Did you ever make a piece of art, and then feel scared about sharing it with the world?
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. But thank goodness, a few years later, she pulled it back out, brushed off the dust, and tried again to turn it into a book--and that time, it worked!
We’re celebrating Lucy Maud Montgomery this year! The 150th anniversary of this author’s birth is on 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!
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. And Anne (with an E!), despite her best efforts, has her share of misadventures: wait until you hear what color she dyes her hair by mistake! But as Anne works her way into Marilla’s good graces, she’ll find her way into your heart as well!
If you already love Anne and 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, she 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, and with his support, Calpurnia may discover something no one has before.
Deza Malone is smart, hardworking, and determined, and she’s got attitude and confidence, but for a twelve-year-old girl living in Depression-era Indiana, she doesn’t have a lot of opportunities. But while her daddy’s out of town to find work, she has to step up and confront 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, and adjusting to life 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.
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 along the journey of finding herself!
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