From the back of the audio case: In the first sequel to Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Montgomery’s feisty red-headed heroine is now sixteen and a school teacher in the small village of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. Although older, she isn’t necessarily wiser – and she hasn’t outgrown her mischievous antics. She learns how complicated life can be when she takes two new orphans at Green Gables under her wings, meddles in someone else’s love life, and learns about romance herself when she encounters the “odd behavior” of a very handsome man, Gilbert Blythe.
Lucy wrote that Anne is an extension of herself and represents the independent, “new” woman of the emerging 20th century. Individualistic, resourceful, and of a great humanitarian heart, she remains a great role model for girls and women today.
Read by: Shelly Frazier.
My thoughts: This is the very first audio book I have ever listened to…and I loved it! Yes, I have read Anne of Avonlea before – about 25 years ago – but listening to it was a totally different and enjoyable experience. Shelly Frazer has an amazing voice and was able to adjust for all the characters in the book. In this book, we meet up again with some of familiar characters from Anne of Green Gables – Marilla, Ms. Rachel Lynde, Diana, Gilbert – and we are introduced to some new friends – Davy and Dora, the twins that Anne and Marilla take in when their mother falls ill; Ms Lavender, a kindred spirit that Anne and Diana stumble upon quite accidentally, and Mr. Harrison, an old bachelor new to the neighborhood. Listening to the story read aloud, I think you are better able to pick up on the tones of the different characters and the humor of certain situations. I especially loved listening to all the sections that included Davy. I find it amazing that at age 17, Anne has become a teacher – it seems as if she is still a child herself and yet she is responsible for all these children. I love all the mischief that she still gets into and am looking forward to continuing the series – hopefully with audio books!
(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)
I love the Anne books and this is one of my favourites. It's true, though, she doesn't seem nearly old enough to teach school, but you get a lot of characters in classic girls' literature who teach school almost immediately after leaving it.
I was just reading the Heroine's Bookshelf and in it is a section on LM Montgomery. I wondered how the Anne books would be on audio. I'll have to give it a try.