Lucy Maud Montgomery and Books for Kindred Spirits

The Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery is most famous for her Anne of Green Gables books, but when Montgomery (whose friends all called her Maud), first wrote Anne of Green Gables, no one wanted to publish it! So she stuck her writing in a box and tucked it away in the closet. Thank goodness, a few years later, she pulled it back out, brushed off the dust and tried again to turn it into a book. That time, it worked!

We’re celebrating Lucy Maud Montgomery this year! The 150th anniversary of her birth is November 30, 2024.

Some things that Maud loved:

• trees
• handwritten letters
• fairies
• islands
• books, stories and poems
• dreams
• reading and learning

If you’re drawn to the same kinds of things, or if you love reading stories about passionate, earnest and imaginative girls, Anne might consider you a kindred spirit: a good, honest, fun, caring person. And you might be into some of these great reads!

Anne of Green Gables: When eleven-year-old orphan Anne is brought to her new home at Green Gables, Marilla is disappointed--she’d wanted to adopt a young boy. Despite her best efforts, Anne (with an E!) has her share of misadventures. Wait until you hear what color she dyes her hair by mistake! As Anne works her way into Marilla’s good graces, she’ll also find her way into your heart.

If you want to meet another plucky Montgomery heroine, try Emily of New Moon.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate: Calpurnia isn’t content to do what everyone says a girl should do. She’s stubborn, loves science and nature, and couldn’t give a hoot about sewing socks. She finds an unexpected ally in her Granddaddy, who shares her passion for nature and discovery. With his support, Calpurnia may discover something no one has before.

The Mighty Miss Malone: Deza Malone is smart, hardworking, and determined, and she’s got attitude and confidence. But twelve-year-old girls living in Depression-era Indiana don't have a lot of opportunities. While her daddy’s out of town, she steps up and confronts her family’s challenges (including poverty, racism and homelessness), growing into the leader her family needs.

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry: At age eleven (the same age Anne was adopted by the Cuthberts!) orphaned Lucy is sent to live with the Martin family. She has a lot to get used to: living in a lighthouse on a tiny island with her six new siblings. Lucy means well, it’s just that things tend to go a little haywire when she gets distracted by her imagination. Lucy is Ojibwe, and details of Ojibwe heritage and culture are included.

The First Rule of Punk: Malú doesn’t fit into any box that the world tries to put her in. When she moves with her mom to Chicago, she doesn’t feel Mexican enough at home, and too Mexican at school. But she knows she’s punk to the bone--and she discovers that the punk rock spirit she feels in her heart blends perfectly with the Mexican heritage her mom wants her to carry with her. Just like Anne, Malú has plenty of hilarious misadventures as she finds herself!