emotions that come with it—both good and bad.
We get to see how Anne deals with everything from heartbreak to joy, all while learning valuable lessons about growing up and finding oneself in the process.
Pros
It continues the story of Anne and her friends in a compelling way.
It has an inventive plot and character development points.
The writing style is engaging and entices readers to dive into the book.
Cons
It might be challenging to follow the main thread of the book if readers haven’t read earlier books in the series.
The book may contain more incidentals and foreign word usage, which can be difficult for some readers.
Slightly longer than previous books so might feel slightly draggy for some readers.
Anne’s House of Dreams is the fourth book in the popular Anne of Green Gables series. It follows Anne and her husband, as they settle into their new married life together.
The novel explores their love, marriage, and adjustment to a new home, as well as the many challenges that come with it.
The novel is set in a charming town called Four Winds Harbor. There, Anne and Gilbert build their dream house together and set about creating a life for themselves.
Through it all, Anne’s spirit shines through as she navigates the realities of being an adult while still maintaining her youthful optimism and enthusiasm.
Throughout the novel, readers get to witness Anne’s growth and development as she transitions from childhood innocence to adulthood responsibility.
From learning how to be a good wife to struggling with her own identity in the face of societal expectations, Anne’s journey is one that is both inspiring and uplifting.
In spite of all the hardships she faces along the way, she remains resilient and finds ways to make her dreams come true.
This book continues to capture readers’ hearts, just like its predecessors did so many years ago when it was first released.
As beautiful today as it was back then, Anne’s House of Dreams shows us why we have been so captivated by this beloved character since day one.
Pros
Interesting plot and characters.
Beautifully written descriptions of settings.
An engaging narrative that makes the story come alive.
Cons
Some may find the story too slow at parts.
Not as action-packed as some readers would prefer.
In the fifth book of the Anne of Green Gables series, Rainbow Valley, we follow Anne and her family as they move to a new home in a small rural village.
Here, Anne and her six children experience the joys and challenges of life in a new environment.
The family quickly becomes acquainted with their neighbors, including Pastor Russell, who lives across the street with his two mischievous sons.
Soon enough, Anne’s children are involved in all sorts of exciting adventures with their new friends.
From setting up a secret club to exploring caves to helping out at school plays, there’s no shortage of fun activities for them to enjoy.
Meanwhile, Anne must deal with some unexpected challenges as well. She must learn how to manage her household duties while still being present for her children’s needs.
As if this wasn’t difficult enough, she also has to deal with an adversary from her past that threatens to disrupt the peace of Rainbow Valley.
It’s through these obstacles that Anne learns valuable lessons about love, faith, loyalty, and perseverance.
Throughout this book, readers are reminded that life is full of both joys and hardships; however, it’s ultimately our attitude towards them that will make all the difference.
With its captivating characters and uplifting message about resilience and hope, Rainbow Valley is sure to capture your heart as you journey along with Anne on this unforgettable adventure!
Pros
Entertaining story with interesting plots and characters.
Inspires kids to think about faith, morals, and family.
Cons
The book can be difficult to read for younger readers.
Not as well-known or popular as the other books in the series.
Rilla of Ingleside is the eighth and final book in the Anne of Green Gables series. In this book, we follow Anne and Gilbert’s daughter, Rilla, as she navigates young adulthood amidst the chaos of World War I.
Rilla’s journey is full of joys, sorrows, and surprises as she learns about love and loss during a time of great uncertainty.
This beloved novel opens with Rilla as a carefree fifteen-year-old girl living in Ingleside on Prince Edward Island. However, when war breaks out in Europe, her happy world is quickly turned upside down.
She finds herself dealing with difficult issues such as patriotism and courage that no teenager should ever have to face.
Despite her struggles with personal growth and maturity, Rilla faces these problems head-on with a steadfast determination to protect her family.
Although this book focuses mainly on the war effort and its effects on the Blythe family, it also has moments of lightheartedness between Rilla and her friends that are sure to make you smile.
Montgomery does an excellent job of capturing the emotions of a young adult facing hard decisions while still making us laugh along with her characters’ antics.
At its heart, this novel is about coming of age in a time of crisis and learning to find your own strength even in times of adversity.
It tells an inspiring story that encourages readers to look for hope in even the darkest situations.
With its powerful emotions and vivid imagery, Rilla of Ingleside will leave you feeling both inspired and comforted at the same time.
Pros
Sets an example of resilience and perseverance.
Richly detailed characters.
Creates a vivid snapshot of early 20th century Canada.
Cons
Some might find the language too old-fashioned.
It is a slow-moving plot compared to some stories today.
Parts of the story can be hard to read as it includes death, illness, and heartache.
The seventh book in the Anne of Green Gables series is Chronicles of Avonlea.
This collection of short stories introduces us to a variety of well-known characters from Avonlea, including the beloved Anne Shirley.
The stories range from humorous to serious, following characters through their adventures, misadventures, and romances in the fictional town.
Chronicles of Avonlea contains twelve different stories about the people living in Avonlea.
We learn about the feud between two families, how a young girl learns to appreciate her stepmother, a boy’s struggle against prejudice, and an old woman’s attempt to find her long-lost granddaughter.
These stories show us how life can be both amusing and heartbreaking at times—something all readers can relate to.
In this final book in the Anne of Green Gables series, we follow further chronicles of Avonlea. Here, readers get an inside look at the everyday lives of all the beloved characters they’ve come to know and love.
Anne has grown up and married her true love, Gilbert Blythe while continuing to make a difference in her community.
The Further Chronicles of Avonlea is a collection of short stories that explore many themes like friendship, family life, and coming-of-age.
Through these stories, readers can take part in the joys and struggle that Anne’s friends and family are facing.
From experiencing Marilla’s struggles with aging to learning about how Emily Byrd Starr keeps memories alive long after she is gone, there are so many lessons to be learned from this book.
Pros
Great continuation of the Anne of Green Gables series.
Includes a diverse set of characters from different backgrounds, providing.
Contains perspectives previously absent from the series.
It took Montgomery many years to write the entire series, and her hard work has left us with a timeless story of family, love, and friendship to enjoy for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Genre Is Anne Of Green Gables?
The majority of Anne Of Green Gables books belong to the genre of Young Adult Fiction.
Who Is The Main Character In The Series?
The protagonist throughout the duration of all eight books is a young girl named Anne Shirley.
Where Does The Story Take Place?
All eight novels take place in different locations around Prince Edward Island, Canada, where Anne makes her home.
Locations such as Cavendish, Kingsport, and other locations within PEI are settings for majority or some scenes throughout all books in the series.
Is There A Movie Adaptation Available?
Yes! There have been multiple films released based on characters from this series; most notably by Sullivan Films Incorporated between 1985-2017 including; “Anne Of Green Gables”(1985) “Anne Of Green Gables The Sequel”(1987), “Anne Of Green Gables – The Continuing Story”(2000), etc.
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